A learning disability is a disorder that interferes with a person's ability to learn and to understand material. These disorders often cause delays in academic skills. A child may be diagnosed with a learning disability due to developmental lag. In this situation, parents can intervene early to help the child learn and to avoid any future problems. Usually, children who have a learning disability are very bright, and they may not even realize it.
Often, a child with a learning disability will not have one distinct symptom. There are several warning signs, and these vary widely among different children. However, they can be detected at various ages and by following these warning signs, parents can identify a child with a learning disability. In the United States alone, there are more than a half-million school-aged children who are affected by a learning disability. If you know how to spot these warning signs, you can take action to help your child.
While a learning disability cannot be cured, children with early intervention can achieve success in school. Teachers and parents are often the first to notice that their child is having trouble learning. If you suspect your child has a learning disability, seek help from mental health professionals or trained specialists. Earlier diagnosis and treatment will give your child the best chance of benefiting from therapy. Otherwise, your child will have to deal with the consequences and may not be able to learn the skills they need to be successful.
