UNDERSTANDING

STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL

EDUCATIONAL NEEDS
(EDP 1610)
LD / SLOW LEARNER

GROUP MEMBERS

MUHAMMAD B ABDULLAH
SITI TASNIM BT ABD MANAN
NOR SYAHIRAH BT NAZAM
NUR ASIAH BT SULAIMAN

( DL 1518853 )
( DL 1515910 )
( DL 1436550 )
( DL 1516298 )

What is learning
disability?
Having trouble:
Processing information
Organizing information
Applying information

Types of Learning
Disabilities
Dyslexia
A language and reading disability
Dyscalculia
Problems with arithmetic and
math concepts
Dysgraphia
A writing disorder resulting in
illegibility
Dyspraxia (Sensory
Integration Disorder)
Problems with motor
coordination

Slow Learner

Central Auditory
Processing Disorder
Difficulty processing and
remembering languagerelated tasks
Non-Verbal Learning
Disorders
Trouble with nonverbal e.g;
body language: poor
coordination, clumsy
Visual Perceptual/Visual
Motor Deficit
Reverses letters; cannot copy
accurately;
Language Disorders
(Aphasia/Dysphasia)
Trouble understanding
spoken language; poor
reading comprehension

Causes of Learning
Disabilities
NO real causes
Might be caused by:
Hereditary
Teratogenic
Medical
Environmental

Characteristics of
Learning Disabilities
How will I know if my student has a LD?
Student is physically normal
Average or above average intelligence
Many LDs need to be medically diagnosed

Karen Mackay (2001), one of the advisor of

Specific Learning Difficulties of South
Australia (SPELD SA) define slow learner as
a child of below average intelligence,
whose thinking skills have developed
significantly more slowly than the norm
for his/her age. This child will go through
the same basic developmental stages as
other children, but will do so at a significantly
slower rate.

Causes Of Slow Learning

Emotional growth
Health Problem
Absenteeism
Illiterate Parents
Untrained Teacher
Class Size
Busy parent or no time for children
Family size

Slow Learners

What do we should know:

Prone to be immature in interpersonal relationships

Have difficulties following multi-step directions
Tend to have a poor self image
Work on all tasks slowly
Do not have strategies for problem solving or
decision making

Symptoms of Slow
Learners
AREAS
Developmen

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

tal
Social

may have immature language patterns or speech

problems

poor judgment, immature social behavior, prefers

company of younger children

Personal

frustration, aggression, anxiety

Academic

poor memory, difficulties understanding several steps

in a task

Learning

difficulties transferring information learned in one

situation to other situations.

Identified Slow
Learners

How do we help the identified Slow learner

student???
1.Differentiate between the slow learner and the
reluctant learner who is unmotivated, resistive,
passive aggressive and uncooperative.
2.Introduce more information, not less. They will
never improve if the pace is slowed too much.
3.Keep the information bits and bytes small.

More

4. Associate physical and manipulative activities

with academics and homework.
5. Teach organization strategies.
6. Rote learning works best but is seen as
boring and aversive, so use computers, flash
cards and review, review, review.

Techniques
Differentiate

Techniques that work involve:

1.Word drills
2.Response cards
3.Sentence repetition
4.Phonic drills
5.Audio taped words
6.Word definition drills

Treatment &
Solutions

General interventions that should always be

applied to improve learning with the slow
learner involve:
1.Reduce distractions, audible and visual.
2.Promote attentiveness.
3.Keep assignments short.
4.Repeat work assignments in various forms.
5.Provide variation in assignments.


6.
7.
8.
9.

Give more hands on assignments

Keep tests short and use oral tests when possible.
Have test errors redone correctly.
Use mapping and graphic organizers.


10. Help the student become proficient with note
taking.
11. Try implementing a Parent Tutor program.
12. Praise the child at every opportunity.
13. Chat to parents.