Older adults with learning disabilities like dyslexia can find peace and happiness later in life with the right education. “I have overcome my difficulties because of the tutors’ encouragement and reassurance,” writes one 65-year-old Senior Learner of the Year at the UK’s National Research and Development Center for Adult Literacy. Another 60-year-old Senior Learner of the Year says he finally decided to learn to read and write to foster greater independence. “I have enjoyed meeting new people. My learning has made me much more confident,” he says. With support, encouragement and an understanding of how to teach adults, instructors have the opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of these seniors.
Teaching adults can be challenging at times. Naturally, as we age, we experience changes in vision. We may no longer be able to focus on close objects, deal with the glare of a computer screen for long periods of time, read smaller 18-point font size, see colors as they actually are or see around physical barriers like tables. To teach adults, instructors should take all of these factors into consideration to reduce stress on their pupils. Hearing impairment is another challenge for adults of an older age. Some may learn to do some lip reading, but it’s always best if a loud voice can be used or have a clear microphone installed. Teachers should ensure a quiet setting with limited background noise, have all cell phones turned off and be careful not to distort their faces while speaking.
Many older adults in basic education courses also suffer with a learning disability. For these students, it’s extremely important that instructors take different adult learning styles into consideration and approach the classroom with multiple teaching modes. Some students prefer visual learning (with charts, videos, diagrams and illustrations), while others prefer auditory (with lectures, music, group discussions and tapes), while others yet prefer kinesthetic learning (with hands-on activities, field trips, role playing and experiments). It’s important that instructors keep the learning disabled students motivated by sharing helpful techniques, building on the students’ strengths, giving positive reinforcement and showing how short-term goals connect with long-term goals.
It’s a common misconception that the ability to learn decreases as we age. For most older adults, their intellectual abilities have remained constant throughout their lives, unless they have been affected by some kind of disease, illness or health condition. This myth is rooted in the sixties theory of “cerebral plasticity,” that the brain begins to lose its flexibility to learn new things beginning in puberty but more so as individuals age. More recently, it’s been discovered that older students have highly developed cognitive systems, which enables them to excel at whatever they apply themselves to.
Beth Kaminski is the co-author of Curing Your Anxiety And Panic Attacks which detailed treatment for anxiety attacks as well as tips on the various anxiety disorder medication available at anxietydisordercure.com.
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