Amal Muhammad Amin
Parents face a difficulty in knowing the difference between the concepts of learning difficulties and indications that the child is normal and suffers from some delay in growth. Many parents find it difficult to distinguish between the difficulties of learning disabledities and what is considered merely normal developmental delay or natural individual differences between children. This confusion is common, especially since some of the delay indicators seem similar. This is a simple clarification that helps parents understand:
First: What are the difficulties of learning?
– Nervous developmental disorders mainly affect the acquisition of specific academic skills such as: reading, writing, account.- It is not related to the level of general intelligence, the child may be natural or even high.- It appears continuously despite help and training.
Second: What is the natural or transit developmental delay?
– Some children are slightly late for their peers in speech, motor skills, attention.- The cause is often individual differences or environmental factors (lack of motivation, a difference in the method of education, deprivation of experiences …).- With family support and exercises, the child is gradually attached to his peers.
Third: Indicators of learning difficulties:
– A clear difficulty in distinguishing letters or numbers despite training.- Slow learning compared to peers.- Repeated errors in reading (the heart of letters, deleting clips).- Problems of short-term memory (forgetting simple instructions quickly).- Unbalanced performance: smart in dialogue and play, but stumbling in school.
Fourth: Indicators of natural delay (not learning difficulties):
– The presence of a gradual improvement with age and practice.- Difficulties appear in more than one field, not only an academic (such as delayed speech + movement).- It is often related to temporary environmental or health conditions (for example a lack of exposure to books or interactive play).- There is no big gap between the level of the child’s intelligence and his academic performance.
Fifth: When should a specialist should be reviewed?
– If the problem continues for more than 6 months despite attempts.- If there is a clear difference between the child’s general intelligence and his academic level.- If related behavioral problems appear (avoiding school, loss of self-confidence).- Choosing the type of school and the method of education varies between the condition of the child who has a simple developmental delay and the child who suffers from real learning difficulties.
Sixth: The difference in the type of school and the type of study:
1. In the case of simple developmental delay. School: The child can join an ordinary school. (Resource Rooms). The method of education: The child needs an individual educational plan (IEP) that includes:- specialized educational strategies (multi-sensitive education, use of support technology).- individual follow-up from a learning difficulty teacher.
