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4 Could Your Child Have a Learning Disability? IT’S NORMAL FOR KIDS TO FIND SOME SCHOOL SUBJECTS HARDER THAN OTHERS. And it’s common for them to struggle a bit when learning something new. But if learning troubles become a lasting pattern, you might start to suspect a learning disability. Reading, writing, and doing math are the basic building blocks of school success. Learning disabilities affect how your child performs these essential skills. Learning issues aren’t tied to intelligence—even bright kids can have learning disabilities. Instead, they’re caused by problems with how the brain handles information. WHAT TO WATCH FOR There are various types of learning disabilities. Here are typical signs of three common ones. DYSLEXIA Difficulties with reading and spelling • Trouble recognizing and spelling words that are known • Difficulty reading with accuracy and ease • Often finding it hard to understand what other people say DYSCALCULIA Difficulties with arithmetic • Trouble grasping arithmetic concepts, such as fractions and negative numbers • Difficulty understanding math word problems • Mistakes when making change for cash • Often struggling with the time sequence of events DYSGRAPHIA Difficulties with handwriting • Tension and an awkward position when writing by hand • Trouble forming letters or writing within a designated space • Often having a hard time getting ideas down on paper Not every child with these signs has a learning disability. Developmental delays, vision or hearing problems, emotional disorders, and medical illnesses can also affect learning. Your child’s doctor and school can help you determine what’s going on. CONSULT YOUR PEDIATRICIAN Talk with your child’s pediatrician about your concerns. The pediatrician can look for health problems that might be playing a role. For example, let’s say your child has a chronic health condition, such as asthma or type 1 diabetes. If the condition isn’t well-controlled, that could lead to frequent absences and falling grades. At times, the pediatrician may refer your child to other specialists for further evaluation. For instance, your child might see a neurologist, psychologist, or speech pathologist. CONTACT YOUR CHILD’S SCHOOL Share what you discover with your child’s school. If you think your child may have a learning disability, ask for an educational assessment. This type of assessment can determine whether your child qualifies for special education services. Such services help your child learn to build on strengths and compensate for weaknesses. A learning disability is a lifelong challenge. It can’t be cured, but its impact can be lessened. With support from family, health care providers, and teachers, your child with a learning disability can thrive at school and beyond.
5 HPV VACCINE AND : KNOW THE FACTS THE HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS (HPV) VACCINE IS KNOWN FOR PREVENTING CERVICAL CANCER—and for good reason. Health care providers began recommending the shot for females more than 10 years ago. Since then, the rate of cervical precancers linked to common HPV types has dropped 40 percent. But HPV eventually infects nearly every sexually active person, male or female. Boys and men also face consequences. The virus can cause cancers of the mouth, back of the throat, penis, and anus, along with genital warts. That’s why vaccination matters for boys as well as girls. In 2011, providers began suggesting the shots for all young people. Ideally, all children should get two doses, six to 12 months apart, beginning at age 11 or 12. THE COST OF SKIPPING SHOTS Despite this guidance, only 28 percent of boys in the recommended age group have received the HPV vaccine. That’s compared with almost 42 percent of girls. This low rate is worrying. In a recent study, about 45 percent of adult men had a genital HPV infection. One-fourth had a high-risk strain of the virus. Parents of boys may not realize: • The most common cancer caused by HPV is mouth and throat cancer, which affects more males than females • Nearly four out of 10 HPV-related cancers strike men • Each year, more than 14,000 American men develop HPV-related cancers Males who get vaccinated will also protect their future partners, including women who are at risk for cervical cancer. LOW RISK, LONG-TERM REWARD The shots work best when preteens and teens receive them before becoming sexually active, when they haven’t yet been exposed to the virus. And preadolescents produce more antibodies than older teens. That’s why health care providers recommend starting young—as early as age 9. But even if your son is older, it’s not too late. The government recommends young adults who aren’t already vaccinated receive HPV shots through age 26. If you have questions about the HPV vaccine, talk with your child’s pediatrician. Overall, the shots are very safe. Minor side effects include pain, dizziness, nausea, or headaches. Because of how it’s made, the vaccine can’t transmit the virus. And it provides protection against HPV for years to come —there’s no evidence the protection decreases over time.
Page 1 and 2: HealthLine APRIL 2020 www.local4fun
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