Learning Disabilities and Academic Problems

Diagnosing and Treating Learning Disabilities & Academic Problems in Delray Beach FL

There are a variety of common conditions faced by many children in the Delray Beach area that may affect their learning abilities. The good news is that early detection of these sorts of learning disabilities help to make sure that the child is given the necessary tools and instruction to overcome them before they can start to affect them in their adult life.

Dyslexia in Children

Dyslexia is a learning disability that specifically refers to an individual’s ability to read words accurately as they appear on a page or screen. This condition makes even the simplest of sentences very difficult to read, as the letters of each word become jumbled and thrown out of order.

The difficulty with which a person has in reading, writing, spelling, or comprehending certain words will vary from one child to the next, as no two cases are exactly alike. It is also fairly common for children with dyslexia to possess additional learning disabilities.

Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)

A child with auditory processing disorder will likely experience a great amount of difficulty in communicating with others. This is due to the fact that their ability to hear words and even just sounds clearly is interrupted, making it easy to confuse them with one another. Persons with APD can also struggle to determine the source of a sound, or to tune into one particular noise even if there are other things going on in the background.

This disorder is not linked to the person’s ear and its physical structure. The actual problem lies in the brain and how it translates a one sound in comparison to another.

Language Processing Disorder (LPD)

A language processing disorder is one form of an auditory processing disorder. LPD uniquely addresses how well a child is able to speak or interpret speech from others. This particular disorder can make articulating one’s thoughts and feelings very hard, and may also inhibit an individual from detecting certain inflections from what others are saying.

Dyscalculia Treatment

Much in the same way that an individual with dyslexia will confuse letters and words, a person with dyscalculia will confuse numbers and symbols. This learning disability makes it quite challenging for a child to complete simple math equations, or even to count easily.

Dysgraphia Diagnosis and Testing

Another common learning disability that typically presents itself in young children is difficulty to write. This can appear as sloppy handwriting, inconsistent spatial reasoning for various letters or words, and poor spelling.

Kids with these types of dilemmas are encouraged to use vocal writing software as much as possible, such as recording their teacher’s instructions so that they can listen to them rather than read off of them.

Nonverbal Learning Disabilities (NVD)

Even for children who do not struggle in areas of reading, writing, or speaking may still encounter learning difficulties due to weak motor skills. A child with NVD is likely to seem very clumsy, and will not pick up on facial expressions or body language as quickly as others.

These associated signs of nonverbal learning disabilities may make social situations especially awkward and uncomfortable for your child.

When To Seek Treatment from a Delray Beach Pediatrician

If you or your child’s teacher begin to notice that they are falling behind in class, or that they are experiencing a great amount of difficulty with certain tasks, it is best to seek the advice of a professional so that you can get your son or daughter the help they need as soon as possible.

To schedule a consultation with a pediatrician at Pediatrics By The Sea, please call (561) 272-8991 today or go online to fill out an appointment request form.