Heather Harmon Brooke Where

DSA: ie specific learning disabilities

Attention to learning disabilities has grown considerably in recent years, unfortunately not always coupled with a proper information.

If as a parent you suspect that your child may have a DSA (or teachers showed some difficulty), it is likely that at this time you you feel confused, disoriented of unclear information and testing more or less reliable and, above all, difficulties in than do what is best for your child.

So let's do a little 'clarity, knowing that early intervention for children with learning disabilities can make a real difference and give a great chance of success.

What are DSA

Learning disabilities are a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by significant difficulties in reading, writing, comprehension or production of oral language, reasoning and mathematical calculation.

The causes of these disorders are not known with certainty, but probably are due to dysfunction of the central nervous system.

The percentage of DSA in Italy is not a given to be taken for sure, but is estimated at 3-4%.

Learning disabilities occurring in childhood are mainly these:

• DYSLEXIA: The level of reading achieved (as far as accuracy, speed or comprehension, as measured by individually administered standardized tests) is below what would be expected for the age of the subject, his level of intelligence and educational level. The disturbance significantly interferes with academic achievement or with activities of daily living that require reading skills.
• dysgraphia: The child has difficulty playing symbols (letters, numbers, geometric figures ...), can not follow the lines, does not respect the margins, his books are very messy ... His writing is usually illegible. The pen is often contested incorrectly.
• dysorthography : The child has difficulty in transforming the language to be spoken or written to dictation: confuses similar sounds (f / v, t / d. ..) or similar signs (p / b), skip a few letters or the reverse, do not use double.
• dyscalculia : The level of computing power reached (for calculation or mathematical reasoning, as measured by individually administered standardized tests) is below what would be expected for the age of the subject, his intellectual level and educational level. The disturbance interferes significantly with academic achievement or daily activities that require computing power.

What can I do if I suspect my child has a learning disability?

E 'should ask for a specialist assessment to a psychologist or a neuropsychiatrist, even at a department of Pediatrics, and inquire about the waiting lists and the time needed for diagnosis.
The assessment is made, as well as the interview with standardized instruments and specific.

Students with ASD are entitled to compensatory access tools (calculators and computers, multiplication table, concept maps, digital books, or audio ... ) And dispensed (exemption from reading aloud, use the dictionary more time for testing ...)

If my son has a DSA (especially if you are dyslexic ...)

WHAT DO Encourage and praise him Help him build self-confidence Find something that can well Let them know you understand his difficulties without pity Get them to use, where appropriate, compensatory measures

C OSA DO Avoid it read aloud (if they want, however, did not stop him!) not correct "all" errors in written texts Avoid him to copy the work Do not compare it to other avoids defining slow, lazy, lazy or stupid