{"id":12351,"date":"2013-07-05T04:19:00","date_gmt":"2013-07-05T04:19:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.freedomfrommedom.com\/wp3\/?page_id=12351"},"modified":"2014-10-08T18:24:25","modified_gmt":"2014-10-08T18:24:25","slug":"learning-disabilities","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.freedomfrommedom.com\/wp3\/learning-disabilities","title":{"rendered":"Learning Disabilities"},"content":{"rendered":"

How Common Are Learning Disabilities?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Parents are often worried and disappointed when their child has problems learning in school. There are many reasons for failure in school; a common one is a specific learning disability. A child with a learning disability is usually bright and initially tries very hard to follow instructions, concentrate, and \u201cbe good\u201d at home and in school. Yet despite this effort he or she is not mastering school tasks and falls behind. Some learning disabled children also have trouble sitting still or paying attention.<\/p>\n

Learning disabilities affect as many as 15 percent of otherwise able schoolchildren.<\/p>\n

What Causes Learning Disabilities?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

It is believed that learning disabilities are caused by a difficulty with the nervous system that affects receiving, processing, or communicating information. Some learning disabled children are also hyperactive, easily distracted, and have a short attention span.<\/p>\n

Early Detection and Treatment is Important<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Child and adolescent psychiatrists point out that learning disabilities are treatable, but if not detected and treated early, they can have a serious “snowballing” effect. For instance, a child who does not learn addition in elementary school cannot understand algebra in high school. The child, trying very hard to learn, becomes more and more frustrated, and develops emotional problems such as low self-esteem in the face of repeated failure. Some learning disabled children misbehave in school because they would rather be seen as “bad” than “stupid.”<\/p>\n

Warning Signs<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Parents should be aware of the most frequent signals of learning disabilities. Does your child:<\/p>\n