It is the dream of every parent for their children to acquire new skills. Parents are more concerned than ever about ensuring that their child does not fall behind, whether in academics or in non-academics.
However, in some cases, there is a mismatch between the parent’s efforts and the children’s performance. If children,
- are slower to develop their abilities compared to their peers,
- have difficulties to read and write,
- have a shorter attention span or
- in general, are struggling academically
If so, they may have a learning difficulty or sometimes a disability.
Simply put, learning disabilities affect how an individual receives and processes information. However, if a child is suffering from a learning disability, it does not imply that they cannot learn. But they can. They just require more assistance, constant guidance and care.
There are various types of learning disabilities, such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, etc. They can be caused by genetic or neurological factors and affect various mental and cognitive functions.
There are some signs and symptoms that are associated with learning problems. Before we jump to them, it is important to know that these signs alone are not enough to determine whether an individual has a learning disability.
It should be analyzed by a specialist.
Some of the side effects that demonstrate learning disorders are:
- Difficulty in reading and writing
- This is the most common learning difficulty faced by children. In medical terms, it is alluded to as,
- Dyslexia is characterised by difficulty learning to read or interpret words and symbols, whereas Dysgraphia is characterised by difficulty writing.
- Children who suffer from Dyslexia and Dysgraphia sometimes reverse complete words (reading/writing “dot” as “tod”) and sometimes reverse letters (reading/writing “have” as “haev”).
Seeing inverted letters or not being able to differentiate between mirror letters or symbols (like ‘b’ and ’d’), trying to guess the written word rather than understand it, reading and writing extremely slowly, not being able to find letters, etc are also common.
Difficulty in learning Numbers and Maths
Children often find it hard to understand arithmetic problems and struggle to solve them. But if the problem persists, along with symptoms like inability to remember the sequence of numbers, poor retention of mathematical concepts and problems with skills related to math (difficulty in keeping track of time and understanding directions), then the child could be suffering from Dyscalculia.
This does not mean that the child is less intelligent or less lazy; it just means that their brain is wired differently.
Poor Memory and Retention Power
Forgetfulness is common in kids. But with motor development, such memory issues usually fade away. If the problem persists, it could be a sign of an underlying learning disorder. Poor memory and forgetfulness, in and of themselves, are not learning disorders. Rather, they are red flags for a variety of other disorders, including ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder).
Difficulty in learning can be caused by two types of problems related to memory. “Working memory” issues cause learning difficulty, and “long-term memory” issues affect the capacity to
remember things in the right sequence.
Poor Attention and Concentration
If the child finds it difficult to pay attention at school or is unable to concentrate for long, then it is yet another sign of a potential disorder: ADHD. It is also associated with comprehension issues. Comprehension means the ability to understand and process things. Only after a comprehensive examination can it be determined whether they are also linked to anxiousness and worries.
A wrong diet and lack of sleep can also lead to a shortened attention span in children. Hence, it is important to know when to start worrying about this problem. The best wager is to have the child diagnosed.
What to Do?
If you are concerned that your child might have some sort of learning disability, here’s what you can do:
First things first – Stay calm. Learning problems are not something that needs to be feared.
Remember, the child will handle the problem only as well as the parent does.
Stay positive and get it diagnosed. If your child exhibits symptoms of a problem or a disorder, it is not necessary that they be diagnosed with it. There’s a good chance that the symptom is just a phase and that it will pass as your child grows. However, it is better to get your child diagnosed
by a professional after discussing it with the teachers in school.
- Do not believe the myths. “Learning disorders can never be cured.”
- “It implies that the child is incompetent or has a low IQ.”
- “They’ll never succeed.”
- “He’s just lazy. And he’s probably faking the symptoms. “
- “I’m sure that’s ADHD.
This need not be true. Having a learning disorder does not mean the child is less intelligent. It might not be about low IQ. It might just mean that their brains are wired differently. They
perceive things a bit differently.
Individuals suffering from learning and motor disorders can and do succeed. All of them suffered from learning disabilities in their childhood. Keanu Reeves, Beethoven, Jennifer Aniston, Albert Einstein, all of them. It is impossible to imagine the world without them and their contributions.
Every child is special. It’s just a matter of time, perspective, and opportunity before they all reach their potential. Just be attentive to your child and be there to support them emotionally and mentally, and they will grow up into something that the world will be proud of.