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- by Karen Luttermoser
It has long been known that Learning Disabilities can and should be treated, and the earlier, the
better. Treatment starts with diagnosis, which is initiated by your child’s Pediatrician or Teacher.
These professionals are trained to notice and identify key symptoms. Doctors and Teachers
often work together on this. Experts conduct specialized tests to figure out what the exact issues
are. The most common treatments are:
Special Education – This is a program for children whose needs vary but can be done as a
group. Classes are tailored to each student's needs. Speech therapy and individualized
curriculum designed for your child are some examples.
IEP (Individualized Education Plan) – This is a customized plan specific to your child and their
needs relating to school work and the learning environment. Focus is on extra assistance with
subjects they may be struggling with or the learning environment while school is in session.
Special Education and IEPs are free of cost for families.
But what if your child’s Learning Disability doesn’t get treated? What are the risks? According to
experts, people with Learning Disability learn ways to cope with their circumstances, sometimes
hiding their shortcomings in learning.
People, especially children, have a lot of frustration surrounding learning when they have this
disability. Long-term frustrations can lead to low self-esteem and low self-worth. Experts say low
self-esteem can lead to school dropout, unemployment, drug use, and even jail or prison. Here
are a few startling statistics:
The dropout rate is 25% among students with a learning disability, compared to 18% of
students without.
The unemployment rate is said to be two times higher in people with a learning disability.
About 60% of drug abuse treatment patients have some learning disability.
According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, around 25% of prisoners were told at some point
in their life that they had ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), and 24% of prisoners
had had Special Education classes while they were in school.
Learning Disabilities are important to get diagnosed and treated. Your child’s future may depend
on it.
Sources:
American Addiction Centers
Bridge Michigan https://shorturl.at/KMVY0
Bureau of Labor Statistics www.bls.gov/news.release/disabl.nr0.htm
CS Mott Children’s Hospital – University of Michigan
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development