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Teacher Assisting a Student

LEARNING

DISABILITIES

The Big 3...ADHD, ADD, Dyslexia

 

 

 

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

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Characteristics

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  • fidgets with hands or feet, squirms in seat

  • restless, often leaves seat in classroom

  • runs around or climbs excessively 

  • is always “on the go”,acts as if “driven by a motor”

  • talks excessively, hyper-talkative

  • acts without thinking, starts tasks before listening to, or reading, directions, 

  • blurts out answers before the question has been completed

  • difficulty waiting their turn, interrupts or intrudes on others, butts into conversations or games

  • impulsive, doesn't think through the consequences, no concept of cause and effect

 

Possible Retained Primitive Reflexes 

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  • Moro Reflex

  • Spinal Galant Reflex

  • Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex

  • Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex

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Brain Hemisphere Imbalance - ADHD is often characteristic of a right brain deficiency.

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ADHD

ADD

Attention Deficit Disorder (without the hyperactivity)

 

Characteristics 

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  • fails to give close attention to details, makes careless mistakes in schoolwork

  • easily distracted, has difficulty paying attention in long to tedious tasks

  • does not seem to listen when spoken to directly, a daydreamer

  • struggles to follow through on instructions and to finish schoolwork

  • poor organization, messy desk/locker/bedroom, often loses things

  • forgetful, will complete assignments then not hand them in

  • needs to move, will squirm, tap fingers or toes, typically small movements, not disruptive

 

Possible Retained Primitive Reflexes 

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  • Moro Reflex

  • Spinal Galant Reflex

  • Automatic Gait Reflex

  • Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex

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Brain Hemisphere Imbalance - ADD is often characteristic of a right brain deficiency.

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Dyslexia Disorder

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Characteristics of Dyslexia by age:

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Young children will struggle with:

  • recognizing letters, matching letters to sounds and blending sounds into speech

  • pronouncing words, for example saying "mawn lower" instead of "lawn mower"

  • learning and correctly using new vocabulary words

  • learning the alphabet, numbers, and days of the week 

  • rhyming

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School-age children will struggle with:

  • mastering the rules of spelling

  • remembering facts and numbers

  • handwriting or gripping a pencil correctly

  • learning and understanding new skills; instead relying heavily on memorization  

  • reading and spelling, such as reversing letters (d,b,w,m) or moving letters around (left,felt)

  • following a sequence of directions

  • trouble with word problems in math

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Teenagers and adults will struggle with:

  • reading at the expected level

  • understanding non-literal language, such as idioms, jokes, or proverbs

  • reading aloud

  • organizing and managing time

  • trouble summarizing a story

  • learning a foreign language

  • memorizing information

 

Possible Retained Primitive Reflexes 

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  • Moro Reflex

  • ASymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex

  • Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex

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Brain Hemisphere Imbalance - Dyslexia is often characteristic of a left brain deficiency.

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DYSLEXIA

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