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Week 1: (1) Gifted and talented Children

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Week 1: (1) Gifted and talented Children

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We are happy to announce the newly elected members of the NAGC Board of Directors and Network Chair-Elects! More: https://nagc.org/blogpost/2061726/511688/2025-NAGC-Election-Results

We are happy to announce the newly elected members of the NAGC Board of Directors and Network Chair-Elects! More: https://nagc.org/blogpost/2061726/511688/2025-NAGC-Election-Results

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National Association for Gifted Children | NAGC

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NAGC is the nation's leading organization focused on the needs of gifted and talented children. Dedicated to uplifting and empowering those who support children with advanced abilities, NAGC provides energizing professional learning, impactful research, and inspiring advocacy to ensure all children have equitable opportunities and support to develop their gifts and talents.

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The National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) focuses on advocating for and supporting the needs of gifted and talented children. It provides resources for educators, parents, and policymakers to help nurture exceptional learners.

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The site includes teaching strategies, professional development tools, and policy recommendations. Key topics include identifying giftedness, promoting equity, and supporting social-emotional needs.

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Schools- Guides on programs for gifted students.

Teachers- Professional development resources.

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Week 1: (2) Speech and Language impairments

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Week 1: (2) Speech and Language impairments

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Speech is how we say sounds and words. Language is the words we use to share ideas and get what we want.

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The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) provides information about speech, language, and communication disorders, along with treatment options and support resources.

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This site offers resources for understanding various speech disorders, such as stuttering, apraxia, and voice issues, along with guidance on early intervention and therapy.

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Specific guides for parents and professionals on managing and treating speech disorders.

School- Educators can learn about supporting students with communication challenges.

Teacher-Resources on managing speech needs in the classroom.

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Official websites use .gov

A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS

A lock ( ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability caused by differences in the brain.

People with ASD often have problems with social communication and interaction, and restricted or repetitive behaviors or interests.

People with ASD may also have different ways of learning, moving, or paying attention.

It is important to note that some people without ASD might also have some of these symptoms. But for people with ASD, these characteristics can make life very challenging.

Signs and symptoms

Social communication and interaction skills

Social communication and interaction skills can be challenging for people with ASD.

Examples of social communication and social interaction characteristics related to ASD can include

Avoids or does not keep eye contact

Does not respond to name by 9 months of age

Does not show facial expressions such as happy, sad, angry, and surprised by 9 months of age

Does not play simple interactive games like pat-a-cake by 12 months of age

Uses few or no gestures by 12 months of age (for example, does not wave goodbye)

Does not share interests with others by 15 months of age (for example, shows you an object that they like)

Does not point to show you something interesting by 18 months of age

Does not notice when others are hurt or upset by 24 months (2 years) of age

Does not notice other children and join them in play by 36 months (3 years) of age

Does not pretend to be something else, like a teacher or superhero, during play by 48 months (4 years) of age

Does not sing, dance, or act for you by 60 months (5 years) of age

Restricted or repetitive behaviors or interests

People with ASD have behaviors or interests that can seem unusual. These behaviors or interests set ASD apart from conditions defined by problems with social communication and interaction only.

Examples of restricted or repetitive behaviors and interests related to ASD can include

Lines up toys or other objects and gets upset when order is changed

Repeats words or phrases over and over (called echolalia)

Plays with toys the same way every time

Is focused on parts of objects (for example, wheels)

Gets upset by minor changes

Has obsessive interests

Must follow certain routines

Flaps hands, rocks body, or spins self in circles

Has unusual reactions to the way things sound, smell, taste, look, or feel

Other characteristics

Most people with ASD have other related characteristics. These might include

Delayed language skills

Delayed movement skills

Delayed cognitive or learning skills

Hyperactive, impulsive, and/or inattentive behavior

Epilepsy or seizure disorder

Unusual eating and sleeping habits

Gastrointestinal issues (for example, constipation)

Unusual mood or emotional reactions

Anxiety, stress, or excessive worry

Lack of fear or more fear than expected

It is important to note that children with ASD may not have all or any of the behaviors listed as examples here.

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Signs and Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder

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Signs and symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

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This CDC page provides information on the early signs and symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), offering detailed insights into developmental milestones and potential delays.

