A child can be described as a slow learner if his or her thinking skills develop at a notably slower rate than that of his or her peers. The child will carry on through the exact same developmental stages as his or her peers but at a comparatively slow rate. Also, the child typically has below-average intelligence.
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).
Slow learners tend to learn slower and are, in most cases, unable to retain what they learn. They also have a very short attention span. Learning does not happen incidentally for slow learners and they have to be directly taught. And they cannot link one learning to another unless specifically told.
Slow learners have weak comprehension skills and require more time to learn and understand. Hence, a teacher must understand this inability to concentrate and be patient with the student.
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, often simply called ADHD, is a common condition that impacts many children and adults. In some people, slow processing speed (taking longer than others to complete tasks or thoughts) is an indicator of ADHD.
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.
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.
German researchers discovered that the main problem for slow learners is not that learning processes are inefficient per se, but that the brain insufficiently processes the information to be learned. In an experiment, scientists trained the subjects' sense of touch to be more sensitive.
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.
Balado (2006) identified some characteristic of slow learners such as; they have poor communication and relation for their future, showing short term goals and poor self-image. Children learn at different rates and according to some well-known researches, children learn when they are mentally and physically prepared.
Now if the same student earned ≤55% marks (C grade) in any course, he/she will be referred as slow learner.
Intellectual disability is most often caused by changes to the genome that take place in early fetal development and are not found in the parents' DNA.
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.
ADHD is not on the autism spectrum, but they have some of the same symptoms. And having one of these conditions increases the chances of having the other. Experts have changed the way they think about how autism and ADHD are related.
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.
Medication can help treat slow processing speed and psychomotor impairment. The medication would depend on the severity of the condition and any other underlying conditions or causes. If your psychomotor symptoms are related to ADHD, it may help to take ADHD medications, such as: amphetamines (Adderall, Dexedrine)