According to the World Health Organization, there are four classifications of learning disabilities: mild, moderate, severe and profound. Classifying someone with a learning disability accurately will involve an IQ assessment, behavioral testing, and determining whether the person requires specialized services to meet learning needs. The moderate level of learning disabilities identifies a child struggling to learn new things and is usually marked by development delays up to three years as well as an IQ in the range of 35-50. This results in disrupting learning ability, progress and maturity. Children with a moderate learning disability require intensive specialized services in a learning environment and sometimes may struggle with motivation and self-esteem issues.
Individuals with a moderate learning disability share a number of distinct characteristics. They often have trouble focusing and exhibit social immaturity. Other characteristics include poor visual and auditory memory. These characteristics manifest in a wide range of situations to include verbal and non-verbal reasoning, comprehension and the application of learned knowledge to new situations. Some individuals may also struggle with motor skills, while almost all will struggle to retain numerical and literacy skills.
In the classroom, students with moderate learning disability are dependent upon teachers and assistants for guidance. Recommended teaching strategies include providing such assistance at the beginning and end of class, while encouraging independence whenever possible. Taking into account some of the common traits of a moderate learning disability, educational researchers advise teachers to deploy a multi-sensory approach in the classroom. Utilizing such an approach will help students develop motor skills, while immersing themselves in the learning experience. One of the most important aspects for such students is the need for teachers to praise efforts as well as milestones in learning, particularly when a student masters a new subject.
Key to identifying students who may potentially suffer from a moderate learning disability involves keen attention to how and what a student struggles with in the classroom. Immaturity for the child's age in social situations is one common characteristic. Such students will normally fail at investigative tasks and problem-solving activities without a high level of coaching. Those with a moderate learning disability may also have poor coordination or mobility problems.
Parents who have children diagnosed with a moderate learning disability have options as well. Both mothers and fathers can help by focusing on social skills, cognitive skills, motor skills and language. Early stimulation is important during development to help such children realize their full potential. Communication between parents and teachers is important as well to coordinate and plan the required specialized services needed to mitigate the effects of a moderate learning disability, and to help the child achieve independence and learn in an academic setting.
