Two of the most important and widely used skills in school and the workforce are reading and writing. However, there are many physical challenges that can affect learning.
ADD/ADHD
Even though Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD) is not considered a learning disability, it can affect the academic performance of a child. The three main symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity not only affect a child’s social and behavioral well-being, but also contribute to academic struggles.
ADHD affects each person differently. Some children with ADHD experience difficulty with reading, have trouble remembering what they read, while other children find comfort in these activities. Furthermore, children with ADHD are more likely to demonstrate writing problems, such as poor spelling and grammar than their peers. If reading and writing problems go undetected and aren’t addressed early on in children with ADHD, these children are at a higher risk for having these problems persist into adulthood.
A study was published in 2011 in the journalPediatrics that showed a strong correlation between ADHD and an increased risk of a written-language disorder (WLD) for boys and girls (with or without a reading disorder (RD)). Research shows that girls with ADHD are at a higher risk of having WLD with RD compared with boys with ADHD.
Learning Disabilities
Reading disabilities can affect up to eight percent of elementary school children. Seventy to eighty percent of students with specific learning disabilities possess reading deficits.
Most students with LD have profound deficits in the area of visual memory. Researchers indicate that most of all learning takes place through the eye, with visual memory existing as a crucial aspect of learning.
The most common forms of LD that affect reading and writing include. continue reading [1]
Helpful Articles
- Reading Help! What Parents Need to Know to Help Their Special Needs Child Read [2]
- Embracing Your Child’s Best Ways of Learning 12 Different Ways to Learn [3]
- Reading and Writing Strategies for Struggling Students [4]
- How to Find Your Special Child’s Spark? [5]
- Understanding the Mental Skills Affected by ADD and ADHD (Part 1) [6]
- Understanding the Mental Skills Affected by ADD and ADHD (Part 2) [7]
- ADHD 101 Educational Techniques for ADHD: Bracketing Distracting Thoughts [8]
- Managing Time for Adults with ADHD [9]
- A Complete Guide on Positive Behavior Support for Children With Special Needs [10]