How does Learning Disability affect Communication

First, welcome to the Living With Disabilities Advocacy Website. It's run by none other than Katrina Smith, a person with a learning disability. Her mission behind Living With Disabilities is to bring awareness to all people with disabilities.

How does Learning Disability affect Communication is a topic that Living With Disabilities wishes to discuss. 

   "I already have all the words I need in my head. However, when it's time to speak, oops, they don't want to come out naturally."- Katrina Smith

When it comes to communicating with her learning disability, Katrina wants to share her experiences. 

 Communication indeed has its ups and downs. especially when it comes to occasionally speaking face to face. "All the words I need are already in my head. When it comes time to speak, they, don't want to come out naturally." What does a youngster do with a crayon and paper if you give it to them? They doodle. These are the words that are coming out of me.

 Writing helps my communication since it prevents my words from looking like doodles. If I'm having trouble explaining what I'm trying to say, I'll try to demonstrate it visually. Consequently, somebody can comprehend what I'm attempting to communicate. 

 Have I tried communicating without writing and using visuals? Yes, it is frustrating, and now doodles appear. These doodles are making me stutter and frustrate me since the words are not coming out clearly. Communication is difficult since I can't use the tools I need to express myself. I then say I'm sorry for the mistake.

 Does having the tools to communicate help, and if so, how? Demonstrating visually makes what I'm saying come out smoothly because I can describe what I'm talking about without doodles. Writing is the same way, except there is no visual description involved. I'm able to think as the words are coming out smoothly. Have you ever heard of stuttering on paper?  

 Lastly, communication and comprehension play a huge part for me, and here is why: if I'm unable to understand what is said, I won't be able to comprehend it fully. Especially when giving instructions, sometimes I do need them repeated and other times not, depending on the task. I'll repeat it out loud to make sure I heard the directions correctly. " So you said: dot. dot. dot? and I'll try to demonstrate it if possible, or jot it down on paper.    

 Living With Disabilities wants to shine a light on communication and how having a learning disability affects communication.

Before diving in, here is the highest perk for communication: Keep in mind, every person has their uniqueness. Therefore, take the time to find out what is most effective for the person you are speaking with. 

Directly: Many individuals with learning disabilities like one-on-one interactions and face-to-face communication.

In written form: Make your text larger, use bullet points, and write as little as possible. Someone may find reading more difficult if there is too much color.

Over the phone: Use simple phrases and speak slowly and clearly.

Useful perks:

1. Find a quiet area where you can talk without being interrupted. You should be aware that some folks might find it challenging if you're speaking to a sizable crowd.
2. Ask open-ended questions; queries that do not only require a yes or no response.
3. Verify your understanding of what they are saying, for example, by asking them "The computer won't turn on. Is that correct?"
4. Go with the person if they wish to take you to see something.
5. Keep an eye on the person; you may learn a lot from their body language and facial emotions.
6. Learn from your mistakes; you'll need to become more perceptive. Don't be embarrassed to approach your parents or other caregivers for assistance.
7. Try drawing; it might still be beneficial even if it's not perfect.
8. Take your time and be patient when communicating.
9. Use facial expressions and movements. Asking someone if they are happy or dissatisfied should be accompanied by an unhappy expression on your face.
10. Be aware that while some people find it simpler to communicate by using actual objects, images and pictures can also be very helpful.

Always keep in mind that communication has value, But understanding can require more effort on your part.

Let's Here your thoughts


Let's have a conversation about how learning disabilities affect communication. Let's connect and discuss your disability on The Living With Disabilities Online Talk Show. Schedule a meeting with the host, Katrina Smith.

  Work cited page
https://www.mencap.org.uk/learning-disability-explained/communicating-people-learning-disability#:~:text=In%20person%3A%20Many%20people%20with,using%20easy%20to%20understand%20words.

Podcast Link
https://anchor.fm/livingwithdisabilites/episodes/How-does-Learning-Disability-affect-communication-e1oo9s0