LDAS, Regina - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Many of the inquiries we receive are requesting a lot of the same information. Thank-you for taking the time to look through this list of often asked questions. You may find some of the answers you are searching for - and, this will help you to ask even better questions when you call!
Q. What is a learning disability?
A. According to the Learning Disabilities Association of Canada, a learning disability:
- may include problems in any of the following areas: attention, memory, reasoning, coordination;
reading, writing, spelling; calculation, social competence, and emotional maturity.
- is not due primarily to vision, hearing, physical handicaps, mental retardation,
emotional disturbances, or environmental disadvantage.
(for the complete definition see the Links section for the LDAC website)
Q. Who gets learning disabilities?
A. Rich and poor alike could have a learning disability. It affects individuals of potentially average or above average intelligence. It is believed that 10 - 15% of the population is affected by learning disabilities.
Q. What are some of the signs a person should look for when checking for learning disabilities?
A. Some things to watch for, which occur on a regular basis are:
- difficulties with any combination of reading, writing, spelling, math, listening,
or speaking;
- student often reverses numbers and letters, e.g. "b" for "d" or "61" for "16";
- individual has difficulty following directions;
- individual is distractable and impulsive, with a short attention span;
- shows difficulty in organizing and keeping track of time, activities, responsibilities,
and/or belongings.
Note: All of us show some of these behaviours from time to time, and the presence
of one or more of the above signs may not be important. If a number of these
signs occurs in one individual, it shows that assessment is needed.
Q. Is there a cure for learning disabilities?
A. There is no known cure for learning disabilities. An individual must learn useful coping skills to help him/her successfully work around their difficulties.
Q. What are some of the results if learning disabilities go unattended?
A. Some results are:
- low self-esteem;
- chances of dropping out of high school are greatly increased;
- social and emotional problems;
- rejection;
- abuse;
- delinquency;
- suicide.
Q. When is the best time to attend to a learning disability?
A. The sooner the better. The longer you wait, the more difficult it becomes to help the individual. A person with a learning disability that goes undiagnosed develops many ways to avoid doing assignments because of a constant fear of failure. They will likely learn unhealthy coping skills.
The longer the disabilty goes unattended, the more frustrating it becomes for the learner.
Q. Whose fault is it that my child has a learning disability?
A. Be fair to yourself. It is nobody's fault. Blaming yourself or your partner can cause stress and interfere with your ability to help your child.
Q. Are learning disabled children lazy, stupid, stubborn, careless, and undisciplined?
A. Learning disabled children can be easily mistaken for any or all of the above. These children are experiencing learning problems. They can learn, but usually not with mainstream teaching methods.
Q.What do I do if I suspect that my child has a learning disability?
A. If it is a school-age child, contact the school - teacher, principal, program support teacher. Also, check with your LD Association for a complete list of their services, including tutoring.
Q. OK, I'm assessed. Now what?
A. Typically, the psychologist will have some recommendations for accomodations, and ways to compensate for or strengthen weaker areas.
Often, the next step is to schedule an appointment with the director of the LDAS office in your area. You may also discuss the findings and recommendations with the person in charge of special student needs at SIAST, a Regional College, or the University you plan to attend.
You are in control of how much you share from the report, and with
whom you share the information.