Learning difficulties has always been a sensitive topic to discuss. Hearsays here and there made it more complicated. People have different views about it because some information that are given to them or they believe in may not be true.
- People with learning difficulties lack intelligence.
Learning difficulty has always been perceived as lack of intelligence and low IQ, but it shouldn’t. People with learning disabilities are not in any way less intelligent than other people. Like normal people, they also acquire the same potential to learn and excel. It’s just that their brain process information differently. “…the issue is that their brains retrieve, interpret, organize, and distribute information in unique ways.” (Rivas 2018). In short, their brain is just wired differently.
- Learning difficulties can be outgrown.
Another misconception about learning difficulty is that it disappears through time as the person matures. Learning difficulty can not actually be cured. It will always be part of the person as he/she grows old. People with learning difficulties can’t get away with it but they can cope with it or learn to overcome their difficulties. This is where the importance of guiding and training them while they are younger plays its part. With the proper guidance, they will eventually learn to manage and handle their disabilities in unique ways that is comfortable for them.
- Learning difficulties can be easily identified.
There is no medical procedure that can easily diagnose learning difficulty. It takes time to know whether a person has learning difficulty. It’s not as simple as taking X-ray or CT Scan. Professionals will have to check patterns of behavior and family history. Sometimes learning difficulty can go unnoticeable until the parents or teachers observe constant failure in the children’s academic development and send their child for psychological assessment. Therefore, it is always important to seek professional help to identify if your child has any learning issues.
- People with learning difficulties do not put much effort in learning.
Conventional teaching methods may not work on people with learning difficulties. Their route between “here and there” can be full of curves, given that their understanding of the world may be different from us. In fact, they are the ones who exert/need to exert much effort in learning because they are different. That means it is double effort for them when it comes to learning. As such, people with learning difficulty are not lazy.
These misconceptions often lead to undesirable effects especially to people with difficulties, both mentally and emotionally. They may be discouraged to do better because they feel judged despite their efforts and struggles. That’s why it is very important for us to be educated about the nature of their situation. More often than not, our behavior towards their situation greatly affects them.
Reference:
Rivas, Katheryn. 2018. verywell family. September 11. Accessed October 29, 2018. https://www.verywellfamily.com/common-misconceptions-about-learning-disabilities-2162935.
Related articles:
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/five-misconceptions-about-learning-disabilities
http://www.ldao.ca/myths-facts-about-learning-disabilities/
https://www.additudemag.com/famous-people-with-learning-disabilities/