Learning Disabilities: Overcoming Challenges with Multisensory

For years, I believed I was incapable of learning because I struggled to understand what the teacher was saying. I would sit in class, listening, but everything sounded like gibberish. Despite diligent studying, I couldn't pass even the simplest tests, often failing and struggling to get even the most basic of passing grades. I was not alone. Thousands of people believe learning disabilities must be a life sentence, but there is a solution that can override these misconceptions.

Multimodal learning — combining senses to conquer comprehension

Multimodal learning is an educational approach that engages multiple senses in order to process information. When studying material, simultaneous repetition through reading, writing, and listening helps people retain the information. Reports from researchers indicate that learning disability cases have grown by 17% from 2008 to 2017. The specific causes remain a mystery, but the symptoms are clear — a struggle to process words, numbers, and sequences. This approach works by feeding information in through different ways, forcing the brain to connect the dots in a way that the learner has never done before. It creates many different neural pathways in the brain, which helps in understanding, remembering, and recalling information. It doesn't matter what the information is about, be it books, history, math, or psychology. This approach grants a broader perspective of understanding and learning, which helps in staying focused during the study as well as gaining insights from the material. To illustrate, it is like reading a book, listening to its audiobook, and watching a movie adaptation simultaneously. It helps in having a deeper understanding and remembering the book's storyline.

Learning disabilities — the hidden barrier in the classroom

Many of us struggle with learning disabilities — but they're not as obvious as one might think. There are no standard symptoms. They affect each individual differently, making it difficult to recognize in a diverse classroom. Multimodal learning helps counterbalance such diversity in learning disabilities and their symptoms in a classroom. It doesn’t matter if a student is unable to grasp information solely through reading or listening. The approach accommodates all students, regardless of their learning disabilities.

Developing the approach

She would sit in her class, confused and determined. The teacher spoke, but she heard gibberish. Her struggle was real, but she didn't know the way out. As she realized, this frustrating situation was very common. She wasn't alone. And she understood it was not her fault. The key was unlocking her potential by changing her study techniques. She realized that instead of reading and listening alone, she needed to read, listen, and write simultaneously. The method might have seemed a little bizarre, but it was a step that made her way. The first step was to record a class lecture. She began by studying the material in the recording while reading. Pause every few seconds to write down everything she'd just read and listened. She repeated this process several times, which forced her brain to make connections it hadn't before. While the method seemed cumbersome, the results were clear. Following this newly developed approach, she was able to grasp concepts, write books, get a good score on the GMAT, and successfully secure her admission to an Ivy League business school.

The power shift: from failure to success

It's a common belief that success stories always start with a lucky break. As she will tell you, there’s no magic formula. And she'll never forget the day she found the power and potential that was always there. She recounted, "When I would get information in three ways–listening, writing, and reading–I could remember everything. And as I studied for a test this way, I got an A instead of an F." The results of multimodal learning can be traced back to ancient times. Whether it was Greek philosophers or Vedic seers, these men were relying on the power of sensory experiences to share the wisdom of the ages. They were using concepts such as listening to stories, reciting them, and practicing them to change the behavior. They allowed their students to understand, remember, and apply the technology of divine consciousness in various ways through the medium of sound, touch, and sight.

Navigating the learning experience

What if you have a learning disability? Or if you have a young student who does? It could be challenging to keep up with a fast-paced classroom environment. But there are strategies you can use to turn things around.

Breaking from tradition

It's easy to get discouraged when you or someone you know starts learning. However, the key is to push through the frustration and adapt. Try studying the material in several different ways, even if it takes time and effort to get comfortable. It'll be worth it in the long run.

Deliberate repetition

Repetition is a crucial part of learning. Listening, writing, and reading repeatedly help learners remember information. Not only will listeners have a better understanding of the information, but they will also be able to remember it much more easily when the time comes to recall it. When you are learning something new, it is essential to ensure that you have a firm grasp of it. If you are having trouble understanding a concept, you should repeat it and practice it several times before moving on to something else.

Scoping the world

Being self-aware in learning can invoke new ways of understanding. For instance, if you have a learning disability, focus on making studying easier. Often, it can be as simple as reading aloud, recording, or writing information.  If you're trying to improve your memory, one of the best ways to do so is by switching up your methods of learning. Listen to someone read, while you read, and write information at the same time. However, make sure you are aware of your strengths and weaknesses. Focus on the areas that you struggle with.

Diversity In learning — embracing every student

In a diverse classroom, everyone should feel comfortable learning at their own pace. To ensure that this happens, make sure you encourage your learners, patiently guide them, and listen to their struggles. Diversity in the classroom brings out a lot of learning opportunities. But it’s essential to make sure that everyone is learning. For instance, if a student struggles with a task, they should be given the chance to complete it in a different way. This can be done by providing them with different activities or projects that they can work on, which will help them in learning to focus and perform to the best of their abilities. If you want to embrace a diverse range of learners in your classroom, you will need to create a supportive learning environment. This will allow every student to feel comfortable.