LD Awareness

Dyslexia is a language-based LD that affects one’s ability to read, as well as to comprehend what has been read. It also affects related skills such as spelling, writing, pronunciation, rhyming, understanding word problems in math, and recognizing and remembering common words in text. Research has shown that people with dyslexia tend to excel at 3D spatial reasoning, big-picture thinking, and creative problem-solving, among other strengths!

An estimated 1 in 5 of the population has dyslexia, and it often runs in families. Students with dyslexia benefit greatly from systematic, explicit instruction in language; read about structured literacy instruction at Westmark.

Dyscalculia is a language-based LD that affects one’s mathematical abilities. A person with dyslexia is likely to have trouble counting, calculating, working with math symbols and functions (e.g., +, -, <, >)  memorizing number facts (e.g., 2 x 2 = 4), telling time on an analog clock, understanding abstract concepts like place value, and more.

Like dyslexia, dyscalculia is not uncommon. At Westmark, math instruction is multisensory, employing visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and tactile strategies to boost student learning; read about Westmark’s multisensory, inclusive pedagogy.

Dysgraphia is a language-based LD that affects one’s ability to produce writing, i.e., handwrite legibly, type accurately, and spell correctly. It also affects skills related to the written word, including vocabulary and grammar. As a result, a person with dysgraphia may have trouble communicating their thoughts on paper.

Dysgraphia is not an indicator of intelligence! It is caused by trouble with fine motor skills. Students with dysgraphia benefit from assistive technology and proper accommodations, which Westmark makes readily available to students as needed.

Executive function (EF) encompasses the mental skills needed to manage daily life. These include but are not limited to: planning, organizing, setting goals, prioritizing, tracking progress, following directions, initiating and completing tasks, and staying focused and detail-oriented. EF isn’t a learning difference per se, but it is common in people with dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, and other LD.

Our faculty teach students routines and procedures to manage school life successfully; read about executive function training at Westmark.

A common condition, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurological disorder that challenges one’s ability to stay focused, keep still, and manage emotions and impulses.

ADHD has an impact on one’s executive function (EF); see above for the definition of EF. Westmark’s multisensory approach to teaching—which embraces movement, games, and brain breaks to help students release energy and increase focus—has proven helpful to students with ADHD; read about Westmark’s multisensory, inclusive pedagogy.

Auditory processing disorder (APD) refers to various challenges a person might have in understanding speech. It is not caused by hearing loss and is not an indicator of intellectual ability. Instead, it is a disorder of how the brain interprets sounds. Whether or not speech is loud and clear enough to others, people with APD may struggle with distinguishing between subtle differences in how words are pronounced, remembering what has just been said, and hearing well in a noisy environment.

At Westmark, proper accommodations in the classroom support our students with APD.

Visual processing disorder (VPD) refers to various challenges a person might have in processing visual information. It is not caused by vision loss, and it is not an indicator of intellectual ability. Instead, it is a disorder of how the brain interprets sights. People with VPD may struggle with accurately distinguishing similar letters or shapes, noticing a letter or shape against a background, and remembering what has just been read or viewed.

At Westmark, proper accommodations in the classroom support our students with VPD.

Often called a “neuropsych” or a “psych-ed” for short, a neuropsychological or psycho-educational evaluation is a series of questions and activities that measures how a brain functions. It tests wide-ranging abilities, including reading, math, writing, executive function, language usage, attention span, memory, processing speed, problem-solving, motor skills, visual-spatial processing, social-emotional skills, and more.

Learn why a neuropsych or a psych-ed is recommended if You Suspect Your Child Has a Learning Difference.