Parents and teachers are often confused about testing and evaluating students who seem to struggle academically. In the past, services were readily supplied to students through the local school districts when a child was seen to be having academic difficulties. Even then, the criteria was different across district lines.
Things have changed tremendously in the past few years. Although larger numbers of students are tested district-wide, less children are classified and receive services. The child must be classified with a Learning Disability or other impairment to be considered for additional services.
Learning Disabilities should not be confused with learning problems or poor grades. Most learning problems are usually the result of hearing or visual handicaps. Many factors contribute to children not attaining high grades.
Generally speaking, children with Learning Disabilities are usually average to above-average in intelligence. The Learning Disability is diagnosed when there is a discrepancy between a child’s potential and actual performance. A Learning Disability is a neurologically-based processing problem which interferes with reading , writing, and/or math. It can also interfere with organization, time planning, abstract reasoning, long/short term memory and attention. It is an ongoing problem. There is no cure for a learning disability, however, children are taught compensation mechanisms to help them find academic success.