3 Myths About Learning Disabilities

March 15 is “Everything You Think is Wrong” Day and LearningRx is sharing three myths about learning disabilities:

1. Tutoring is the only way to help kids with learning disabilities.

Why it’s false: Much like accommodations, tutoring doesn’t get to the root cause of most learning disabilities. Studies show most learning disabilities are rooted in weak cognitive skills. Personal brain training involves working one-on-one with a trainer, doing fun, challenging mental exercises that train weak cognitive skills. It incorporates immediate feedback, intensity, and loading, among other features, to target brain skills. Effective brain training customizes programs based on the results of an initial cognitive skills assessment and uses exercises founded on years of clinical and scientific research.

2. Smart kids can’t have a learning disability.

Why it’s false: Have you ever wondered how your child can be so funny, creative, and smart, but still struggle with school? That’s because it’s not only possible—but even common—for intelligent children to have a learning disability. Because IQ is simply a measure of cognitive abilities, it’s easy to see how a very smart child could still have a learning disability. Just imagine a child whose cognitive skills are all very strong, except one. A bright child who struggles with selective attention, that is, the ability to remain focused on a task while being subjected to distractions. Or a brilliant teen whose memory skills are so weak that he can’t remember what his homework assignments are.

3. ADHD symptoms are the same in boys and girls.

Why it’s false: While hyperactivity is a common symptom of attention struggles—especially among boys—it’s often accompanied by things like impulsivity and an inability to multitask. But ADHD is now the generally accepted umbrella term for the three types of ADHD: Inattentive Type, Hyperactive/Impulsive Type, and Combined Type. For girls, ADHD tends to manifest differently, often as inattentiveness and disorganization. Because these symptoms aren’t as disruptive to class, ADHD in girls is often missed.

Concerned your child may have a learning disability? Start by taking LearningRx’s FREE learning skills survey: https://lsds.learningrx.com/

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