March is an important month in education. For parents, it is crunch time for academic decision making. Parents who have students who are falling behind in elementary school may start to consider grade retention. Plans for summer vacations may have to be scrapped to allow secondary students to attend makeup classes. However, grade retention and repeating classes only allows for another shot at the same material. The underlying reasons for failure are not addressed. School failure may be the result of specific circumstances such as poor motivation, illness, or family issues. But some students fail due to the presence of learning disabilities.
Unlike physical disabilities, learning disabilities are not visible but their influence is seen in the student’s inability to learn at the same pace and in the same way as other students. There are no real answers as to how learning disabilities happen. A learning disability may be related to family genetics, prematurity, birth trauma, or any number of factors that will never be identified. The impact of the learning disability may vary from mild to severe but it invariably manifests itself in the student’s inability to learn despite average level intelligence and academic supports.
There are many types of learning disabilities but they all interfere with how well the student is able to make sense of incoming information. For some students, the issue is one of inability to memorize facts and figures. For others, it may be an inability to copy information from the board or books onto paper. Others may need much more time to correctly interpret and follow verbal directions. Report cards for these students often have comments such as, “Not working up to potential.”
Fortunately, there are techniques which allow us to indentify and understand the student’s learning processes. Through psychoeducational testing one can determine what the child’s cognitive strengths and weaknesses are so that parents and teachers can help the child learn more effectively. This type of testing provides information about the brain’s ability to use information from one’s senses and to understand how the individual uses that incoming information to solve problems. Whether testing is performed by a School Psychologist or private practice Educational Psychologist, test results should give parents and teachers a better understanding of the child’s educational needs and instructional strategies that will help the student work to their potential.
For more information about learning disabilities or testing call Ramona Hall, MA at 661-222-7332 or go to www.compassionatesolutionsscv.com or www.ramonahalleducationalpsychology.com.