One cannot tell if a child has LD just by looking at the child. As a result, children with LD are often identified too late. Parents know their children best and play a critical role in the early identification of LD.
Children with any of the following signs may experience Learning Difficulties:
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Poor feeding as an infant or toddler
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Delayed speech (after 18 months of age)
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More allergies and/or more severe reactions than most children
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Coordination difficulties e.g. difficulty tying shoelaces, poor ball skills, confusion between left and right orientation
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Dreamy, easily distracted from the task at hand
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Disinterest in studies and/or reading
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Untidy handwriting, or slow in copying
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Consistent under-performance in school, despite average/above average intelligence |
Where to seek help?
In Singapore, parents may consider going to a Child Development Unit (CDU) for assessment and intervention. Often there may be a waiting list and hence private centres or hospitals may be good alternatives.
Child Development Unit, CDU Singapore
Child Development Units are usually located in hospitals, involving a group of professionals working together to assess and diagnose children who are not developing as expected. They include consultant paediatricians who are usually the case managers, educational psychologists, occupational therapists, speech-language therapists, and sometimes physiotherapists and dieticians.
Below is a list of CDUs and Child Guidance Clinics (CGC) in Singapore:
KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital CDU
Health Promotion Board, Level 2, 3 Hospital Drive S168937
Tel : 6327 6900 Fax : 6327 6901
National University Hospital CDU
Jurong Polyclinic, Level 3, 190 Jurong West Ave 1 S609788
Tel : 6665 2530 Fax : 6665 0158
Child Guidance Clinic, CGC
COPES Children’s One-Stop Psycho-Educational Services
3 Second Hospital Avenue #03-01 S168937
Tel : 6435 3878 Fax : 6534 3677
KidzGrow @ Orchard
20 Kramat Lane #04-01 United House S228773
Tel: 6737 3511 Fax: 6737 4533
KidzGrow @ Parkway
80 Marine Parade Road #07-01 Parkway Parade S449269
Tel: 6247 9880 Fax: 6247 9870
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