Is this a learning disability? if so, what's it called?

Question

A family friends' son is having issues with writing. It seems like this issue has gone unnoticed or rather, overlooked with his teachers. He is having real issues taking his ideas and thoughts and writing them down on to paper.

It does not seem like a laziness issue when trying to get him to do his homework...he seems to really try but he gets super upset and frustrated because he cannot do it. His mom has even tried to get him to watch an episode of tv and then write down what the show was about - he cannot even do that! is there a learning disability out there like this? it does not seem like he is being lazy, he's really trying but he just cannot write! he's a very smart kid but i think there's a possibility that this issue has gone overlooked in the school system. he is in grade 11 by the way.

Anyone know what this is or have any ideas about what to do or try? thanks in advance.

Answer 1

It could be disgraphya (not sure of the spelling) this is when you have problems with writing.  Can he type if so suggest to his mother that he type stuff for school. It sounds like he knows what he wants to say it just won't go on to the paper. The other suggestion would be (especially  for exams) scribing where he tells someone else what to write.

Answer 2

yes. it's called Dysgraphia, especially if he has bad handwriting. or it could just be a writing disability.

Answer 3

That is a part of ADHD - inability to organize thoughts and followthrough

Answer 4

It could be a writing disability.

Answer 5

Ok this is called Audio processing disorder. I is when one has a hard time converting information taken in by one process and converting it to an other written. All you need to do is write to your specail education director at your school highlighting the issues your kid is having. Request a meeting with their team to discuss having comperhensive testing to see if there is any processing issues. you may find help at www.wrightslaw.com to help you advocate for or child. good luck!  -Charlene

Answer 6

It is called dysgraphia which is a learning disability in writing.

He needs to learn a strategy for putting ideas to paper. There are a lot of formulas to writing. He can be evaluated for his disability at his school. The special ed teachers usually know several different strategies to improve his writing.

Answer 7

my son has the same learning disablility.  I don't think there is a particular name for it.  my son cannot get his ideas organized in his head and down on paper. things are disconnected, don't make sense, jump around or missing.

he is also adhd, so he finds it really hard to concentrate.

it doesn't matter what the name for it is, as long as someone recongizes that there is something wrong, then they can be tested, and programs designed at school to help them work around it.

btw, some ppl prefer to call it a learning difference.  they aren't disabled, it just means that they do things differently.  he may need to recite rather than write down test answers etc.  there are ways of working around it.

i wish your friend all the best.

Answer 8

If he can read well, he doesn't have dyslexia, but it looks as though he might have a problem with written/expressive communication or just translating his ideas down on paper. I wonder if he had a speech problem as a youngster? I mean a delay in speech.  If he didn't then he should try and say whatever he has to write about before putting it down on paper. A tape recorder to record what he wants to say would be useful.

Answer 9

Let me clear something up, just because someone can read does not mean they don't have dyslexia which as someone said is a processing problem.

Has the school raised any concerns with your friend, about her son struggling in class etc?

I'd suggest they organize an assessment with a school psychologist who is qualified to assess for learning disabilities and other behavioural problems, ideally it should be done sooner rather than later.

Both my daughter and I are dyslexic, my daughter can read very well, but like your friends son could not write her thoughts and feelings down, her hand writing was as if a spider crawled across the page, her spelling was just as bad, (often mixing up letters and numbers) and is very disorganized while at school etc.

When assessed she had dyslexia, in the form of dysgraphia which specifically relates the inability to write and spell, and Dyscalculia which causes problems doing maths.

Where as I could not read until 14 but could write and spell, except for mixing up some letters/numbers, writing some letters such as b's & d's etc back to front (one of the links below will show you what I see when reading), and I have dyscalculia too.

However since finding out that we are dyslexic, my daughter  has become a Disability support worker, and I became a Youth and Disability support worker, wanting to support young people especially those with learning disabilities, having seen my daughter struggle through the education system, so I became a bit of a expert on dealing with

learning disabilities, specifically dyslexia and strategies on how best to assist a student within the class and at home.

Answer 10

take him to the doctor, i really don't know.. why hasn't anyone done anything about this before 11 grade? nobody has done anything about this.. darn.. wish you the best.. wish that you court this way before..

Answer 11

He probably has dislexia which is when you try to read a sentance or anything for that matter you see the letters all scrambled in different directions Their is nothing more you can do other than try harder I know quite a few people who are dislexic.

Answer 12

he might have add attention deficit disorder

Answer 13

There are numerous learning disabilities and tests to determine them....So if you have good reason to suspect a disability, get the kid tested so the child can know how to work around it.  But really, writers block is common to many that need or are required to put words to paper.  Even professionals that get paid to write suffer from this condition from time to time!

Answer 14

sounds to me like ADHD or ADD.i get angry in classes when we watch vids.i get so angry because the teacher thinks its a great idea and we will all love it...well...i hate it because i cant watch the video and then answer questions.i can't even fill out a packet or paper while im watchin the video.its really frustrating =/.that may be it because my brother has it and so do i.

Answer 15

it is normal for schools to overlook problems becuase they don't want to help children with these type of problems.

The only way that schools are legally liable to help with ANY problems is that the child has to be in special ed or have 504 plan.

They will not let parents know this and pass the kid on and on because they don't want to help.

He's already in 11th, so this is true in his case as well.

The only way the school can help now is  for the parent to request an evaluation to be done by the school to determine if he can qualify for special ed servcies.

The school will have 60 days from the date of the parents written consent to have eval done and hold an eiligiblity meeting to determine if child qualifies for special ed.

I have to tell you though, it will be a hard fight. schools will do anything and everything to get you to back off and leave.

So, I would say don't even bother with the school and get help elsewhere.

Answer 16

This could be an issue with processing. Does the child read well? Perhaps other forms of assessment would be appropriate. Is this child artistically or physically inclined? All people have different "wells of intelligence." Perhaps he could better express his comprehension with a different form - such as with a painting - diorama - dance - or invented machine. Believing that all people are capable of expressing themselves through writing is antiquated - every person's expressions are different - a genius might be found in something other than traditional writing. First - investigate whether this child might have a processing disability - such as a visual disorder. After those have been ruled out - consider that his well of intelligence might rest in a different arena. Check out the theories of Howard Gardner. This might help explain his "deficiencies."