Learning difficulties and specific learning disorders
Learning difficulties in children:
Learning difficulties are common problems among a wide range of children, and they are concerning for many mothers who want to know if their children are struggling with learning difficulties. Learning difficulties are defined as disorders that affect the ability to understand spoken or written language, as well as difficulty with mathematical. calculations and coordination of movements. Children may also have difficulty with direct attention to things around them. Learning difficulties can occur early in childhood, but often go unnoticed by families until the child enters school and interacts with other children their age. These difficulties may persist throughout life. Some children have complex learning difficulties, while others may only have educational problems in one aspect of their lives and therefore may not be affected by it at all. It is important to consult a doctor when noticing any signs in a child, as they may also have other disorders such as attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which is not considered a learning difficulty and requires its own treatments.
what causes learning difficulties in children:
Learning difficulties are problems that are not related to intelligence but rather are functional disorders or disruptions in the brain related to interpreting signals and nerve pathways. This condition may be present from birth, but environmental factors such as a mother's drug use during pregnancy, prolonged exposure of the child to certain chemicals like lead, or genetic factors may also play an important role in its development. There are many factors that can affect a child's ability to learn, such as poor vision or hearing, as well as ongoing psychological problems like violence against children, low self-esteem, frustration, and others that can create a state of fear and hesitation in learning new things for children.
How do I know if my child is struggling with learning difficulties:
Learning difficulties are typically discovered during school entry stages. It is natural for a child to make many mistakes while learning writing, reading, and arithmetic skills, but repeated problems over long periods may indicate learning difficulties in the child. It is important to start treatment early so that the child can catch up with other children at school. Therefore, it is important to search for this problem as much as possible when the child is present, especially when there are diagnosed family cases. Learning difficulties are not limited to school only. You may notice that your child engages in unhealthy behaviors due to not understanding medical instructions well. You may notice that the child has difficulty learning health care behaviors such as dental hygiene, eating habits, consuming non-edible items, and many other issues that may harm the child's health. Teachers at school may notice that your child is struggling with learning other skills. Therefore, it is important to maintain constant communication with school specialists, especially in the early stages of education
You should consult a doctor when you notice any of the following signs
Difficulty in reading/writing
Problems with calculations and mathematics
Difficulty in memory and concentration
Problems with organization and following instructions.
Diagnosing learning difficulties in children:
This is usually done during school where teachers are asked to conduct what is known as Response to Intervention (RTI) to help identify children who are struggling with learning difficulties. The testing includes closely monitoring the child's progress to identify potential problems, providing assistance to children struggling with specific skills, and moving students to levels that provide increasing support when they show learning difficulties. When noticing these signs, it is important to consult a doctor who will take several steps such as a medical examination including neurological examination to rule out other possible causes of the child's learning difficulties, which could be intellectual and developmental disabilities, emotional disorders, or brain neurological disorders. It is also important to evaluate the child's developmental performance and discuss family history.
Treating learning difficulties:
Learning difficulties do not have a complete cure, but early intervention helps alleviate the effects of the problem. Helping them early on may assist them in achieving greater development both in school and in other aspects of life. It is always important to try to develop ways for these individuals to cope with their problems because neglecting or delaying the resolution of their issues may lead to feelings of frustration and depression, which can result in low self-esteem and other problems. If you have a child struggling with learning difficulties, you should consult experts and pediatricians. Experts build and develop skills based on your child's strengths, compensate for and find alternatives for their weaknesses that cause them many problems. There are also many programs and plans to manage learning difficulties in adults (if the problem is discovered late). Initially, placing the child in schools that provide special education for students with disabilities is important as it provides the child with a suitable community to engage with, in addition to a greater sense of safety and confidence than being in public schools that include students with full mental capacities. Some tips that may help if your child is struggling with:
- Reading difficulties:
Intensive teaching techniques: Start with the child step by step to improve reading skills, which will also improve their writing skills over time. These exercises may include individual or group training.
Classroom modifications: Children with reading difficulties are given extra time to complete exercises and tasks, as well as an increase in the time allocated to complete assignments. The child may need to hear some questions and sentences.
Use of technology: Technology should be dedicated to serving these children, such as listening to audiobooks or purposeful videos that can improve their skills
Writing difficulties:
. Special tools: Try using alternatives instead of writing for children who find writing difficult, such as audio recordings, photographing documents instead of writing them, using artificial intelligence to produce written text.
Reduce the need for writing: Use printing instead of writing at school or work.
Math difficulties:
. Use computers and smart devices as a solution instead of doing mental calculations
. Use memory aids (some images and educational videos) to help the child remember mathematical concepts.
In conclusion, securing a private tutor for the child to solve all their problems and find alternatives is essential. Through a private tutor or experts, individuals struggling with learning difficulties can significantly integrate into society. Therefore, if your child is experiencing learning difficulties, it is important to start solving the problem as early as possible.