Learning disabilities often present themselves in different ways. While many students occasionally experience short-term difficulties at a particular time, or go through periods of struggle with different skills, true learning disabilities often present in areas adjacent to, or not directly linked to, academic skills. This can include an inability to hold attention, difficulty understanding or following directions, and/or issues with time management and organization. One key factor to note: ESL, or English as a Second Language, students often present with struggles similar to learning disabilities. However, these often decrease as the child gains a greater mastery of the instruction language.
Learning Disability Testing
Often a perceptive teacher picks up on traits more closely aligned with learning disabilities instead of common challenges with a problematic academic task or subject. Professionals then usually engage in an RTI – or Response to Intervention – to clarify or specify a diagnosis or developmental difficulty. This can include monitoring for specific problems and addressing needs on tiers to see if they show progression or progress.
In addition to RTI assessments, a full learning-disability evaluation may include a medical evaluation or assessment, a family history discussion, academic achievement testing, as well as a developmental, psychological or social skills evaluations.
While this may seem like quite an extensive undertaking, identifying learning disabilities can often determine whether a child is eligible for special education services, assist with individual learning plans, as well as establish progress benchmarks with proper supplemental skill help.
If you’re concerned your student’s performance may show signs of a learning disability, it’s always an appropriate precaution to get an official evaluation. While the assessment may simply prove a skill deficiency, discovering and diagnosing a true disability can be extremely important to both a child’s academic and social development.
