Learning Disabilities Quiz
True or False: ADHD is a "learning disability"
False. ADHD can affect learning, but it’s not a learning disability. A learning disability makes it hard to acquire specific skills, like reading or math skills. ADHD impacts more global skills, like paying attention and controlling impulses. ADHD also doesn’t fall under the “specific learning disability” category in special education law.
Which funny celebrity has both dyslexia and a degree in speech therapy?
Jay Leno. This comedian and former Tonight Show host has a bachelor’s degree in speech therapy from Emerson College. He chose to go in a different direction and found success as an entertainer.
Which of these celebrity chefs has dyslexia?
Jamie Oliver. Learning issues made school difficult for Jamie, also known as The Naked Chef. Despite his challenges, he pursued his love of cooking at Westminster Kingsway College.
"buggy"
True or false: Boys are more likely than girls to be diagnosed with ADHD.
True. Boys are more than twice as likely as girls to be diagnosed with ADHD. That doesn’t mean girls don’t have ADHD, though. Girls with ADHD are just more likely to be overlooked and remain undiagnosed.
True or False: Dyslexia often runs in families.
True. Dyslexia is hereditary. About 40 percent of siblings of kids with dyslexia have similar reading issues. And as many as 49 percent of parents of kids with dyslexia have it, too.
Which former All New Mickey Mouse Club Mouseketeer-turned-pop-sensation has ADHD?
Justin Timberlake. He has come a long way from his All New Mickey Mouse Club days. And he’s done it while coping with ADHD.
Which celebrity with dyslexia has written a series of young adult books?
Henry Winkler. Actor, director and author Henry Winkler writes the young adult series Hank Zipzer.
"crick"
a creek or stream
True or false: Kids outgrow learning and attention issues.
False. Learning and attention issues don’t go away as kids get older. These issues may affect people in different ways as they get older, but they’re lifelong conditions. That doesn’t mean kids with learning and attention issues can’t improve their skills, though. With the right support, kids with these issues can thrive academically and in life.
True or false: Learning and attention issues are caused by differences in the brain.
True. Learning and attention issues are neurological issues. They’re caused by differences in brain wiring and structure. They’re not caused by laziness or lack of willpower.
Which well-known film director was not diagnosed with dyslexia until well into adulthood?
Steven Spielberg. He wasn’t diagnosed with dyslexia until he was in his 60s, but says his learning issues are what prompted him to take up movie-making in the first place.
Which well-known CNN anchor has not let his learning issue stand in the way of his love for reading?
Anderson Cooper. He’s not only an avid reader, but his own book, Dispatches from the Edge: A Memoir of War, Disasters, and Survival, was on the New York Times best-seller list.
"ride shotgun"
to be second in command; to sit in the front next to the driver
True or false: Many kids with ADHD have co-occurring learning issues.
True. Studies show that as many as 45 percent of kids with ADHD also have a learning disability in reading, writing or math. Kids with ADHD are also more likely to have mental health issues, like anxiety or depression. That’s why it’s so important that clinicians who evaluate for ADHD check for other conditions.
True or false: People with learning and attention issues have low intelligence.
False. Having learning and attention issues is not a sign of low intelligence. Learning and attention issues are neurological issues. The brain relationship is about how people with learning and attention issues process information.
Which famous athlete has ADHD and credits the love of his sport for helping him focus?
Michael Phelps. This Olympic medalist’s mother started him in swimming as a way to channel some of his overactivity. Swimming helped him learn ways to manage his ADHD. And it grew to be a passion!
Which former NFL quarterback needed to learn plays differently than teammates because of his dyslexia?
Tim Tebow. This NFL quarterback has dyslexia. He used flash cards to help him learn the plays. And clearly it worked!
"Poke"
grocery bag
True or false: Dyslexia can be treated with medication.
False. Unlike ADHD, there are no medications for dyslexia. But there are other ways to help kids with dyslexia improve at reading, like specialized instruction.
True or false: Dyslexia is another name for learning disabilities in math.
False. Dyslexia is a learning disability in reading. The term for learning disabilities in math is dyscalculia. Dyscalculia is a lifelong condition that makes it hard for kids to perform math-related tasks. It’s not as well known or understood as dyslexia. But some experts believe it’s just as common.
Which multitalented celebrity with dyslexia is one of only 12 people who have won a Grammy, an Academy Award, an Emmy and a Tony Award?
Whoopi Goldberg. Despite other kids calling her “dumb,” Whoopi pursued her dreams and has won numerous awards for her talents.
Which Oscar-winning actress and Grammy-winning singer didn’t discover she had dyslexia until she got an evaluation for her school-age child who was struggling in school?
Cher. She has dyslexia and math issues, which she says helped her to learn to listen more intently.
"sorry creme"
spoiled milk
True or false: Kids with learning and attention issues can’t be gifted.
False. Some students with learning and attention issues have outstanding skills in certain academic areas. These kids are often called twice-exceptional (or 2E) learners. They’re exceptional in two ways. They’re gifted, and they have learning issues.