Do I have a LD?

Parents Forum Learning Differences and Challenges - LD, ADHD
1

<p>My parents always complain about my ineffective study habits and tell me that I need to work smart instead of work hard. I always take meticulous notes, sit in the front, ask questions at the end of class, read ahead in my textbook, and do all questions in possible to prepare me for tests. </p>

<p>I was always slower than everyone in my class when it came to everything; running (I can only run a 9 minute mile...that's super unhealthy), socializing/talking, reading, etc. I always had to work 110% harder to be at the same level of my peers.</p>

<p>I'm a slow reader (even though I took a speed reading course)</p>

<p>I took AP Microeconomics junior year and I studied really hard but I only earned a B- while all my classmates got B+/A- (a lot of them are in the top 5% in our class rank)</p>

<p>I got a B in PreCalculus, because although I read my textbook and did all the problems in the solutions guide, I had a really bad math teacher (she always digressed for 20 minutes and she always made simple errors a.k.a stupid mistakes when teaching)</p>

<p>I got a B in Chemistry. Same type of teacher as my PreCalculus.</p>

<p>I studied for the ACT religiously and took it three times but only managed to get a 22. (The problem is that I could have gotten 28, but I forget things too fast even if I tried to understand it first instead of purely memorizing the material). I'm only in the 55 percentile! </p>

<p>I always have to study four hours a day (1 hour for each class)
My friends tell me I study too much (but they don't have a 3.6...even though grades are inflated)</p>

<p>Also a lot of the volunteer organizations and summer programs wait-listed me. Same with part-time jobs, no one seems to want to hire me (they tell me they ran out of applications...***?!)</p>

<p>I'm probably not even in the top 25% anymore.</p>

<p>I read in Freakonomics that adopted children tend to have lower IQs. I probably have an IQ of 100 (average) and possibly have a learning disability. At least most people of learning disability had IQs of above 130 (above average).</p>

<p>I probably should get tested for LD at a local university or hospital, but I just want everyone's opinion. This is not an accurate diagnosis. :(</p>

2

<p>If you do have a learning disability, I don’t think its a big deal at all for you. You seem to be getting good grades. B’s are good.
It sounds like some of the material just dosn’t “click” for you. I wouldn’t jump to conclusions, but a test might solidify your personal diagnosis.</p>

3

<p>Forget the IQ issue for now.</p>

<p>The important thing is that you feel that your reading speed (and probably your processing speed) is causing difficulties for you in school. If you have difficulties now, they will only get worse in college when you have more reading to do. You have made a concerted effort to devise your own means of compensating for these difficulties, but your methods may not be enough to get you through college.</p>

<p>Talk to your parents about getting a thorough evaluation with an Educational Psychologist, and email your guidance counselor to set up a meeting for the fall to set up an IEP for you using the results of the psychologist’s study. Try to find one that has experience with your school district so that you won’t have to take a different version of one test or another just to please the school district.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

4

<p>A 9 minute mile? I can only run a 8 minute mile and most of the students in my graduating class were somewhere in between 11-13.</p>

<p>It seems as though perfectionism has gone to your head. I assumed that my brain was damaged if I wasn’t pulling in straight A’s and was not at the top of my class. Your problem may be more competition then it is a learning disability. How do you know you read slower than others? How do you know you are working harder then your peers?</p>

5

<p>It sounds like you’re just not as naturally good at academics as others may be. Fortunately, academic talent is (a) not synonymous with intelligence and (b) far from the only skill that matters in life!</p>