Special Education

Resource Page
By Karen Ragan, EDT
7860

What is a Learning Disability?

Learning disabilities affect the brain's ability to receive, process, analyze, or
store information. It can become difficult for students to learn information as
quickly as their peers that dont struggle with learning disabilities. As a
result they may fall behind in their schoolwork, become frustrated and their
self-esteem may suffer as a result. Students diagnosed with a learning
disability may need support in subjects that give you the most trouble.
Special classes and teachers are trained to help students with learning
disabilities in areas they struggle with so they can be successful in school
Some conditions that affect learning will be covered here:
Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)
Speech Disorders

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder
(ADHD)
Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)
Speech Disorder: Stuttering

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

ADHD is a brain-based biological condition with symptoms
that may include inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity.
It is not categorized as a Learning Disability but a behavioral
condition that disrupts learning due to a childs inability to
concentrate and/or control their activity or impulses to stay
on task.
ADHD is a lifelong condition, but there are treatments and
strategies that can help manage symptoms.

With help and understanding, your child will learn to

manage his ADHD and make the most of his strengths and
talents

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Three types of ADHD:
ADHD, Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive
Presentation: Kids struggle with impulse control and
have symptoms of hyperactivity and feel the need to
move constantly.
ADHD, Predominantly Inattentive Presentation-Kids
have difficulty paying attention. Often called ADD,
kids are easily distracted but dont struggle with
hyperactivity.
ADHD, Combined Presentation-the most common
type of ADHD. Kids exhibit all of the symptoms

Parent Tips
(ADHD):
If your child has ADHD, learn as much as you can about the disorder in
order to help them better

Listen to you child, watch their cues and keep track of their behavior in
order to monitor patterns or triggers
Studies show that AHDH runs in families so key in to siblings of those
diagnosed for similar issues. Up to 35% of children with ADHD have a
parent or sibling with the disorder.
Help your child be organized by setting schedules, stay consistent with
rules to keep things running smoothly since they cant yet do this for
themselves
Be your childs advocate. Seek medical and educational assistance to get
any special services they will need to help them be successful.
Encourage them to be the best they can be. Catch them being good and
praise their effort since this disorder often is mistaken as a behavior issue.

Student Tips
(ADHD):

ADHD interferes with a persons ability to concentrate and stay

focused which makes it harder to learn and control behavior in
school and at home.
Many kids are affected with ADHD and with time find ways to treat
or manage their symptoms. This helps them focus on their
strengths and build up their weaknesses.
Tell your parents and teachers what you need. Talk with them and
let them know how to help you. Recognize they are on your side.
Over two-thirds of kids find the right treatment and strategies to
manage ADHD symptoms so it doesnt interfere with their adult life.
Everyone is unique and this makes you YOU! Find ways to use this
to help make your life and the lives of people around you better!

Educator Tips (ADHD):

About half of kids diagnosed with ADHD also have a specific learning disability
with the most common issues involving reading (dylexia) or handwriting.
Recognize that behavior and emotional impulsivity is often beyond the childs
control. Teach supports and strategies to help students better manage their
learning and behavior.
Students struggle to stay organized and may take longer to process and
respond or follow directions. Allow extra time or a quiet area for test taking or
to complete tasks.
In the classroom, say the childs name to re-engage in learning and alternate
physical and mental activities
When students exhibit symptoms of ADHD but no diagnosis or IEP is in place,
use strategies, including reward-based behavior plans and other supports to
help kids succeed.
Work as a team with the student, family and other educational support to
determine the appropriate direction to insure student success.

Auditory Processing
Disorder

Auditory Processing Disorder (APD), also called central auditory

processing disorder (CAPD) is a neurological disorder in which the
brain cannot fully process the sensory material the ear hears.
APD is not caused by loss of hearing so passing a hearing test is
not an effective way to evaluate for this disorder.
People with APD struggle to process what they hear. This causes
listening problems which is often mistaken for hearing loss.
The National Institute of Health says 5% of school age children
are known to have APD but that number is probably much higher
since many are simple considered inattentive.
Any child who struggles with speech or understanding,
remembering what they heard or cannot tolerate noise should be
evaluated for an auditory processing disorder.

Auditory Processing Disorder

People with APD may have trouble with :
Focusing, sustaining or dividing their attention
Cannot distinguish subtle differences between similar
sounds or words and will avoid using them in speech
Have difficulty hearing in noisy environments and
cannot block our background noises
Understanding when people speak too fast or in a low
tone
Remembering or retaining things people say to them

Parent Tips (APD):

Early diagnosis is important. If not identified and treated early, speech and
language delays can develop and hinder learning.
Symptoms of school age students to watch for may include:
Frustration with age appropriate tasks saying I dont understand or I dont know what you mean
Poor reading skills including sounding out words, poor fluency or poor reading comprehension
Poor Spelling skills
Poor Listening skills

Strategies to Help your child:

Give one direction at a time compared to multi-step directions
Provide more time to process and respond to instructions
Provide verbal or written cues rather than verbal cues

Have your child evaluated if concerned. Studies show that 43% of children with
Learning Difficulties also have APD and 25% of Children with Learning
Difficulties have APD and Dyslexia.
A 504 Education Plan may allow your student with mental or physical
impairments to have accommodations in their general education classroom in
an effort to aide in their education.

