New Hope for Children with Reading Difficulties and Other Learning Disabilities
Article Provided by: Hannah Oliphant, Directory of LearningRx of Tyler
Why is it that when a child is presented with a task one child completes it in ten minutes and another requires twenty or can’t even do it at all? Answer: cognitive skills. According to recent studies by NIH and the US Department of Education, the source of over 80% of learning problems are weak cognitive skills.
Cognitive skills are the foundational tools for learning. They are those skills that function “behind the scenes” when you process information. When you are paying attention, following directions, reading, and performing other learning activities, you are using your cognitive skills. A person’s cognitive skill set is made up of individual skills that enable each person to successfully think, prioritize, plan, attend, understand, remember, create useful associations and solve problems.
When cognitive skills are strong, academic learning will be faster, easier, more efficient and even fun. When cognitive skills are weak, the learning process is affected and an individual is faced with potential learning struggles. Cognitive skills are the essential tools for learning.
New research in brain plasticity demonstrates that cognitive skills can be significantly improved. There are new possibilities for children with learning disabilities. No child should be denied the joy of learning because of some correctable but hidden cognitive weakness.
For parents and families that are weary and discouraged, the best place to start is beneath the surface. It is worthwhile to dig deeper and fill in the holes of the foundation. Medicine, subject specific tutoring, working harder, and even discipline are all band-aids: a temporary fix for what is seen on the outside. Band-aids do not correct an internal problem. They only serve to cover it up until the real problem is dealt with. The hope is in the fact that the foundation can be corrected. Take heart, take the time to dig deeper.
Cognitive skills are the foundational tools for learning. They are those skills that function “behind the scenes” when you process information. When you are paying attention, following directions, reading, and performing other learning activities, you are using your cognitive skills. A person’s cognitive skill set is made up of individual skills that enable each person to successfully think, prioritize, plan, attend, understand, remember, create useful associations and solve problems.
When cognitive skills are strong, academic learning will be faster, easier, more efficient and even fun. When cognitive skills are weak, the learning process is affected and an individual is faced with potential learning struggles. Cognitive skills are the essential tools for learning.
New research in brain plasticity demonstrates that cognitive skills can be significantly improved. There are new possibilities for children with learning disabilities. No child should be denied the joy of learning because of some correctable but hidden cognitive weakness.
For parents and families that are weary and discouraged, the best place to start is beneath the surface. It is worthwhile to dig deeper and fill in the holes of the foundation. Medicine, subject specific tutoring, working harder, and even discipline are all band-aids: a temporary fix for what is seen on the outside. Band-aids do not correct an internal problem. They only serve to cover it up until the real problem is dealt with. The hope is in the fact that the foundation can be corrected. Take heart, take the time to dig deeper.
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