Information Relating To Reading Disabilities Carlsbad Parents Need To Know

By Mark Parker


Reading disabilities are estimated to affect one in every ten children. The severity of the problem is variable and is almost not noticeable in some children while in others the signs are quite dramatic. Learning disabilities in general impact academic progress negatively. There are several things on reading disabilities Carlsbad residents need to know.

The exact cause of this problem is largely unknown. However, a number of studies point towards either structural or functional problems in the brain. There is a need to see a paediatrician for a proper diagnosis to be made. The doctor will take you through the process of history taking and will also perform a physical examination with special emphasis on the central nervous system. Imaging studies such as the MRI and the CT scan may be required in select cases.

The disabilities can fall under various categories depending on the predominant problem. Processing speed deficit is among those that are most commonly encountered. It is a situation in which the learner is too slow in recognizing words and making sense of them. It is not necessarily a measure of their intelligence but certainly affects their learning and may make them fall behind their peers. In most cases, it is associated with deficiencies in executive functioning. This means that children with the problem may struggle with tasks such as focusing solving arithmetic problems and goal setting among others.

Hyperlexia is a disorder in which the reader is too fast even for themselves. It may be regarded as super ability but is actually a big disadvantage to the learners. This is because comprehension is often poor. Majority of children with this problem will be found to meet the criteria for autism spectrum. The training for this group should be aimed at slowing down the speed to enhance understanding.

Some children can read words accurately but have a comprehension problem. They can read and spell individual words at the right speed but are unable to understand the meanings of passages. This is different from dyslexia in which reading is usually markedly impaired. Some of the causes of this include problems in language comprehension, disordered social reasoning and abstract verbal reasoning. This subtypes is present in 10 to 15 percent of affected children.

Retention of information may also be a problem. The major cause for this is the inability of the learner to decode word meanings. A lot of effort goes into world recognition and this results in mental exhaustion making it quite difficult to remember what one has read. Some of the signs that may suggest the problem include lack of concentration, omission of details and confusion on word meanings among others.

The management of these problems varies from one individual to another. Solutions are customized depending on what is predominant. For example, in the case of learners who have a problem with text printed in certain colours or against particular backgrounds may benefit from a change of the same. Use of text overlays and colour tinted glasses are other possible solutions.

The teacher and the parent need to work closely to increase the chances of success in solving reading disabilities. They need to, for example, identify the words that are commonly misspelled and come up with strategies that can be used to enhance memory. There are a number of interesting games available online they can help with improving spelling. A reward system for correct spellings may be used as positive reinforcement.




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