Children with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) often have additional diagnoses as they grow, which can include learning disabilities.
What are learning disabilities?
According to the Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA), learning disabilities are neurologically-based processing issues that interfere with acquiring basic skills or more complicated planning, memory, attention, and organization skills (1).
Learning disabilities include:
- ADHD
- Dyslexia
- Dyscalculia
- Dysgraphia
- Auditory processing disorder
- Visual perceptual/visual motor deficit
- Language processing disorder
- Non-verbal learning disabilities
- Memory disorders
- Executive functioning disorders &
- Dyspraxia
Different types of learning disabilities describe issues with one or more specific academic skills, like reading (dyslexia), writing (dysgraphia), or math (dyscalculia), and the brain’s difficulty with processing, storing, or retrieving certain kinds of information. Because of their association with academic performance, learning disabilities are most commonly diagnosed during the school years. Adults, however, can have learning disabilities as well. 1 in 5 Americans live with a learning or attention issue (2).
Is there a difference between intellectual disabilities and learning disabilities?
An intellectual disability is a combination of significant issues with intellectual functioning (learning, reasoning) and adaptive behaviors (practical skills, social skills) (3). If a child has a learning disability, this does not necessarily mean that they have an intellectual disability, though some children with learning disabilities do also have intellectual disabilities.
Response to Intervention (RTI)
Generally, if a child is struggling academically, the child is provided with ‘Response to Intervention’ services before being formally evaluated for a learning disability.
How does RTI work?
The teacher assesses all of their students’ skills. Children who are identified as “struggling” are monitored by RTI specialists or an RTI team. The faculty will then provide classroom interventions to assist struggling students. RTI services help distinguish learning difficulties due to poor schooling from learning difficulties related to learning disabilities specifically. If RTI services are ineffective, the child is then screened for learning disabilities as part of mandated Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) protocols.
Learning disability evaluations
Students are evaluated for learning disabilities from trained professionals and with the consent of their parents or legal guardians. Your child’s school psychologist should perform the evaluation, along with the help of any necessary specialists. Often, speech-language pathologists assist if part of the evaluation is related to language/communication issues (4). Each evaluation, by law, must gather information about all areas of “suspected disability.” The evaluation involves (5):
- Observing the child in the classroom
- Talking with the child
- A formal test
- Comprehensive overviews of the child’s school history and performance
- An analysis of medical history
People diagnosed with learning disabilities can do well academically, provided they receive quality instruction and are given the proper adaptive strategies for creating workarounds, often through an Individualized Education Program (IEP). Children with learning disabilities can have average or above-average intelligence and potential, but an undiagnosed learning disability often means lower academic achievement (1). It is important to screen for learning disabilities properly, because an improper screen may lead to an incorrect diagnosis, such as, diagnosing a child as having an intellectual disability when they actually have a learning disability.
About HIE Help Center
Has your child been diagnosed with a learning disability related to HIE? We’re here to help! HIE Help Center is run by ABC Law Centers, a medical malpractice firm exclusively handling cases involving hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and other birth injuries since 1997.
If you suspect your child’s HIE may have been caused by medical negligence, contact us to learn more about pursuing a case. We provide free consultations, during which we will inform you of your legal options and answer any questions you have. Moreover, you would pay nothing throughout the entire legal process unless we obtain a favorable settlement.
Related reading
For more information on HIE and learning disabilities, read:
- Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) for Disabilities
- Understood.org: Learning disabilities: What they are and aren’t
- Successful Strategies for Teaching Students with Learning Disabilities
- National Joint Committee on Learning Disabilities: Responsiveness to Intervention and Learning Disabilities
Sources
- Types of Learning Disabilities. (2018, April 18). Retrieved April 5, 2024, from https://ldaamerica.org/types-of-learning-disabilities/
- The State of Learning Disabilities Today. (n.d.). Retrieved April 7, 2024, from https://ldaamerica.org/lda_today/the-state-of-learning-disabilities-today/
- Frequently Asked Questions on Intellectual Disability. (n.d.). Retrieved April 8, 2024, from https://www.aaidd.org/intellectual-disability/faqs-on-intellectual-disability
- How are learning disabilities diagnosed? (n.d.). Retrieved April 8, 2024, from https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/learning/conditioninfo/diagnosed
- Morin, A. (n.d.). The Evaluation Process: What to Expect20. Retrieved April 8, 2024, from https://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/evaluations/evaluation-basics/the-evaluation-process-what-to-expect