HOW TO SUPPORT CHILD WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES

Learning disabilities are neuro-developmental disorders  that affect individuals brain’s ability to collect , process, analyze or store information. It affect wide range of functional and academic skills which includes the ability to:

• Listen
• Write
• Speak
• Read
• Organize information
• Reason
• Spell

Learning problems that are due to hearing, visual or motor handicap, mental retardation, environmental/ economical/cultural disadvantages or emotional disturbance are not included in Learning Disabilities.

It generally affect people with average or above average intelligence.

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF LEARNING DISABILITY ?

There is no specific cause for Learning disability but some factor may contribute to it:

• Heredity : Having parents with learning disability may put the child at risk of developing learning disability
• Stress during early childhood: Experiencing stressful incidents after birth like Head injury, fever or poor nutrition can also contributes to learning disability.
• Environment : Excessive exposure to toxins such as lead etc can increase the risk of learning disability.
• Problems during or after pregnancy : Injury or illness during or after birth, low birth weight, exposure of fetus to drugs or alcohol, premature or prolonged labor etc may enhance the risk of learning disability.

TYPES OF LEARNING DISABILITIES :

• Dyslexia : Language processing disorder in which individual face difficulty in reading, speaking, writing or understanding words. Child vocabulary develops at slow pace.
• Dysgraphia : Individual have problem in putting thoughts into writing. Characterized by poor handwriting as individual show struggle with spatial awareness, letter spacing and motor planning. Person finds it hard to think and write simultaneously.
• Dyscalculia : Also known as math dyslexia . Individual have difficulty with numbers, reasoning and concept. They struggle to read clock, tell time, identify number patterns, count money and apply mathematical formulae.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF LEARNING DISABILITY ?

Some of the common signs are :

• Difficulty telling time
• Short attention span
• Difficulty spelling out words
• Poor memory
• Difficulty in telling time
• Difficulty in reading or writing
• Not able to distinguish between letters, sounds or numbers
• Difficulty in focusing.
• Tendency to reverse letters
• Poor hand-eye coordination
• Disorganized
• Confusion between right or left
• Delayed development of speech.
• Difficulty in expressing emotions and thoughts
• Resistance to changes
• Trouble with following and listening instructions
• Restlessness
• Impulsiveness
• Difficulty with discipline

WHAT ARE THE SUPPORT OPTIONS FOR LEARNING DISABILITIES ?

To support child with Learning Disabilities following options are helpful:

• Special education : Specially trained teacher that helps child to built on child’s strengths and improve child’s academic skills.
• Individualized Education program (IEP) : Developing a special program to specify child’s academic goals and ways to obtain the said goals.
• Therapies: Depending upon the type of learning disorder therapies like speech therapy, occupational therapy, language therapy etc might helps the individuals.

HEALTHY LIFE-STYLE HABITS FOR LEARNING DISABILITY PERSON :

• Sleep : Well rested mind helps to process information more easily. So set a timetable for sleep and limit the screen time before bedtime as light emitted by screens activate the brain.
• Exercise : Regular physical activities helps to improve energy, mood and also provide mental clarity. It helps child to stay attentive and alert throughout the day.
• Diet : Nutrient rich healthy diet helps in development and growth of child thus helps to boost mental focus. Eat good breakfast and eat once every four hours to keep energy levels stable throughout the day.
• Also encourage healthy emotional habits to make them feel connected with their feelings and gradually learning to calm down and regulate their emotions.

AYURVEDIC APPROACH :

In Ayurveds altered functioning of  either one of Indriyas( sense organs ), Manas(mind) and Buddhi( intellect )  hampers the learning process.  When function of Dhi is impaired it cause disability of proper judgment of things. Dhrti vibhramsa cause loss of control over Indriya to maintain perception. Bhuddi become confused due to smriti vibhramsa and Manas get covered by tamas and rajas leading to many behavioral and emotional problems . All these things act as barrier in learning.

PANCHKARMA :

• Nasya : In ayurveda nose is said to be gate way of shira. So drug administered through nose helps to eliminate vitiated doshas and provide nourishment to brain , eyes , ear and throat.
• Shiro-abhyanga :It helps to improve blood circulation in head area thus relax the mind and provide nourishment to brain structures.
• Shiro pichu: It is highly beneficial for nerves, brain, sense organs and hairs. It also pacify the vitiated vata and pitta dosha in head.
• Shiro-dhara: It helps to control brain and spinal cord functions and also control and act on marmas ( vital points ). It relaxes the mind thus enhance awareness, improve memory and clear the tone of voice

HERBS :

• Kushmanda
• Jeevanti
• Amalaki
• Vidari
• Vacha
• Aswagandha

YOGA ASANAS :

• Savasana
• Sukhasana
• Padmasana
• Pavanamuktasana

CHANDIGARH AYURVEDIC CENTER MEDICATION FOR LEARNING DISABILITIES

1. Brodley Syrup:

This syrup maintains the overall activity of the brain. As the herbs used for the preparation of this syrup are Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri), Shankhpushpi (Convolvulus pluricaulis), Dhania (Coriandrum sativum), Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Saunf (Foeniculum vulgare), etc. These all acts as a mind relaxant. The use of this syrup provides good results to the dementia patient. This syrup has the best memory boosting power and helps in increasing the blood flow to the brain. It is used as an antioxidant that increases retention power

Recommended Dosage: Take 2 teaspoonful twice daily.

2. Mann Mitra tablet:

Mann Mitra tablet is herbal and purely ayurvedic medicine. It is used in Ayurvedic treatment for psychiatric conditions and help to balance all the three doshas of body i.e vata, pitta, kapha. CAC Mann Mitra tablet improves intelligence and speech problems. It is helpful for making the nervous system strong and nerves as well. It contains various herbs like Bala, Vacha, Shankhpushpi, Nagkeshar etc that help you fight insomnia, anxiety, and stress. It works as a antioxidant, anti depressant, immuno booster, anti epileptic and as neuro protective drug.

Recommended Dosage: Take 1 tablet twice a day with normal water.

3. Rasayan Vati:

Rasayan vati is herbo-mineral Ayurvedic formulation which contains various herbs such as Aswagandha, Shilajeet, Amla, Musali, Shatavar, Brahmi, Abhrak Bhasam, Mukta pisti, Praval pisti, , Kaunch Beej, Saunth, Mirch, Brahmi, etc. These ingredients show antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, analgesic, immune-modulator properties. These tablets provides good results in General debility, Psychological disorders, and improves immunity.

Recommended Dosage: Take 1 tablet twice daily.

4. Brain relaxant churna:

This churna is a pure Ayurvedic preparation which contains Amla (Emlica officinalis), Sonth (Zingiber officinale), Pippali (Piper longum), Marich (Piper nigrum), Haldi (Curcuma longa), Bala (Sida cordifolia), Suddha gandhak, Lauha bhasma, etc. It is mainly used for the treatment of psychiatric conditions, speech problems, to improve the intelligence and also beneficial in sleep disturbances, panic attacks, phobia, and relieves stress.

Recommended Dosage: Take 1 tablespoonful twice daily.