It’s no secret that many educators are facing overwhelming challenges in today’s classroom environment. A recent survey discovered that less than 1 in 5 educators feel “very well prepared” to help children with learning disabilities.
Fortunately, there is hope for both educators and licensed professionals through the application of techniques such as Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and others. If you find yourself in this situation, consider reading this article to learn valuable insights into recognizing the signs of learning disabilities.
Learning Disabilities vs. Disorders
Identifying a learning disability from a disorder can be challenging. Having a clear diagnosis does not always mean the instructor can successfully educate a student.
Therefore, knowing the difference between a learning disability vs. a disorder is the first step to identifying signs of a learning disability. A learning disorder is often used in a medical setting by licensed professionals.
These disorders can be diagnosed by following the DSM criteria, which are stated as the following:
- Insufficiencies starting from early childhood
- History of at least 6 months of poor math, reading, or writing comprehension even with intervention
- Challenges unrelated to other issues such as hearing loss, poor vision, or poor educational techniques
As a school official or licensed childhood professional, you’re able to voice concerns about a learning disability. This means your opinion is based on patterns of behavior, rather than a medical diagnosis.
Typically, a learning disability can be classified as a student who is not progressing and is testing below the state requirements. These students often don’t show signs of progress even with the proper intervention.
These signs are also not limited to a classroom environment, as they may show up in therapy, workshops, and other activities.
Causes of Learning Disabilities
Many parents and licensed professionals have wondered if there are effective ways to prevent learning disabilities. Although there are strategies that can help prevent developmental delays, it’s important to acknowledge that there are many unknown factors that may contribute to learning disabilities.
For instance, certain disabilities may stem from prenatal or birth complications. Additionally, environmental influences such as economic status, limited access to healthcare, and cultural disparities can also cause learning disabilities.
It’s also important to take genetic factors into account when discussing learning disabilities. A recent study has found that some children may have a genetic predisposition to developing a learning disability.
How to Identify the Signs of K-12 Learning Disabilities
Recognizing potential signs of a learning disability in a child can be crucial, and delayed speech is often one of the earliest indicators. It’s worth noting that some children naturally take longer to develop speech patterns, but there’s a distinct difference between this and a speech delay caused by a learning disability.
Parents should begin to worry if their child is over 18 months old and still isn’t speaking. In addition to delayed speech, there are several other common signs to watch for, including:
- Difficulty staying focused on tasks
- Struggling with math, reading, or writing
- Emotional outbursts
- Poor listening skills
- Lack of coordination
- Impulsive behaviors leading to negative outcomes
- Inconsistencies in speech patterns
- Difficulty forming specific words
- Using only one-word sentences
- Unable to adjust to time/schedule changes
These signs provide just a few examples of what to look for in a child with a potential learning disability. However, identifying these signs can be challenging without the right support.
Therefore, as a caregiver or educator, it’s important to create a safe and structured environment. This approach can help in implementing the right strategies if a child begins to exhibit these signs.
How to Help a Child Struggling With a Learning Disability
So, you’ve pinpointed some important signs that a child may have a learning disability. But what’s the next step? First, keeping a detailed record of all interactions with the child is crucial.
This could involve noting how often the child experiences outbursts or tracking their academic progress. If you’re a counselor or director, it’s important to make time for weekly meetings with the child.
These interactions can greatly contribute to accurately monitoring the child’s progress and providing a comprehensive assessment of their strengths and weaknesses. Armed with this information, a tailored plan can be developed to assist the child.
However, if it seems like your efforts aren’t yielding the desired results, it may be time to fully engage the parents or consider a third-party learning facility.
Even licensed professionals sometimes need assistance in learning new techniques, such as ABA. Keep reading to discover more about this approach!
What Is Applied Behavior Analysis
There are many ways to contextualize ABA. However, the best way is by understanding its different components. First, ABA uses behavioral patterns to understand future learning outcomes.
Along with that, ABA also aims to understand how behavior and learning are affected by environmental factors. This has been a great topic of debate, considering many educators are still expected to take on virtual learning.
However, whether in a virtual classroom or in person, ABA can help with the following:
- Lower disruptive patterns of behavior
- Optimize reading, language, and communication skills
- Overall enhances academic and interpersonal skills
These successful outcomes are mostly due to what ABA has coined as “Positive Reinforcement.” This term has been widely used in many different fields of study. However, ABA has formulated a specific plan of action through the ABC’s technique.
The first is the “Antecedent” event. Typically, this refers to a caregiver or educator instructing the student to perform a task. Next, comes the “Behavior”. Meaning the student will either have a positive or negative behavior toward said task.
Lastly, it’s imperative that a “Consequence” is applied if the student has disruptive behavior. Through this applied method, the educator can later identify patterns of behavior and use positive reinforcement to achieve better outcomes.
Find Help Today
Finding good learning disability help can be quite a challenge. Luckily, this article has covered everything you need to know about Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and its effectiveness in addressing learning disabilities.
If you have any further questions, feel free to get in touch with us. We’re here to help you. So that you can make a real difference in the lives of children who need it.
