Dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties SpLDs

1
Dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties
(SpLDs)

• How SpLDs affect students in HE

2
Overview

• What are specific learning difficulties?
• How do SpLDs affect students in HE?
• What support is available?
• Disabled Students Allowance
• Contact details

3
What are specific learning difficulties?

• Dyslexia
• Dyspraxia
• Dyscalculia
• ADHD

4
Dyslexia

• Working Memory Difficulties
• Sequencing Difficulties
• Differences between oral and written abilities
• Difficulties processing language
• Poor general organisation
• Lack of automaticity

5
Strengths

• Different way of thinking
• Different set of skills (West)
• Good powers of visualisation
• Creative thinking
• Range of artistic skills
• Holistic rather than analytical approaches

6
Dyspraxia

• Motor co-ordination difficulties
• Poorly formed, slow handwriting
• Organisation and concentration difficulties
• Perception and spatial difficulties

7
Dyscalculia

• Difficulty in understanding simple number
  concepts
• Difficulty learning number facts and procedures
• Telling the time, calculating prices, handling
  change.

8
ADD

• Attention Deficit Disorder
• Affects attention and concentration
• Hyperactivity
• Impulsivity
• 67 children diagnosed with ADD continue to
  experience some symptoms in adulthood

9
Challenges in HE

• Reading speed and comprehension
• Writing poor organisation of ideas weak
  sentence structure weak punctuation, and
  grammar poor handwriting

10
Challenges in HE (2)

• Spelling mixing up letters homophone
  confusion lack of sound/symbol correspondence
• Slow speed of processing all aspects of study
  can be very time consuming lack of concentration
• Memory affects reading comprehension
  structuring ideas learning new terminology need
  for over learning

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Challenges in HE (3)

• Sequencing words/letters ideas numbers
  images
• Speech word retrieval pronunciation of
  multi-syllable words
• Organisational difficulties personal
  organisation time management direction
• Emotional effects - low self-esteem lack of
  confidence history of criticism

12
Reading and Vision

• Visual perceptual difficulties blurring of text
  distortions black and white
• Often co-exist with dyslexia and/or other SpLDs
• Coloured overlays and lenses

13
How academic schools can help

• Photocopies of lecture notes/presentations in
  advance or notes or on blackboard
• Allowing students to record lectures
• Prioritised reading lists
• Key words to help with note-taking and web
  searches
• Dyslexia friendly handouts colour/font/size
• Written instructions as well as oral

14
How LDC can help

• Screening interview and computer assessment
• Full assessment test battery
• Overlay assessments
• Recommendations for special examination
  arrangements such as extra time

15
How LDC can help (2)

• Individual academic study skills tutorials
• Reading students work aloud help with editing
  skills
• Help with application for the Disabled Students
  Allowance

16
Disabled Students Allowance

• Many UK undergraduates and postgraduates are
  eligible to apply
• NHS Student Grants Unit or Local Authorities
• Funding for academic skills tutorials
• Specialised software and other technological aids

17
Contact details

• Learning Differences Centre
• 11-12 University Crescent
• Moving to 45 University Road, Highfield
• 023 8059 2759 (internal 22759)
• dyslexia_at_soton.ac.uk
• www.soton.ac.uk/studentsupport/ldc