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eLearning Series: Learning Disabilities
The Bottom Line On Learning Disabilities
( 50 articles in this series )
Why
Are Learning Disabilities
Misdiagnosed as ADD?
In a classroom of approximately 25 children,
it is rather easy to pinpoint a problem with a child that just
cannot seem to sit still. The teacher can assume that there
may be a problem, as she has tried to address the situation
several times in the classroom. If, for whatever reason, the
teacher is not making any headway on the problem, they will
then recommend an interview with the parents. This will be
done to determine whether or not this is an isolated incident
or if the child behave this way at home, as well. The
parents not knowing there is an underlying problem tends to
be a very
common thing. Many parents and teachers will figure that the
child just has a lot of energy at first glance. Unfortunately,
there is often more to the story than just high energy.
Whether
or not the parents state that the child is like this at
home is irrelevant. The fact remains that this child is
very squirmy in class and is not focusing on what needs to
be done. Many times this is also a disruption to their classmates
as well. So where do you go from there? Generally the teacher
will recommend the school counselor see the child or nurse
prior to any further action is to be taken. Often the nurse
or counselor will recommend a specialist see the child. The
first thing that comes to their mind always seems to be ADD
or attention deficit disorder. This is where the child cannot
adjust to the idea of just sitting still. They have no sense
of focus, and are very fidgety. They cannot concentrate on
any set task for more than a few minutes, and can be a disruption
and/or loud in the classroom setting. This is not solely reserved
for just the classroom, either. Their home life can be exactly
the same.
The problem with this is that many times where an individual
is thought to have this disorder, in fact it is something entirely
different. As you may or may not know, many disorders
have mimicking symptoms that can lead one to believe at first
glace
that it is ADD and not indeed something else. Although specialists
do have an array of highly sophisticated tests to determine
if someone has a disorder, many times they can be fooled by
the disorder itself. With the likes of dyslexia, dyspraxia,
and dysgraphia all in the mix of possible disorders that a
child can have, determining the true culprit could be difficult.
If, for instance, the child does have another disorder that
impedes their learning process, then it can make for a very
long day in the specialists office if they are assuming that
the child has ADD. When it comes to a disorder, prescribing
a medicine can indeed be tricky. What if the disorder that
was originally diagnosed, is not the problem at all? What will
that medicine do for the child? Although it is doubtful that
the medicine will actually harm the child, it most likely will
do no good at all.
Dyslexia
can, and usually does, have the same symptoms as ADD, as the child cannot get a grasp on what is before them.
Many times, their level of processing information is not quite
tuned in right. This can make for a child that has no desire
to sit and pay attention, for the information will not be received
anyways. They quickly become restless and can cause quite a
disturbance for the rest of the classroom. Unlike ADD however,
dyslexia is very treatable through special education. There
really is no need to medicate a child that has this disorder,
simple time with the child and some dedication will straighten
if not all of the disorder at least most of the problems associated
with it. ADD is a different pill all together. Special education
unfortunately, is not the answer. Most of the time, the specialist
will try many different methods to see what works best. The
general start to treatment is usually an altering in the child’s
diet. From there they will go on to some sort of medication.
In the past, the use of Ritalin was the method of choice. This
has been surpassed however for more stable and favorable drugs.
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by SolveYourProblem.com
: 2006
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