What is a Language Based Learning Disability (Simplified)

Is your child facing challenges with reading, understanding, or using language? These could be signs of a language based learning disability (LBLD).

A language-based learning disability includes problems with:

Reading
Writing
Oral communication
Language processing

It is considered a spectrum disorder because it can affect a wide variety of skills. It makes sense because communication is pretty much the basis for everything.

So, sometimes you will see additional challenges with:

Social interactions with their peers
Problem-solving skills
Disorganized planning
Attention problems
Self-regulation

Language-based learning difficulties have nothing to do with intelligence or aptitude. Gifted students can face these challenges, too, despite their superior intelligence.

Also, how LBLD affects one child can be vastly different than the other. One child can have problems with oral language skills. While another needs help with written literacy skills. Still, another student will need help with all academic skills involving reading, writing, and communicating.

A language based learning disability is not the same as a speech disorder. A speech disorder affects a child’s ability to make vocal sounds to produce words.

Each child’s experience with LBLD is unique. The blend of their natural brain structure and their experiences with language shapes their struggles.

However, understanding these challenges is the first step toward the proper support and strategies to help them succeed.

Spotting the Signs of LBLD Early On

Figuring out if your child has a specific language impairment might seem challenging. You might think it’s just something they will grow out of.

But don’t put it off! Catching these signs early matters a lot. Getting help as soon as possible helps with school success.

Here are signs to watch out for:

Delay in talking
Struggling to express their thoughts or feelings
Issues with understanding or following oral instructions
Difficulty pronouncing words
Trouble learning new words
Mixing up the order of letters in words
Forgetting the sounds of letters regularly
Struggling with written tasks
Poor spelling skills
Slow reader
Not understanding the words they read (reading comprehension)
Failing reading-heavy subjects like history or literature
Puts up a fight when given a reading or writing assignment

Knowing these early warnings can help a lot. They show us it’s not just a phase but could be part of a larger language problem.

Language problems affect many different aspects of your life. Keeping an eye out and getting help if you’re worried will make a big difference in how well your child does in school.

Specific Language-Based Learning Disorders

How an IEP Supports Your Child with LBLD

To help children with LBLD, they might get special help at school. This is where the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) comes in. It indicates that children who need it can get this help.

Your child must be diagnosed with a specific learning disability to qualify for an IEP.

An LBLD is considered a specific learning disability.

A speech-language pathologist (also called a speech therapist) could help figure out if your child’s struggles are due to LBLD.

An Individualized Education Plan, or IEP, is like a map designed just for your child’s education. Not everyone can follow the same path to academic achievement because of different challenges.

That’s what an IEP does. It recognizes your child’s unique needs and lays out a specific path to success.

IEP Team Effort:

Creating this education program plan isn’t something you do on your own. You’ll work with a group called an IEP team. This team includes special education teachers who know much about learning differences and educational professionals specializing in language strategies.

Your feelings and thoughts as a parent are a big part of this process.

IEP Goals and Tools:

The IEP sets specific goals for your child and picks out tools and teaching strategies that make learning more accessible for them.

Accommodations:

The IEP also ensures your child gets certain aids to help them keep up with school work. This could mean they get more time to finish assignments or use computer programs to stay organized.

These supports ensure your child can learn at a speed that’s right for them, making school a less scary place.

An IEP is a powerful way to tackle the educational hurdles your child might face due to LBLD. It’s about creating a learning environment that understands and supports their needs, paving the way for their success in school and beyond.

How Speech-Language Pathologists Help Your Child

SLPs are key players if your child has weak language skills. They will provide your child with a complete language evaluation. SLPs know how to determine what’s going on and can make a language treatment plan that fits your child.

Language therapists focus on helping your child get better at speaking and understanding.

SLPs develop fun and effective ways to practice language abilities, making it easier for your child to learn and make friends.

Helpful Ways to Teach Kids with Language Learning Challenges

If your child has trouble with age-appropriate reading, writing, and talking, specific teaching methods can help. We must find fun and clear ways for them to learn. Let’s look at some helpful teaching styles.

Mixing senses:

Use as many senses as possible together. For example, your child could learn new words by:

Looking at pictures
Saying the words out loud
Writing the words down

By doing all of these at the same time, it helps make connections in their brain.

Step by step:

Break down learning into small steps. Show your child how to do one part before introducing the next. This makes big topics seem easier and less scary.

At their speed:

Everyone learns at their own pace. Make sure your child feels okay taking their time to understand things fully.

You play a big part in your child’s learning journey. By trying these methods, you support them in a way that makes sense to them.

Learning should feel like a fun adventure, not a tough chore. With your help, your child will see improvement and gain confidence each day.

Tech Tools That Make a Difference in LBLD

For kids who find reading, writing, and understanding language tough, technology can be a big help.

Organizing Apps

Some apps help your child keep their school work in order. They will keep track of their assignments and remember their homework.

Some apps to check out:

Text-to-Speech Apps:

Some apps read text out loud. This means your child can listen to their lessons and understand better, going at their own pace.

Language Programs:

Speech therapists use special computer programs to determine where your child needs help.

You can also use these programs at home to help your child practice language, strengthening them in areas they find difficult.

Language programs to check out:

As parents, you play a big part in your child’s learning journey. Teachers and speech therapists are important, but your support at home is vital.

Using tech tools together can make learning more fun and less stressful for them.

As technology continues to get better, so will the support it offers to your child. It’s all about working together – you, your child, and their teachers – to tackle the challenges of LBLD head-on.

Finding Help and Resources for LBLD

Finding the proper support for the development of fluent language skills can seem hard at first.

But many places are ready to help you, your child, and their teachers. Knowing where to look for help can change everything.

Here are additional resources:

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA):

This group gives you lots of info about LBLD. They tell you how special language teachers can help with speaking, listening, and reading skills.

Reading Rockets:

This group helps kids get into reading and tackle any reading troubles. They’re not just for little kids; they have tips for all ages.

The Landmark School Outreach Program:

They have different programs to help students with LBLD. They know a lot about this topic and offer seminars and free online resources.

Special Education Tutoring:

Too often, children with special needs struggle because the traditional educational system does not address their unique needs.

No child is the same–and it makes sense that they would need a personalized tutoring approach to reach their full potential.

Special Ed Resource offers special needs tutoring for all learning disabilities and styles, tailored to each child.

Starting to help someone with LBLD gets easier when you know where to find support. These resources can help make education better and more inclusive for everyone.

Getting this help is essential for your child’s education journey.

Together, We Can Support LBLD Learners

Taking steps on this journey has shown us the ups and downs students with language disorders navigate. Yet, it has also highlighted the powerful support structured help can bring.

Spotting the early signs is key. This could mean trouble with reading or finding the right words when speaking.

Getting help early from school experts, special educators, and speech-language pathologists can make a world of difference. They assess language-based learning disabilities in a caring, skilled way, laying a foundation for success.

The journey doesn’t end here. It calls for our collective action and relentless encouragement. Our shared responsibility is to ensure these learners not just get by but excel, brimming with confidence and a strong belief in their abilities.

Around every student faced with language ability challenges, a community of support awaits, ready to illuminate the path to a promising future of possibilities.

Do you have a child that needs one on one assistance?

We offer one-on-one special education tutoring that can be done from anywhere the student is! Why? Because our special education experts conduct their sessions online!

Get started with a free consultation today!

Additional Resources

Is your child struggling with reading, writing, or communicating? It could be a language based learning disability. Here’s what you need to know.