230 likes | 785 Views
Specific Learning Disabilities. Informational Guide Prema Long SED 527. Umbrella Term for a Group of Disabilities.
E N D
Specific Learning Disabilities Informational Guide Prema Long SED 527
Umbrella Term for a Group of Disabilities • Specific learning disabilities (SLD) is a term that refers to a wide variety of learning problems. • SLD affect the way an individual can acquire and demonstrate knowledge and understanding in specific areas. • SLD can occur in a person with an average or above average IQ. Thus, there can be a large discrepancy between academic achievement andthe intellectual abilities of person with a learning disability.
Dyslexia • A common symptom of dyslexia is the reversal of letters but there are other difficulties as well: • Letter and word recognition • Understanding words and ideas • Reading speed and fluency • Vocabulary skills • 10-15% of population in US has dyslexia • Want to hear more? Here is a narrative from a young girl in England about her experience with dyslexia • Dyslexia
Dyscalculia • Sometimes called “Mathematics Disorder” or “Mathematical Difficulties.” A person with dyscalculia has difficulty understanding and using math concepts and symbols. • Between 3-6% of people have dyscalculia • If you want to learn more, read the latest research or find support for this disability follow this link: • Dyscalculia
Dysgraphia • Dysgraphiais a learning disability in which a person has difficulty expressing thoughts in writing • May also have difficulty with finger movements and muscle coordination required for writing • No exact numbers for how many people have dysgraphia because of the vagueness of the disability (i.e is it dysgraphia or poor penmanship?) • For ideas how to help students with dysgraphia practice their handwriting explore this page: • Ideas for handwriting practice
Dyspraxia • A person with dyspraxia has trouble with fine motor skills and coordination. • Dyspraxia also can affect short-term memory and organization. • 1 in 10 people have dyspraxia including Daniel Radcliffe (a.k.a. Harry Potter). • A first person narrative made by Gabriel about his experience with dyspraxia: • Dyspraxia Narrative
Dysphasia/Aphasia Dysphasia or aphasia is a disability that affects a person’s capacity to communicate A person with dysphasia may have trouble understanding common speech and may also utilize nonsense grammar and meaningless phrases in their own speech. Very small percentage of people have aphasia (around 0.3%) but it is more common among the elderly and people who have suffered a Tramatic Brain Injury.
Visual Processing Disorder • A visual processing disorder, or visual perceptual disorder, refers to a person’s limited ability to understand what they see. • Common symptoms • Problems discerning shapes • Trouble telling foreground from background objects • Difficulty discerning letters and numbers • Trouble understanding and using symbols
Auditory Processing Disorder • Individuals with an auditory processing disorder cannot process information they hear in the same way as other people. • This results in difficulties recognizing and interpreting sounds, especially sounds composing speech. • About 5% of population has an auditory processing disorder. • Thoughts from a student with APD • Thoughts from a student
It’s Not the Same in Everyone! While each SLD has common symptoms it is very important to note that a LD will affect individuals in different ways. Because of the variability of SLD it makes them hard to identify and diagnose. LD affect about 20% of the population. Which means as teachers we will be routinely working with students that have a Specific Learning Disability.
Implications for Learning • Differentiated lessons is vital for a student with a SLD • Visual, oral and tactile demonstrations incorporated with in lessons • Alternate assessments • Video presentation • Oral presentation • Portfolio • Technology, technology, technology! • Text readers • Speech to text software
Easy Accommodations • Concise course and lecture outlines • Books on tape • Reinforcing directions verbally • Having written directions • Videotaped class sessions • Using technology • Most computers have assistive technologies on them already or can have software installed
Resources for Teachers • The Web has tons of great resources here are a few that I found the most useful: • The Dyspraxia Foundation • Learning Disabilities Association of America • University of Washington “The Faculty Room” • Math Learning Disability Resource • Reading From Scratch - Dyslexia
Resources Used-page 1 http://dyslexia.mtsu.edu/about/faq.html http://www.ninds.nih.gov/news_and_events/news_articles/news_article_dyslexia_DCDC2.htm http://www.dyscalculia.org/ http://www.education.com/reference/article/Ref_What_dyscalculia/ http://www.hwtears.com/hwt/educators/therapists/special-needs http://www.dyspraxiausa.org/ http://www.understanding-learning-disabilities.com/visual-processing-disorder.html
Resources Used-page 2 http://www.education.com/topic/visual-processing-disorder/ http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/ears/central_auditory.html http://www.washington.edu/doit/Faculty/Strategies/Disability/LD/ http://www.dyslexia.org/ http://www.ldanatl.org/