DISPELLING MYTHS about
LEARNING DISABILITIES
SURVEY SHOWS MANY PARENTS ARE MISINFORMED ABOUT
THE CAUSES AND DEFINITION OF LEARNING DISABILITIES
BY JODIE NEEDLE
ost parents have heard about
M dyslexia, the learning disability
largely associated with reading,
speaking and spelling. But not
as many know about dysgraphia, which
involves trouble with putting thoughts on
paper and handwriting, or dyscalculia,
which involves difficulty understanding
math.
Such examples are among the find-
ings of a recent survey of parents by
the National Center for Learning Dis-
abilities. The center is a nonprofit group
that recently revamped its website with
resources for parents who suspect their
40 SOUTH FLORIDA PARENTING. www.southfloridaparenting.com
children may have a learning disability
and to guide those whose children have
already been identified with one.
The online survey of about 2,000
Americans showed that about two-thirds
had heard of dysgraphia and dyscalculia,
whereas 91 percent of respondents were
familiar with dyslexia.
The survey also revealed many myths
parents have about learning disabilities,
said Dr. Sheldon Horowitz, Ed.D., the
center's director of learning disability
resources and essential information.
For example, 43 percent of those sur-
veyed incorrectly believe that people with
learning disabilities have low IQs.
"By definition, individuals with learn-
ing disabilities are average or above-aver-
age intelligence," Horowitz said. "So we
have a lot of work to do to reframe what
learning disabilities are just in terms of
cognitive potential."
Learning disabilities are an umbrella
term for a group of lifelong disorders
that affect how a person learns. They
can impact a person in reading, writing,
speaking, spelling, reasoning and math-
ematics.
Among other key survey findings:
people incorrectly believe what can cause
learning disabilities. Consider the fol-
lowing: Almost a quarter of respondents
(22 percent) said learning disabilities are
caused by too much time spent watching
television; 31 percent said a cause is poor
diet; and 24 percent said childhood vac-
cinations cause them.
"Too much time watching TV? Clearly
this is a misunderstanding of what could
be a cause... likewise with diet and vac-
cinations ... they really have nothing to do
with learning disabilities," Horowitz said.
About eight in 10 survey respondents
(76 percent) correctly stated that heredity
can play a factor as children with learn-
ing disabilities are likely to have parents
or other relatives with similar learning
difficulties. Also, children whose moms
experienced problems during pregnancy
or birth could be contributing factors.
But often, there can be no apparent
cause for learning disabilities, according
to the National Center for Learning Dis-
abilities.
However, the cause should not be the
focus but rather helping students, said
Joaquin Eljaua, director of support servic-
es for Broward County Public Schools.
"This is what we have before us, so let's
provide specialized instruction for these
kids who have been identified with hav-
ing a learning disability," he said.
Early intervention is key, he said, not-
ing Broward County offers free diagnostic
screenings. For more information, parents
can call 754-321-2204.
So if a parent suspects a child has
a learning disability, he or she should
document how a child learns, note any
problems the child is having and compare
notes with the teacher, Horowitz said.
Though much more complex, a learning
disability in layman's terms is "unexpect-
ed underachievement," Eljaua said.
Survey respondents were correct in that
most (62 percent) said diagnosing a learn-
ing disability can involve a team approach
between the child's pediatrician, parent/
caregiver, teacher, a school administrator
and a licensed psychologist.
In making the determination, factors
include deciphering whether the child
is meeting age or grade-level standards,
progressing with interventions and deter-

JANUARY 2013 • SOUTH FLORIDA PARENTING 41

mining if there are limiting factors such
as visual or hearing impairments, Eljaua
said.
Parents should watch for warning signs
that children may be struggling, said
Mitch Spero, a licensed psychologist at
Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital and also
director of Child and Family Psychologists
with offices in Plantation and Weston.
Such warning signs include homework
taking exorbitant amounts of time or emo-
tional clues of severe anxiety, anger, frus-
tration or sadness with academic tasks.
Spero said.
"Some children with a learning dis-
ability might appear to be using anger as a
mask for depression or anxiety for issues
of self-esteem," he said. "If a child doesn't
feel as though he can achieve, or inferior,
he might act out.''
Emotional support, he emphasizes, is
essential for children's success.
"A licensed psychologist can help the
family to help the child not to be affected
on an emotional level due to the cognitive
deficiency," he said. "A learning disability
42 SOUTH FLORIDA PARENTING. www.southfloridaparenting.com
does not need to necessarily result in aca-
demic failure. Individuals with disabilities
can still earn a doctorate. We need to learn
how they learn best; they may have to
learn a different style of learning."
Schools can help, said Denise Rusnak,
director of exceptional student education
for Broward County Public Schools.
"It may take longer, but these students
will get from point A to point B," she
said. "The route may look a little differ-
ent. That may mean accommodations on
a test such as giving some extra time.. .or
instead of placing 10 items on a page, giv-
ing them five items on a page."
Most parents of children with learning
disabilities (75 percent) believe they could
do more to help their child, according to
the survey.
If parents suspect their children may
have a learning disability, they should fig-
ure out how their children learn best and
communicate with teachers, said Mark
Halpert, co-president of the Learning Dis-
abilities Association of Florida in Boca
Raton.
He suggests placing a written request to
the school that the child be tested.
"Some parents don't want their kids
labeled, but they need to realize if they
don't get labeled, they won't get accom-
modations on tests," he said. "Act and act
soon. Find out how your child learns; it
really makes a huge difference. And be
collaborative with the schools."
Eljaua, of Broward's support services
department, said parents can also access
the school board's website for community
resources.
''I think parents need to know they are
not alone," he said. "There are so many
resources out in the community."
Added Halpert, "These kids are inventors.
You want to nourish what your child is
good at. Keep building that creativity."
For more information, call 754-321 -
2204 or visit broward.k12.fl.us/student
support/ese.
Visit the Learning Disabilities
Association of Florida at lda-florida.org
and the National Center for
Learning Disabilities at ncld.org.