What is a language-based learning difference?

 

Your child is intelligent, but if he or she is struggling academically it may be due to a language-based learning difference (LLD). LLDs affect the way the brain processes information and can impact how a child learns to read, write, hear, speak, or calculate. Children have different learning styles, but some students experience a greater disconnection between their academic aptitude and their ability to read or write. An LLD is not a reflection of low intelligence but it can negatively impact your child's self-esteem and confidence. 

 

15-20% of the people in the United States have a language-based learning disability.

Of the students with specific learning disabilities receiving special education

services, 70-80% have deficits in reading.

-The International Dyslexia Association

 

LLDs are caused by a difference in brain structure that is present at birth and is often hereditary. There are many kinds of learning differences, including dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia, and they can affect people in various ways. LLDs affect both genders equally as well as all ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds.

 

Children who struggle in reading tend to experience a dramatic decline in their reading ability around fourth grade, when reading instruction typically shifts from basic decoding and word recognition to development of fluency and comprehension. This is the time when most classes transition from "learning to read" to "reading to learn".

 

Verticy Learning Academy encourages your child to discover new ways of learning the foundations of reading and writing through specialized curriculum, innovative teaching techniques, and computer-based learning tools. This discovery leads to a more empowered student who is able to achieve academic success and recapture the wonder of independent learning.

 

How do I know if my child has a language-based learning difference?

 

When a child is challenged with characteristics of an LLD, he or she may struggle in reading, writing, or other subjects. Behaviors that may indicate a possible LLD include:

  • Continued difficulty with reading and spelling
  • Inability to quickly identify the names of letters, numbers, shapes, and colors when exposed to them in random sequences
  • Poor performance on tested material that was well known right after studying
  • Need for clarification immediately after receiving instructions
  • Difficulty organizing thoughts or ideas in writing 

 

If your child displays one or more of these attributes, they may be facing a language-based learning difference. Students who experience reading or writing difficulties-or who have been diagnosed with a language-based learning difference-have a fundamental disconnection between letters and the sounds that each letter makes. This disconnection disrupts the essential building blocks of language for these students. As a result, the student's reading and writing challenges affect every aspect of his or her academic experience.

 

Verticy Learning Academy is here to help! Have your child take our online screening assessment to determine whether he or she may benefit from this unique program. Or, click here to learn more about Verticy's unique curriculum, support options, and methodologies.