For as long as he could remember, Matthew struggled with literacy. Reading and writing was always a challenge and he took a long time before he started reading independently. His parents recalled how he would stare at books and struggle to make sense of the words. The problems became noticeably worse when Matthew started Primary school as the work got harder and more demands were placed on his reading ability. Matthew was slower than his peers in learning and processing various concepts taught in school.
“I found it very difficult to understand what the teachers were saying. It was the same whether it was Science or Math class and I really struggled when doing practice papers,” he recounted. “In addition, I struggled a lot with English and Chinese as I would get stuck when it came down to spelling, reading and pronunciation.” Matthew was falling behind in school and getting increasingly demotivated.
Understanding Learning Disorders
Matthew had difficulties with reading, writing and computational ability. Learning disorders are a condition that some children are born with which affects their ability to read, write, or understand and process numbers. It is not due to intelligence or lack of motivation to learn. Some of the symptoms of learning disorders are:
- Difficulty telling right from left
- Reversing letters, words, or numbers, after first or second grade
- Difficulties recognizing patterns or sorting items by size or shape
- Difficulty understanding and following instructions or staying organized
- Difficulty remembering what was just said or what was just read
- Lacking coordination when moving around
- Difficulty doing tasks with the hands, like writing, cutting, or drawing
- Difficulty understanding the concept of time
Examples of learning disorders include
- Dyslexia – difficulty with reading
- Dyscalculia – difficulty with math
- Dysgraphia – difficulty with writing
Dyslexia, for example, affects how the brain decodes words and symbols. This can lead to learning issues in some languages and not in others. For example, some children have dyslexia in Chinese but not in English.
Are Kids in Singapore Being Over-Diagnosed With Learning Disorders
According to statistics and various research studies, the estimated prevalence of learning disorders is about 4% to 10% of Singapore’s school-going population. Such learning disorders are a hidden handicap, and the disabilities are manifested in how the brain processes graphic symbols (letters) and the sounds of words. The topic of learning disorders, whether dyslexia, ADHD, or autism, often comes up in casual conversations. Parents will often know of someone’s child who had recently been diagnosed with such a learning disorders, thus leading to the perception that such diagnoses are becoming increasingly common.
However, statistics and various research studies have shown the estimated prevalence of learning disorders is about 4% to 10% of Singapore’s school-going population. Such learning disorders are a hidden handicap, and the disabilities are manifested in how the brain processes graphic symbols (letters) and the sounds of words.
How Learning Disorders Affects the Individual
The effects of learning disorders may vary between individuals, who may also have other challenges such as Attention-Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD, or ADD) and emotional problems like anxiety. Parents of children with learning disorders often complain about how their children seem disinterested, unmotivated or resistant when it comes to studying. Teachers may complain of poorly done or incomplete homework and disruptive behaviour in the classroom. Such behavioural issues often point to an underlying learning disorder that may be causing the child to feel demoralised and even resentful of school.
Getting Access to Support In Singapore
Having a learning disorder does not have to spell the end of a child’s dreams or the parents’ ambitions for their children. While having the condition does impair reading and can affect learning and academic performance, getting early and comprehensive support can help children overcome deficits in reading, writing and go on to achieve success in school and their later careers.
Parents of children with learning disorders can communicate with schools to get additional help in the classroom and access arrangements during examinations. Arrangements can be made for the student to be taught by an educator who specialises in teaching kids with learning disorders.
How MandarinStars Helps Children With Learning Disorders
MandarinStars and FY Pyschology were established by Frances Yeo, an experienced and qualified psychologist with years of experience in public and private healthcare. She leads a team of qualified psychologists supported by associated speech and language therapists and special needs trained teachers. The highly experienced team are qualified to offer diagnostic assessments, school consultation and specialised curriculums with for children with learning difficulties such dyslexia, autism, ADHD and language delays.
The team are motivated by helping children achieve their fullest potential. Such has always been their guiding light and comes across when speaking with them. To help children with learning difficulties achieve their potential, MandarinStars employs structured Chinese programmes derived from research-proven teaching methods (e.g. Orton-Gillingham techniques for reading and spelling instruction). Each student is assessed before enrolment, so interventions are targeted to address specific learning needs. For instance, students with weak auditory working memory would be equipped with more visual supports to enable learning.
What Makes Learning At MandarinStars Different & More Effective
Teaching and student materials are specially written by the experienced team, and closely aligned with the Ministry of Education’s curriculum, to match what students learn in mainstream schools. Lessons are designed to be sequential meaning that students are taught basic concepts and progressively taught more difficult and advance concepts. In addition, each lessons are cumulative, building on concepts which they had learned. We use multi-sensorial activities and technology to make learning fun, dynamic and engaging.
As children with learning difficulties often suffer from poor self-esteem, the centre’s programmes also equip them with essential life skills. By breaking down learning into manageable parts, MandarinStars helps children build self-confidence and a sense of independent inquiry, empowering them to succeed in school and beyond.
Find out more about specialised learning programs at https://mandarinstars.sg
