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Untreated learning disabilities can lead to drug use.
Growing up today for most teens is hard enough. Dealing with pressures to fit in, stress to keep grades up, and strains of their environment. can send some into a frenzy. Imagine living in this world plus having an diagnosed learning limitation, is causing some teens to self medicate. Teen learning disabilities have a profound effect on our society. Out of the 20 million kids who cannot read at grade level, nine million (that's almost half) have a learning disability. As children develop into teenagers, their learning disabilities become more profound. And, if the problem is not identified and solved, it can lead to frustration with school, poor performance and even dropping out. In addition to affecting the teenager, teen learning disabilities also have an effect on society; substance abuse, joblessness, welfare and even criminal behavior can be outgrowths of frustrations felt due to teen learning disabilities. Here are some fact to think about: - 60 percent of teens being treated for substance abuse have learning disabilities
- 50 percent of delinquent juveniles have learning disabilities that have not been detected
- The rate of learning disabilities among criminal offenders is 50 percent
- 31 percent of teens with learning disabilities are arrested between three and five years after graduating from high school
Frustrations associated with teen learning disabilities can be the root of substance abuse problems and criminal, or even violent behavior. Getting help for learning disabilities can result in less crime and fewer substance abuse problems. This kind of "self-medication" seems especially common among individuals whose ADHD remains undiagnosed, or who have been diagnosed but have never gotten treatment.
To prevent substance abuse: it is imperative to identify learning disabilities in children as early as
possible to deal with them promptly. This will reduce the likelihood that such children will drink
alcohol, smoke cigarettes, or abuse drugs.
Here are some common warning signs of teen learning disabilities:
- Short attention span: May have difficulty staying focused on one task for more than a few minutes
This includes sitting still and listening to a lecture or doing homework.
- Poor memory: Tendency to have trouble memorizing and retaining information.
- Difficulty following directions: Because of focus problems, memory problems or information,
processing problems, a teen with a learning disability may have trouble understanding and carrying
out instructions.
- Inability to discriminate between/among letters, numerals, or sounds: May mix up letters and numbers,
or may not be able to process auditory information.
- Poor reading and/or writing ability: It can be difficult for teens with learning disabilities to comprehend their
reading or organize their ideas for effective written expression.
- Eye-hand coordination problems; poorly coordinated: May not be able to complete school projects, especially
those requiring fine motor skills.
- Difficulties with sequencing: Putting things in order and learning to organize information
(including math-related information) is another hallmark of teen learning disabilities.
- Disorganization and other sensory difficulties: Most of these problems have to do with information processing.
- Learning disabilities make it hard for teenagers to properly process information.
There are additional characteristics that may accompany teen learning disabilities. Here are some of these:
- Performs differently from day to day.
- Responds inappropriately in many instances, including with violence in some cases.
- Distractible, restless, impulsive.
- Says one thing, means another.
- Difficult to discipline.
- Doesn't adjust well to change.
- Difficulty listening and remembering.
- Difficulty telling time and knowing right from left.
- Difficulty sounding out words.
- Reverses letters.
- Places letters in incorrect sequence.
- Difficulty understanding concepts or words.
- Delayed speech development; immature speech.
If you think your child might have a learning disability, contact a professional and have them evaluated.
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