Desire To Learn : Advance Ability

Desire To Learn

Dear Ruth,
I am about to be 40 years old. Although I had a learning disability growing up, I received no help in school. I still have an overwhelming desire to learn better communication skills, and to learn to read and write better. I recently began working in an office, and my boss has learned that I have poor skills. Is it too late for me, or can you suggest some learning material for me?

W.B.

Dear W.B.,

I believe that any age can be a great age for learning when we have the desire. You need a professional who can analyze your strengths and weaknesses, and then carry out a learning project designed especially for you. I suggest that you find a speech/language pathologist who can assess the skills that underlie your written language. Some examples might be the auditory discernment of speech sounds in words, and auditory and visual memory.

The speech/language pathologist can find successful ways for you to rehearse weak skills. As you improve, you will be more able to take advantage of other educational opportunities such as tutoring or community college courses.

Best Wishes,
Ruth Alice Jurey, M.S.
Speech/Language Pathologist