Attention Deficit Disorder and Learning Disabilities

According to the National Institute of Health, It is estimated that about 3-5% of school age children have attention deficit disorder, commonly referred to as ADD.  Parents of kids with attention deficit disorder learn early on that their child has specialized needs when it comes to educational and social development.  ADD is considered a development disorder and is usually characterized by an increased pattern of hyperactivity as well as the inability to be attentive.  Currently, attention deficit disorder is the most common psychiatric disorder diagnosed in children and often leads to learning disabilities.

There are several reasons that both medical doctors and researchers believe that attention deficit disorder occurs.  One is environmental factors.  For example, high levels of lead in the body’s of preschool children were linked to an increased risk of ADD.  Another potential risk is the use of alcohol and cigarettes during pregnancy.  Some doctors believe that physical factors can also cause attention deficit disorder, such as a brain injuries.

There are many controversies surrounding attention deficit disorder.  The most common and prevalent is that attention deficit disorder is caused by vaccinations.  Researchers and advocates are currently conducting the necessary studies to have an official validation on whether or not getting a child vaccinated can contribute to attention deficit disorder.

 ADD is labeled as a learning disorder because the problem increases the child’s educational difficulty.  For example, one of the most vital things for a child’s learning success is the ability to pay attention.  Children with attention deficit disorder lack this skill.

Another reason that ADD is labeled as a learning disability is because children with the disorder lack organizational skills and increasingly make careless mistakes.  This can affect the quality of a child’s school work significantly and impairs the child of being able to produce school work that matches their true ability.

Children who are strongly affected by attention deficit disorder in their school life normally become adults affected in their work life.  In a survey sponsored by McNeil Pediatrics, it was determined that adults with attention deficit disorder had a more difficult time performing well on their jobs.  The academic impairment that attention deficit disorder has on children spills over into adulthood.  This can also lead to difficulties with personal relationships and problems with underemployment.

One way that many parents are able to cope with attention deficit disorder is by hiring a tutor.  A private tutor can have a huge impact on a child’s educational success.  The tutor provides the additional attention ADD-diagnosed children need to succeed.  There are tutors who specialize in helping students with learning disorders such as attention deficit disorder or dyslexia and these tutors are sensitive to the academic difficulties that the child faces.  Parents who effectively identify attention deficit disorder can better care for their child’s educational needs by providing them with the assistance required to cope with the problem.