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Includes signs like delayed speech, limited eye contact, and repetitive behaviors, as well as developmental checklists and links to screening tools.

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Great for understanding and addressing ASD-related challenges.

School- Helps teachers identify potential signs of autism in students.

Teacher- Guidance for creating supportive learning environments.

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View commonly requested accommodations for ETS tests and how to request other accommodations.

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This ETS webpage outlines the accommodations available for test-takers with disabilities. It provides clear instructions on how to request these supports and lists common accommodations, such as extended time, assistive technology, and alternate test formats.

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Detailed steps for applying for accommodations, required documentation, and examples of common adjustments like screen magnifiers and extra breaks are provided. Resources for educators and families are also available to support students.

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School- Supports students preparing for standardized exams.

Teacher- a guide to assist students in applying for accommodations.

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Learning disabilities are a group of neurodevelopmental disorders that can significantly hamper a person's ability to learn new things. As a result, the person may have trouble with tasks such as speaking, reading, writing, paying attention, understanding information, remembering things, performing mathematical calculations, or coordinating movements.

Learning disabilities typically develop at a young age and are often diagnosed during the person's school years, since the primary focus at school is learning. It is estimated that 8% to 10% of children below the age of 18 in the United States have some type of learning disability.

However, some people are not diagnosed until they attend college or get a job, and others never receive an official diagnosis, so they go through life without knowing why they have so much trouble with academics, work, relationships, and basic day-to-day tasks.

It's important to understand that people with learning disabilities generally have average to superior intelligence and are often gifted in fields such as science, math, fine arts, and other creative mediums. The person is often bright and intelligent, but there may be a gap between their potential and the skills expected from a person of their age.

Nevertheless, some of the most accomplished and influential people in history have had learning disabilities, including Albert Einstein, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Edison, and Winston Churchill.

This article explores the types, causes, symptoms, and treatment of learning disabilities.

Types of Learning Disabilities

"Learning disability" is an umbrella term that encompasses many types of specific learning disorders, including:

Dyslexia: Dyslexia is the most common learning disability, accounting for 80% of all learning disability cases. It is a language processing disorder characterized by difficulty with speaking, reading, writing, or understanding words. This can cause the person's vocabulary to develop at a slower pace and lead to issues with grammar, reading comprehension, and other language skills.

Dysgraphia: People with dysgraphia may have difficulty putting their thoughts into writing due to issues with vocabulary, spelling, grammar, memory, and critical thinking. This condition is characterized by poor handwriting, as the person may struggle with letter spacing, spatial awareness, and motor planning. Dysgraphia can make it hard for the person to think and write simultaneously.

Dyscalculia: Sometimes known as "math dyslexia," this condition includes learning disorders related to mathematics, such as difficulty with numbers, concepts, and reasoning. People with dyscalculia may struggle to count money, read clocks and tell time, perform mental math calculations, identify number patterns, and apply mathematical formulae.

Auditory processing disorder (APD): People with APD may have difficulty processing sounds because their brain misinterprets auditory information received by the ear. As a result, they may confuse the order of sounds in certain words, or they may not be able to distinguish between sounds such as the teacher's voice and the background noise in the classroom.

Language processing disorder (LPD): This is a subset of APD, characterized by difficulties with processing spoken language. The person may have difficulty attaching meaning to sound groups representing words, sentences, and stories.

Nonverbal learning disabilities (NVLD): NVLD is characterized by difficulty interpreting nonverbal cues such as facial expressions, body language, tone of voice, and other nonverbal signals.

Visual perceptual/visual motor deficit: People with this condition may have difficulty with hand-eye coordination and motor activities. They may frequently lose their spot while reading, demonstrate unusual eye movements while reading or writing, confuse similar-looking letters, have difficulty navigating their environment, and struggle to manage items like pens, pencils, crayons, glue, and scissors.

