Hello Everyone,
I am 26 years old and I’ve started thinking about the possibility that I have learning disability. My brother has dyslexia. I am also Deaf.
The reasons why I am thinking of the possibility of LD because of problems that I seem to have…
I do not have great attention when listening to someone. I do not have problems with attention when I’m reading a good book (which is basically just stories-nothing mind-bending or complex types of books). Or doing whatever that really really interests me. But when I am listening to someone, after a bit, I just seem to go off somewhere and then come back and it’s like.. what did we just talk about? I have some good memory for some things, but other things, I can’t remember… sometimes I can when it’s really jogged or something triggers it then I can remember. Otherwise it seems like it just goes in and out out one ear to another. I also seem to only be able to focus on doing one thing and then I forget everything else… and I’m supposed to be doing a couple things often…. I remember some things but soon after, I remember other things and then that replaces the things that I first remembered and do..but I’m not supposed to forget any of those things…
Also, I seem to not realize that I should be putting facts or 2 and 2 together when I’m supposed to to understand the bigger picture or the whole point. I understand things differently from others.
I have also learned recently that I have difficulty learning because I have fears about learning.
I guess my brain/mind is not used the way it’s supposed to be(?)
Cuz I’m trying to do things and then people say to me.. “USE YOUR HEAD! THINK!!! You are supposed to put things together in your head even if it can be from 2 different converstations, or 2 different things but basically the same thing in the same converstation.” That sort of thing.
I’ve been thinking about this… I am more geared through learning through example/models, hands on stuff… I much prefer to read a book that just tells stories, or do crafts types of things, or animals.. playing sports. I’ve always had problems in English, Math, etc.
I am thinking about getting myself tested, but for what types of LD should I be basically looking at if any of the above are symptoms of LD or I’m just not using my brain as I should and there’s nothing wrong with me? I do know that I need to find something to exercise my brain the way it should be or something like that.
Any information or help would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks for listening.
SilverFlower
Re: Question(s)
Arlene had good questions and comment, I look forward to getting more information from you. The challenges of communicating in a hearing world when you are Deaf could present challenges that would be the same as learning disabilities. Finding someone qualified to test you would also be challenge. I think you would be able to get any accomodations you need at school due to being deaf without needing any LD diagnoses. Are you involved with a Deaf community in your area? You can learn a lot about differet ways of processing information from the people on this board so it’s a good place to spend some time.
You said that you are deaf. How do you communicate? Do you use a hearing aid and/or lipreading? Do you use sign language?
If you have a hearing disability, I would suggest being evaluated by someone who is experienced in evaluating people who are deaf. A tester who has no experience with deaf people would be less able to administer a test in a way that would take into consideration your special needs,and would be less able to interpret the results. (e.g., if you have a hearing loss that made learning oral language more difficult, less fluent language might be due to hearing loss, rather than a learning disability. Not being able to think while trying to lipread might have something to do with the extra effort that lipreading requires.)
You would not need to know what type of learning disability you might have. You could request a learning disability evaluation or a neuropsychological evaluation, depending on what is available, and what you may be able to get covered by insurance, or that you can afford. When you go for an evaluation, I would suggest bringing a list of your concerns and relevant information that you may have. (e.g., any previous evaluations that might have been done if you were evaluated for special educational services because of your hearing loss).
I hope this helps!