Academic Deficits

Dyslexia

is the reading disability, but it also impacts many other areas of learning and expression. It can be the basic reading difficulty which is the inability to understand the relationship between sounds, letters and words. Or a reading comprehension problem which is the incapacity to grasp the meaning of words, phrases, reading speed, fluency and main ideas of paragraphs. Reading less affects vocabulary development and comprehension, speaking, listening and writing which hinder the ability to learn and succeed at school and probably later in life.

Dyscalculia

is a math learning disability. Math – based learning disability child may struggle with memorization and organization of numbers, operations, telling the time, signs, as well as counting. Most often dyslexia and dyscalculia occur together since children have hard time understanding written directions, examples and word problems. Also, these children have math anxiety.

Dsygraphia

is the writing learning difficulty. It may be basic writing disorder which is the difficulty of forming words and letters. On the other hand, an expressive writing disability is the struggle of organizing thoughts on a paper. Dysgraphia includes problems
such as neatness and consistency of writing, accurately copying letters and words, spelling consistently and writing organization and coherence. Additionally, writing requires well – developed executive functioning skills. Thus children with ADHD and executive functioning deficits often struggle.

Language Deficits

Speaking

Reading and Writing Skills Language Skills Math skills Building Study Skills Attention and Executive Functioning Skills Visual and Auditory Development Handwriting Skills Development Academic Tutoring

Lizzie Thompson

Emma Velasquez

Listening

Lizzie Thompson

Emma Velasquez

Visual Processing Deficits

Visual Perceptual skills involve the ability to organize and interpret the information that is seen and give it meaning. The clearer we can see the easier and more
accurate the brain can process the information to make the best decisions based on the thoughts we have formed. Perceptual problems include missing small but important differences in shapes, reversing letters or numbers, skipping words, skipping lines, copying or drawing. Visual perception can affect gross and fine motor skills, reading comprehension, and math.

Auditory Processing Deficits

Sound

Auditory processing disorder also know as central auditory processing disorder is not hearing loss. It is simply a hearing problem where the brain doesn’t process the sound in normal way like “cold” and “called’; ‘wonder’ and ‘wander.’ An inability to distinguish small differences in hearing sounds can make it difficult to speak, read, and write in life and school situations.

ADHD and Executive Functioning Deficits

Attention / Focus Memory

Emma Velasquez

Depression

Lizzie Thompson

Emma Velasquez

Fine Motor Deficits

Handwriting

Children use fine motor skills to do school related tasks such as holding crayons and pencils, drawing pictures, copying shapes and letters, writing neatly, using scissors , rulers and many other tools for learning or playing, not forgetting dressing or brushing themselves. Students struggling with fine motor deficits face issue of writing and feel frustrated sometimes. Both teachers and parents should plan activities that help children to overcome these difficulties. Otherwise, their school work will suffer especially with poor writing, refuse to participate in fine motor tasks, and / or lose their self- esteem.

ASSESSMENTS

Cognitive Ability Tests

Emma Velasquez