Parents are often worried when their child has learning problems
in school. There are many reasons for school failure, but a common
one is a specific learning disability. Children with learning disabilities
usually have a normal range of intelligence. They try very hard
to follow instructions, concentrate, and "be good" at home and in
school. Yet, despite this effort, he or she is not mastering school
tasks and falls behind. Learning disabilities affect at least 1
in 10 schoolchildren.
It is believed that learning disabilities are caused by a difficulty
with the nervous system that affects receiving, processing, or communicating
information. They may also run in families. Some children with learning
disabilities are also hyperactive; unable to sit still, easily distracted,
and have a short attention span.
Child and adolescent psychiatrists point out that learning disabilities
are treatable. If not detected and treated early, however, they
can have a tragic "snowballing" effect. For instance, a child who
does not learn addition in elementary school cannot understand algebra
in high school. The child, trying very hard to learn, becomes more
and more frustrated, and develops emotional problems such as low
self-esteem in the face of repeated failure. Some learning disabled
children misbehave in school because they would rather be seen as
"bad" than "stupid".
Parents should be aware of the most frequent signals of learning
disabilities, when a child:
- has difficulty understanding and following instructions.
- has trouble remembering what someone just told him or her.
- fails to master reading, spelling, writing, and/or math skills, and thus fails schoolwork.
- has difficulty distinguishing right from left; difficulty identifying words or a tendency to reverse letters, words, or numbers; (for example, confusing 25 with 52, "b" with "d," or "on" with "no").
- lacks coordination in walking, sports, or small activities such as holding a pencil or tying a shoelace.
- easily loses or misplaces homework, schoolbooks, or other items.
- cannot understand the concept of time; is confused by "yesterday," "today," "tomorrow."