learning disability?

Hi everyone,

My son is 6yo. and over the past few months I've found that he can't retain things that are taught to him. He is an exceptionally bright child, picks up concepts, figures out things on his own without any help. Developmentally there is absolutely nothing wrong with him whatsoever, has friends, is a cheerful and happy child. But this "problem" is with his english and maths.

When we were overseas (he had a complete break for 2months - we got back three weeks ago), he picked up the language in no time - using the right phrases at the right place, basically he learnt the second language in two months, just by ear. He builds things with no problem, like lego, ikea furniture :p etc but nothing "pastes" into his mind. Its starting to become exhausting! Anyone got any ideas what I'm trying to deal with?

seeing as he's clever and bright, things must be sticking in his brain :)

maybe....(now to remember the theory from uni, lol, i'm a teacher ;))

he needs to DO things, he might learn a different way?? sorry i'm all muddled tonight myself, I'll find a link for you ;)

argh...can't find one easily.

Ok well.....there is theory (and I believe it makes sense) that everyone learns differently. So traditional 'delivery' of education just might not suit everyone. I know myself I learn quicker when doing things for myself, I'm much more practical. Some people learn visually. Some people learn better audibly.

What does his teacher say??

lol I know what you mean but do you get what I mean? I'll wait for your link :pray:

have you talked to his teacher???

I can't find a darn link :doh:

I'm homeschooling, I am his teacher - I think I'll head off and take him to the paediatrician and get him tested. Thanks for trying though :) I think I know what it is but I'll let the doc do the talking.....

ok then.....but that does change stuff, lol. you knw him best of course and I expect you'd kinda know if there was something more to it. Good luck.

sorry I assumed he was in school.

HAHA so you have spoken to his teacher !! ;)

i get what becstar is saying that perhaps atm the way he is choosing to learn is through natural learning not book learning..

what type of things is he not retaining? perhaps he isnt ready yet to comprehend what you are focussing on atm..?

No its okay, I know what she meant :D thanks :)

I gave him a good break for two months which I thought would help but no, its exactly the same which means I probably will need to get him assessed. He understands what I'm saying, comprehension isn't an issue, its more like a "copy and paste" problem. I'll give him four different letters in a lesson for example (and that will be it for the week) - but after ten mins, he'll get them mixed up. And this has been going on for a week. Its heartbreaking when he wants me to write down words for everything (anything he sees he wants to know the word) and he sooooo wants to learn it but it just doesn't stay. He adds and subtracts in his head, but on paper, on the whiteboard, on sand even, just doesn't seem to "connect". Anyways, I thought I'd ask here if anyone else knows what this might be...

I still don't think the paed will be able to help. I've seen numerous kids at this exact age be exactly the same. And I'm with doudou, I've seen them just suddenly BE ready and fly.

Get him checked if you want but he's still only 6....and readiness still has a lot of bearing on his ability to 'retain' knowledge. He needs to make connections and have it meaningful...more so than just letters on a page. And sometimes that just takes a certain level of maturity.

Good luck
xxxx

Ok thank you :) its painful for him when he says he wants to read and then he can't connect those letters for xyz reason, I agree with the maturity factor though - two months has made an incredible difference to his attitude towards doing work, where he sits down and makes a super effort to understand. Looks like I'll be doing more science in the backyard for him for a little longer yet :)

I don't think that sounds like too much of an issue just yet. There's a lot of research out there that says boys are ready for this kind of learning a lto later than we think.
I would just follow his lead with this - if he wants you to write words, write them Maybe write them really big and give them to him to cut out the letters and arrange them, if he's into "doing" Try and make it into something he can do with his hands. Keep going with what he's good at, and focus on his strengths. If he can do it in his head, that's great, it's a huge start. The rest will come.

If you decide to go ahead with assessment, I would start with a child psychologist. They can do tests for memory, IQ etc and determine his strengths, weaknesses and learning style. I would think that would give you a much better idea of what you need to know than what a paed can.