Learning disability is defined one way by the general population and another by various professionals. The Webster's New World Dictionary defines learning disability as "any of several conditions, believed to involve the nervous system, that interfere with mastering a skill such as reading or writing." Learning disabilities are thought to affect not only written language but spoken language as well.
It is normal for different children to begin developing language at different ages. If particular milestones are not met within a specific age range, a child may need to be evaluated for possible speech and language delays. By the time a child reaches age one, she should recognize her name and be saying two to three words in addition to "mama" or "dada." By age two, a child should be using approximately ten to 20 words. By this age, it is also important that a child understand the word "no." She should also understand short commands such as "Bring me a toy". By age three, she should be using two-word phrases with a vocabulary of about 450 words. Between ages four and five, she should be using sentences that include four to five words. If a child's language is not developing according to these milestones, parents should consider contacting the child's pediatrician to inquire about a referral to a speech pathologist for an evaluation.
Learning disabilities do not include difficulties in vision and hearing, nor do children living in low-income families inevitably suffer from learning disabilities.
There are two specialists in particular who are especially helpful in identifying a learning disability or a language delay.
A developmental pediatrician can help parents determine if a child is developing appropriate developmental skills in cognitive, motor and social skill areas. Gross motor skills include sitting, standing, walking, and jumping. Fine motor skills include eating, writing and dressing. Cognitive skills include understanding, problem solving and reasoning. Social skills include feelings and relationships with others. By the time a child is three months of age, he should be able to raise his head and neck while he is lying on his stomach, follow moving objects with his eyes, and begin to babble. By age one, a child should be imitating gestures and point to objects when a parent names them and finger feed himself. By age two, a child should be able to kick a ball and engage in role playing. If a child is not meeting these milestones, a parent might consider asking the regular pediatrician to refer the family to a developmental pediatrician. If a child suffers from a language delay, his developmental pediatrician may refer him to a speech pathologist.
A speech pathologist is trained in speech development. A speech pathologist will conduct an evaluation to determine if a child is delayed at pronouncing age-appropriate sounds. If a child is speech delayed, a speech pathologist will also work with parents and teachers to develop a plan for improvement. Speech pathologists employed with public school systems are usually free, and they can usually see children as young as three years of age, although local school system and state regulations may apply. If a parent chooses to contact a private speech pathologist, various fees will apply. Some insurance companies cover the cost of speech therapy.
Parents should first contact their regular pediatrician if they feel their child is not meeting developmental milestones. A regular pediatrician will likely refer parents to other specialists if they feel further evaluations are needed to determine if a child suffers from a learning disability, language delay, or both.