Disabilities demystified

Experts are usually cautious about labeling a child "learn- ing disabled." Parents should be cautious, too.

"You have reason to be con- cerned about a learning disabil- ity when a child is at least two years below grade level in a specific academic subject such as reading or math and per- forming near, at or above grade level in other subjects," said John Laurence Miller, a learn- ing and education specialist and author of "Mind Magic."

"Keep in mind there are many other causes of problems in school. The solution to what seems like a learning problem can sometimes be as simple as a prescription for reading glasses," Miller said.

Even among children diag- nosed as learning disabled, a very small minority (probably less than 1 percent) have a brain disorder that actually keeps them from learning a par- ticular subject, Miller added.

More often, they have trouble with some underlying skill, such as keeping the order of events straight or staying fo- cused on a task for a long time. That difficulty makes school hard for them.

The good news is that it is usually possible to help chil- dren build up the necessary skill or find a way of working around it. In the end, this should allow children to be as successful academically as their peers, even though the way they learn may be a little different.

Concerned parents should speak with their child's school psychologist or adviser. For more information about intel- ligence and learning, visit www.power-your-mind.com.