I'm 28 and have failed out of college twice, and I recently came to the realization why: the lecture format of college classes.  In elementary and high school, I could read the textbook and ace the tests.  However, college courses are largely based on lecture.  I've had the problem more times than I can count when I'd get the test, confident I knew everything as I had read the section of the textbook covered, only to be dumbfounded by a question asking something that I've never heard of.

Lectures, talk radio, movies, long conversations, etc., make no sense to me.  For example, if I was in a class listening to the professor give a lecture, his speech would literally make no sense, almost like it was a foreign language.  If someone reads aloud, it's like I can't make sense of it; I couldn't tell you a word that was said even RIGHT after hearing it.

I was told by my high school Spanish teacher (now retired) that I was the best Spanish student she had ever had.  I have a passion for Spanish!  I can read and write it very well (as I can English).  However, when it comes to speaking and listening (in both languages) I have great difficulty.  With Spanish, I have to speak very slowly as I am unable to quickly find the words I need.  I do the same with English, although as it is my native language, I don't speak slowly; rather, I use simple language, stutter and pause throughout sentences, and describe/explain things in a haphazard manner.  Both languages, however, I can write beautifully.  I couldn't continue on with Spanish courses because the next one I was to take was Conversational Spanish.  I had never passed the oral parts of my Spanish exams in the previous courses, nor could I understand most of what the professor was saying in Spanish, so I know I'd be lost in the next course.

I'm wondering now if I actually have some kind of LD.  The university and the college I attended in the past both had accommodations for people with disabilities (mine being ADHD and Bipolar), but they seemed to not offer much to students with "brain" disabilities.  They offered more for the physically handicapped and the deaf and blind, for example.  I tried explaining to the director of the disability services at both schools about how I have a hard time wth lectures and taking notes.  They suggested tape recording the lectures.  ???  That helps me HOW?  When even in person the lecture sounds like babble!  They did, however, offer a note taker, but what good do notes do me when I can't hear the lecture anyway!  The notes will make no sense to me, and will do me no good.  It would help so much if they could do something like putting the lecture in a written format, whether with speech recognition software or a detailed outline of the lecture and its main points.  Or even simply being told what the lecture is about, and I can look up the information myself, ya know?  I'm frustrated with the entire school situation.  I've failed out twice, desperately want to go back, but have no tools/resources with which to work with. 

Aside from that, how can I get tested to see if I do, in fact, have a learning disorder?  Would I ask my psychiatrist??  Thanks!

Eileen Bailey, Health Guide

4/15/09 5:15pm

Thanks for sharing your story. I would certainly start with your psychiatrist to see if he or she would be able to recommend someone in your area qualified to test for learning disabilities. Some other places you might try:

 

Psychologists (Check with your health insurance company, some may pay for testing if done by a psychologist in their network)

 

Check with local universities, some may offer testing, especially if they offer courses and degrees in special education, some may have clinics and offer testing at reduced pricing

 

Your local adult education center. This may be available through the county or local municipality.

 

You can also check with local high schools, a guidance counselor may know someone in your area that is qualified to test for learning disabilities.

 

I hope this helps. Please let me know how it all works out.

 

Eileen