By Hada Litim

International studies show that one in every ten students suffers from some sort of Learning Difference; note that we do not call it Learning Disability!

A Learning Disability or Difference basically means that the person needs to be taught differently. National awareness is still in its early stages; however there are various groups, organizations and centers who have taken on the exhausting task of breaking the barriers of ignorance in Saudi Arabia, abolishing the stigma attached to the issue of Learning Differences.

Dr Raymond Hamden, a Clinical and Forensic Psychologist, who was invited to Jeddah by Future Experts Center to attend a workshop that was targeted towards parents, and educators asserts that, “Students learn in different ways. Some are visual learners, some have auditory preference, while others are tactile in absorbing information.

Learning Disorders are found in the average IQ to gifted students.  It is a discrepancy in learning information – math and languages may be easy while history and literature may be difficult; a student may understand a lesson through experience when unable to process the same information through just reading about it.” He added that, “Frustration is a factor for this bright student, as well as the parents, when some things are easy to learn and other topics are difficult.  These children are many times labeled as ‘lazy and only do what they want to do, and ignore what they don’t like’.  In reality, they are seeking the tasks that are pleasurable and avoiding the tasks that are too painful to process. It is natural to seek pleasure and avoid pain.”

So often, this type of student will be the one developing more behavioral problems in school which could remain with him throughout his adult life. Thus, the earlier a child is diagnosed, the more likely he or she is to recover and learn to adjust to the standard ways of teaching offered in mainstream schools.

How many more thousands will be victims of our ignorance before we decide to educate ourselves and others? A school or college drop-out is rarely an academic failure out of his or her own choice; somewhere along the journey there was a failure to recognize his or her individual needs. This is not an issue which is limited to our nation; it has been recognized in most developed countries. Worldwide measures are being taken at a national level to support every learner’s special needs.

Education is the pillar of every successful and productive society; Learning Differences need to become common knowledge so every citizen can be given a fair chance to participate in being a part of our future.