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Early
intervention with a child who is behind in language, social, cognitive,
fine motor or gross motor development can make a world of difference!
There are many strategies you can use to help a child make the most of
their learning abilities in early childhood. Almost all children with
learning disabilities, which result in reading difficulties, can learn to
read when intervention strategies start at age four or five.
Here
are some of the most frequent symptoms that are observed:
- Difficulty following directions
- Short attention span
- Poor memory
- Poor reading and/or writing
- Can’t discriminate between letters, numbers or
sounds
- Difficulty with sequencing
- Problems with coordination
What
can you do as a parent? You
can research on the Internet. You
can start with our site: Go to your local library for research.
Your local school can also help.
Have your child take the free screening test (hearing & vision)
that their school offers. Many
school have created special teams to solve these kinds of problems.
Check with your school and see what they offer in the area of
learning disables.
Also,
if you suspect your young child has a learning problem, you may want to
talk to a speech-language pathologist, or have your child evaluated by a
learning disabilities specialist or child psychologist. There are many
assessment techniques that can be used with preschoolers. There are many
professionals working with young children who can provide appropriate
evaluations.
It
is important to remember that the population of children with learning
disabilities is heterogeneous. The children are similar because they all
have adequate hearing, vision, mental ability, and much strength, but
their specific disabilities and symptoms differ.
Identification is primary.
What is the real problem? Once
the problem has been identified, you can establish a program that will
best resolve the problem, and create an environment for the child to have
happy and more fulfilling life.
*Source and excerpts from Learning Disabilities Association of America |