Children diagnosed with non-verbal learning disabilities or NVLD have verbal skills but find it extremely difficult to handle social situations as well as visual-spatial reasoning. They might also have issues with certain motor tasks, organization, and flounder at adapting to tasks they’ve never tried or done before. The disorder has criteria that overlap with some of those that are associated with ADD or ADHD, as well as with Autism Spectrum Disorders. If your child has NVLD, it might be challenging to find schools that offer the level and quality of support that your child needs.
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Here’s what you need to know and how you can find the right school for a child with NVLD:
Why a Diagnosis Matters
Knowing that your child has a condition helps ease access to support, making it easier for your child and family to get the help you need. Also, knowing about non-verbal learning disability and how it affects individuals aids you in finding a school in Dubai that has the resources and staff to provide the best possible educational experience for a child with special needs. You’re going to need a lot of help. Knowing that there are other kids and parents out there who are in the same situation that you’re in also helps you learn your child’s rights in the matter.
Know the Signs
Make sure it’s really NVLD. Bring your little one to a child development specialist. Getting a diagnosis will help you determine the right approach to take with your kid. By knowing if your baby has a learning disability, you can plan your next step much better. You’ll have a clearer set of goals.
Learn More
If it’s NVLD, then learn more about the situation. Find out what happens. For instance, many kids with learning disorders live full, rich, and active lives, with the disability only hampering them in some small way. They are able to live independently, find jobs they love or excel at, and basically achieve a measure of happiness in their lives. That’s everything most parents could ever want for their kids. That’s also the worry that most people have about raising children with learning disabilities.
Each Case is Different
Don’t be discouraged, though. Every case is different. Mild learning disabilities impact kids but not to a significant degree, so they are able to overcome the hurdle. Your child might be the same. Don’t automatically assume that it’s too late or that your child has no hope of ever living a normal life. With the right learning environment, your little one will thrive and learn like the rest.
Manage Your Emotions
It’s going to be hard. It’s going to feel unfair at times, especially when you see other kids easily picking up concepts or playing with toys while yours only bangs on the toy set, with little to no intuitive understanding or comprehension of what should be done or how to do it. Remember that kids can feel emotions. Your child might not know exactly what you mean, but your little one can pick up on whether you’re angry or not. Manage your emotions. If you’re tired, rest. It’s going to be hard to come to terms with the fact that your little one might have a learning disability, but it’s also early enough to make sure that your child has all the help necessary to overcome whatever limitations that condition might bring. Reach out to your friends and community for support because you, along with your child, will need the help.
Try Other Learning Styles
There is a range of other learning styles that might prove effective to your child. Kids who are nonverbal or who might not be communicating well enough due to hearing loss, apraxia, autism, or other similar conditions can learn in other ways—research about them. Better yet, find a school that offers those learning styles.
Choose the Right School
When you look for a school, find out if they are equipped to handle children with learning disabilities. Will your child receive help that’s tailored to the little one’s needs? The last thing you want is for the teachers to force your child to understand the lessons at the same time as all the other kids do in the class. Such ineffective teaching strategies will only serve to impact your child’s development and growth negatively.
Get Treatment
Make sure you consult a trained specialist on treatment options that are best for your child. Which one will give your little one the best chance at living a normal life? If your kid requires treatment, then it must be individualized to their needs and appropriate for their age. That’s why you’ll need to consult with specialists like an audiologist, speech-language pathologist, an occupational therapist, and maybe even a social worker. You’ll also need to consult with your child’s teachers.
These are just some of the ways to help you find support for your child. Learn more when you get started.