Student Tips (APD)

People affected by APD arent able to process things they hear because
their ears and brain don't fully work together as they should. Something
interferes with the way the brain recognizes or interprets sounds,
especially speech.
Most kids with APD usually pass their hearing test because the test is
often given in a quiet room. Kids with APD struggle in noisy environments.
Tell your parents and teachers you are having difficulty understanding,
not hearing. Seek help and explain what is frustrating you so the problem
can be evaluated.
Auditory systems arent fully developed until age 15.When APD is caught
early, kids can develop language skills or use assistive listening devices
to help them build good communication skills.
Kids with APD can get help in the classroom using a 504 plan which allows
for accommodations which may include reading class notes online, testing
in a quiet space or other strategies that may help you be successful.

Educator Tips
(APD):

Speak clearly so students can understand

Instill habits of writing down assignments for clarity and use graphic
organizers to help students visually organize thoughts and ideas for
better comprehension (Ex. KWL Chart, Concept map or Venn
diagram).
Help students stay engaged by using giving simple concrete
instructions. This will ease frustration and boost student self-esteem.
Reduce noise and other distractions by having the student sit in the
front of the class or away from doors or hallways
Use a class amplification system to project and boost teaching
volume in class. Encourage personal Assistive Technology devices to
be used.
Allow students to test in quiet areas away from noise or distractions.

Speech
Disorders
People who struggle to speak clearly may have a Speech or
Language Disorder.
The complex process of speech involves the coordination of
many different muscles of the body which include a persons
vocal cords, teeth, lips, tongue, mouth, their respiratory system
and brain.
Difficulty making sounds, articulation disorders and stuttering are
some examples of Speech disorders.
Stuttering affects peoples speech in different ways and affects
about 3 million Americans.
Stutteringmay get in the way of a persons speaking smoothly
(called disfluencies) in several ways. They may repeat the first
part of a word (such as ca-ca-ca-cat), extend a single sound

Parent
Tips
If you are worried your child might have a stutter, a medical
professional can refer your child to a Speech-Language Pathologist
(SLP). A SLP is trained to identify speech problems and develop a
treatment plan to help correct them.
A speech problem does not indicate a learning disorder and does
not indicate the level of a persons intelligence.
Stuttering can run in the family, be more common in boys than
girls and usually develops between 2-5 as kids are learning to
form complete sentences.
Techniques can be taught so your child can improve their ability to
communicate (ex. monitoring the speed they speak helps a child
control their stutter).
About 75% of preschoolers who begin to stutter will eventually
stop

Student
Tips
Speak slowly and breathe. This will help you better manage your
ability to speak to others without interruption.
Sing the Words when at home or with friends. For some reason,
words dont get jumbled up when they are sung so Sing Away!
Just Relax! The more nervous you are and stressed about
stuttering, the worse it will get but by relaxing you are back in
the drivers seat with more control!
Practice Reading Aloud!! This helps you practice controlling your
speed and gives you confidence when you have to speak or read
in front of others which helps you stutter less.
Be Positive because there are many techniques you can learn
that will help you control and manage your stutter. It might not
go away completely but you can manage it so that it interferes
less when you communicate with others.

Educator Tips
Insure that parents are aware of any stuttering that
persists
If the student is on an IEP and receiving services by a SLP,
work as a team to insure all educational goals are met
Early intervention is the currently agreed upon view so
praise all fluent speech and occasionally highlight
disfluent speech to provide student with feedback in the
classroom
Model smooth speech and have student repeat it several
times quietly to reinforce the desired goal.
SLPs are available to teach students, parents and
educators effective strategies and the best way to
implement them based on the needs of the student. Be
sure to work as a team so the student will benefit.

Resources
https://
www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/child-learning-disab
ilities/add-adhd
http
://www.brainbalancecenters.com/who-we-can-help/processing-disorde
rs/
http://
kidshealth.org/parent/classroom/factsheet/APD-factsheet.html?track
ing=P_RelatedArticle
http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/ears/central_auditory.html#
http://www.auditorycenter.com/services/fm-systems /
http://kidshealth.org/teen/diseases_conditions/sight/speech_disord
ers.html#cat20163
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/stop-stuttering-techniques.html
http://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/stuttering/