| It is easy to misunderstand a child who is both learning | | | | learning disabilities fall through the cracks in public |
| disabled and gifted. Mentally retarded, or "slow," are the | | | | schools; there isn't enough attention to help everyone. If |
| labels often mistakenly given to persons with learning | | | | a parent or the child himself feels that they need to be |
| disabilities. Because of these misconceptions, a child | | | | tested for a learning disability, the parent must become |
| who is gifted and who is also learning disabled often | | | | the child's advocate. Any student has the right to take |
| experiences a very challenging life. Academically, the | | | | a learning disability test; this right to test for suspected |
| child may perform poorly, but more important is the | | | | learning disabilities is protected by the Americans with |
| potentially damaging psychological impact of being | | | | Disabilities Act. First talk with your child's teacher and if |
| perceived by others as "dumb" or mentally deficient, | | | | you find that you are not getting anywhere, it is |
| despite possessing the unlocked abilities and potential | | | | essential to go to the school's officials. |
| to excel. The self-confidence required for dealing with | | | | A number of options exist for children that are |
| these issues and progressing past them can be | | | | diagnosed as gifted and learning disabled. A gifted child |
| achieved through success with a tutor. | | | | might need extra resources; a really gifted child may |
| Intellectual giftedness is exceptional in its own right--this | | | | need to skip a grade or more. Opportunities for cultural |
| is what many experts fail to realize. Social deprivation | | | | field trips and art classes, to aid in experiential (not just |
| and poor classroom performance are just a couple of | | | | instructional) learning, should be regularly offered. |
| the problems that are experienced by both gifted | | | | Alternative information presentation, special classes, or |
| children and those with mental retardation. Also, similar | | | | technological aids each help with some learning |
| problems can be caused by a learning disability. There | | | | disabilities. |
| are particularly tricky challenges if a child is learning | | | | Studies have concluded that the optimum environment |
| disabled but otherwise gifted. | | | | for children who are gifted and have a learning |
| A lot of times, gifted children who have learning | | | | disability is one that accepts differences and provides |
| difficulties have problems in school. Their learning | | | | help with the learning disability; further, it is still extremely |
| disability can lead to a decrease in motivation as well | | | | important that they be challenged regularly. A tutor |
| as difficulty in completing classroom tasks which may, | | | | who can work one-on-one can use this learning |
| as a result, mask their true potential. But in other | | | | environment to attain more successful results. In |
| endeavors, such as music or dance, the child may be | | | | addition, these children should be offered every |
| highly creative and intelligent. An undiagnosed learning | | | | chance to put forth their own preferences and desires. |
| problem may also lead to the opposite problem: an | | | | Their intelligence will help considerably; they can |
| otherwise gifted child may struggle in school due to the | | | | understand the implications of their learning disability |
| presence of a learning disability not yet diagnosed. | | | | and thus better cope with it. Children who are gifted |
| Parents must become knowledgeable about the signs | | | | and learning disabled, with the correct interventions in |
| of various learning disabilities and of being gifted. There | | | | place, have a fantastic chance of becoming |
| may be a huge gap between test results (measuring | | | | successful adults. After it is determined what the |
| academic potential) and actual academic performance | | | | diagnosis is, the parents and child can then begin to |
| for a gifted child with a learning disability. It's also | | | | learn how best to cope with it. The child needs not |
| possible for such children to display impressive creative | | | | only support for the learning disability, but an |
| intelligence, that manifests itself only at home and not in | | | | environment that gives him or her challenges and |
| the grades they receive at school. Behavior problems, | | | | stimulation. |
| or "acting out," is not uncommon among children with | | | | Children who are gifted and learning disabled have an |
| learning disabilities, especially when frustration builds. If | | | | excellent chance to become successful adults. Once |
| your child is displaying these characteristic features, | | | | the learning disability is diagnosed, coping strategies can |
| you may wish to have your child evaluated for the | | | | be integrated into the child's life. It is important to |
| presence of a learning disability. | | | | provide the child with a stimulating, intellectually |
| Learning disability tests can be administered by school | | | | challenging environment that includes support for the |
| officials with ease. Inevitably, smart children with | | | | learning disability. |