To his parents and teachers, Michael is a bright boy

with a quick mind. BUT:

He cannot express himself well in writing. He fails his tests most of the time. He has difficulty reading even simple storybooks. Why? Maybe Michael is just lazy or careless. Or is he just being naughty and playful when it comes to schoolwork? Or maybe, just maybe, he could be DYSLEXIC.

What is a Learning Disability?

Children with a learning disability (LD) have "faulty wiring" in their brains. This does not mean they are stupid or have low IQ. In fact, they may be as smart as any other child. However, they have problems with common, everyday skills like reading, writing, spelling, reasoning, recalling and organising information, especially if they are being taught in the same way as other children.

These are NOT Learning Disabilities

- learning problems caused by physical disabilities such as blindness and deafness

- learning problems caused by intellectual disability (i.e. low IQ)

- emotional, cultural and financial problems within the family

- learning at a slower pace - the child may just need more time to bloom and catch up with others.

It is important for a child with learning difficulties to be identified early. From differentiating teaching methods and worksheet design, to developing a task list for the student, teachers can make adjustments to his learning environment to help him to cope.

- Mdm Hanisnah Kasmuri, Learning Needs Specialist