Symptoms of Learning Disabilities

These are some of the symptoms of learning disabilities:

Poor memory

Difficulty focusing

Short attention span

Difficulty with reading or writing

Inability to distinguish between sounds, letters, or numbers

Difficulty sounding out words

Tendency to put numbers or letters in the wrong sequence

Difficulty telling time

Confusion between right and left

Tendency to reverse letters

Difficulty grasping certain words and concepts

Disconnect between words and meaning (i.e.. saying one thing but meaning another)

Difficulty expressing thoughts and emotions

Poor hand-eye coordination

Delayed speech development

Disorganization

Trouble with listening and following instructions

Inappropriate responses

Restlessness and impulsiveness

Tendency to act out

Difficulty with discipline

Resistance to change

Inconsistent performance on a daily or weekly basis

According to the National Institute for Learning Development (NILD), frustration is a hallmark of this condition, since people with learning disabilities often excel at some things but do very poorly in other areas, and are often acutely aware of the gaps between what they can and cannot do.

The NILD notes that people with learning disabilities often find themselves failing in certain academic or professional areas due to reasons beyond their control, or having to put in tremendous amounts of effort in order to succeed. This experience can be difficult, confusing, and demotivating, often causing the person to feel sad and disappointed.

Causes of Learning Disabilities

Learning disabilities are caused by differences in the neurological functioning of the person's brain. These differences can occur before the person is born, during their birth, or in early childhood, and may be caused by factors such as:

Maternal illness during pregnancy

Birth complications that block the flow of oxygen to the baby's brain

Certain genes that can make the person more genetically predisposed to developing a learning disability

Injury or illness, such as meningitis, in early childhood

Health conditions such as cerebral palsy and Down's syndrome often involve some extent of learning disability

However, it's important to note that learning disabilities should not be mistaken for learning problems that arise due to other factors such as:

Visual, hearing, verbal, or motor handicaps

Intellectual disability

Emotional disturbances

Economic, cultural, or environmental disadvantages

Diagnosing Learning Disabilities

A healthcare professional can diagnose learning disabilities. The diagnostic process might involve:

Academic testing: The healthcare provider may administer a standardized achievement test that checks the person's reading, writing, and arithmetic skills, as well as an intelligence quotient (IQ) test. If the person performs well on the IQ test but has a lower score on the achievement test, it could indicate that they have a learning disability.

Performance review: The healthcare provider may review and evaluate the person's academic, professional, social, and developmental performance.

Medical history: The healthcare provider will likely ask questions about the person's personal and family medical history.

Physical and neurological exam: The healthcare provider may conduct a physical and neurological exam to check for other health conditions such as brain diseases, mental health conditions, and developmental and intellectual disabilities.

Every learning disability has different symptoms and everyone's experience of the condition is unique as they may experience differences in the frequency and intensity of their symptoms.

Some people may have a single, isolated learning difficulty that doesn't have a severe impact on their day-to-day life; whereas others may have several learning disabilities that overlap with each other and make it difficult for them to function without support.

Treating Learning Disabilities

Treatment for learning disabilities may involve:

Special education: Children with learning disabilities may benefit from education by specially trained teachers who perform a comprehensive evaluation of the child's abilities and then help the child build on their strengths while compensating for their disabilities.

Medication: Some people may need to take medication to improve their ability to focus and concentrate.

Therapy: Psychotherapy can help people with learning disabilities deal with emotional issues and develop coping skills.

Other interventions: People with learning disabilities may also benefit from other interventions such as speech and language therapy.

Support groups: People with learning disabilities as well as parents of children with learning disabilities may benefit from support group meetings that help them connect with others who have similar experiences. Learning difficulties can often lead to tension, misunderstandings, and conflicts among the family, particularly among families where the condition is hereditary.

A Word From Verywell

Every human being is equipped with a unique set of strengths and weaknesses. All of us are able to do some things effortlessly but struggle in other areas.

It's important to recognize that while people with learning disabilities have some challenges with learning, they are not in any way inferior to anyone else. Special education, treatment, support, kindness, and patience can help them achieve success.

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Learning disabilities can hamper a person's ability to learn new things. This article explores the types, causes, symptoms, and treatment of learning disabilities.

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This website provides a comprehensive overview of learning disabilities, including types such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, and ADHD. It covers potential causes, symptoms, and effective treatment strategies, with a focus on support for individuals with these conditions.

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Key points include the importance of early diagnosis, individualized learning strategies, and collaborative support from educators, families, and medical professionals. It also highlights how learning disabilities impact emotional well-being and academic performance.

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Promotes awareness of treatment and support options.

School- Useful for understanding learning challenges and creating inclusive classrooms.

Teacher- Offers strategies for identifying and supporting students with disabilities.