Slow learners typically do not have a disability, even though they need extra support. They are stuck between a rock and a hard place: their cognitive abilities are too high to be considered for an intellectual disability, but their cognitive abilities are usually too low to be considered for a learning disability.
Those who fall two standard deviations below the mean are often identified as having an Intellectual Disability (IQ below 70). A slow learner does not meet criteria for an Intellectual Disability(also called mental retardation). However, she learns slower than average students and will need additional help to succeed.
Slow processing speed is not a learning disorder. To be considered to have a learning disorder, a student must have the following: Average or better intelligence. Patterns of substantial processing differences.
A child with a learning disability may have difficulties in reading, writing, speaking, listening, understanding mathematical concepts, and with general comprehension. Learning disabilities include a group of disorders such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia and dysgraphia.
Dyslexia
Underneath the learning disability umbrella, many disabilities are categorized as one of three types: dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia.
So, what's the difference between ADHD and an LD? An LD makes it difficult to acquire specific skills such as reading skills or math skills. By contrast, ADHD impacts more global skills and executive functions like the ability to focus, the ability to control emotions, and the ability to control impulsive behaviour.
There are different types of causes of slow learning. Among these, low intellectual abilities such as sub-normal IQs, some personal factors, psychological factors, environmental factors etc are very common causes of slow learning.
Definition of slow learners
The slow learner is generally considered as a student who achieves a full-scale score between 70 to 85 (or 89) on formal IQ testing. This range of IQ is thus considered as a borderline intellectual disability (cognitive impairment) or low average intellectual capability.
Characteristics of Slow Learners: 1. The IQ of Slow Learner is between 80 and 90 (as per Stern and Terman).
While dyslexic children have difficulty reading, they are of normal intelligence and not slow learners. “It is really important that the child understands that he is not slow or lazy. He has a reading difficulty, just like other people have a problem with their vision, their health or their hearing.
Done effectively, slow learning can help you focus better, understand more and stack knowledge for life. It's a better approach to move knowledge from your working memory to your long-term memory bank. Over the long term, slow learners retain more than faster learners.
Let him take little breaks or talk about things he is good at to motivate himself to meet his goals. Tell him that he is unique, and he must never compare his achievement with others. Don't focus on writing: Children who are slow learners tend to learn better through oral methods than the written mode.
Slow processing speed is most frequently the result of genetics. In all likelihood, either you, your child's other parent, or a close biological relative has had difficulty with processing information efficiently.
Is Autism a Learning Disability? Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is not a learning disability, but it can affect learning — in part because autism can affect language skills, both when listening and speaking.
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is not a learning disability; however, it does make learning difficult. For example, it is hard to learn when you struggle to focus on what your teacher is saying or when you can't seem to be able to sit down and pay attention to a book. You can have both.
When any of us feel anxious, we freeze for a moment. During that time, we're not processing information as fast as we might otherwise be. We may take longer to respond, make decisions or size up situations. That's how anxiety can impact processing speed.
Both can represent very high IQs. I ponder this question myself. But I have found that, some smart people are slow learners because the speed at which you learn isn't the biggest factor in determining your intelligence, gaining a deep understanding of a subject is.
There's also a common misunderstanding that individuals with slow processing speed may not be smart. However, we know that this isn't the case. Many people with slow processing speed possess high intelligence and may have a high IQ. It just takes them longer to process information and articulate a response.
The average child's IQ is not stable until around four years of age. It may be much later in children who were born early or who have significant health issues.
It's caused by brain differences that make them take longer to do things than other kids. This includes doing homework, having a conversation, and making decisions like what to eat for breakfast. Slow processing speed can happen on its own. But it often co-occurs with ADHD, dyslexia, and anxiety.
And since nearly all kids get faster as they get older, a grade-schooler with slow processing speed will be faster in middle school. But he will likely still have slower processing speed than his peers. For a small number of kids, their processing speed may “catch up” with their peers.