Learning Disorders

Many children sometimes experience difficulty in school with particular concepts or abilities. When children put in a great deal of effort yet continue to have trouble learning a particular set of skills over time, it may indicate a learning disorder. Even when general intelligence or motivation are unaffected, a child with a learning impairment struggles in one or more areas of learning.

Examples of learning disorders include

• Dyslexia – difficulty with reading
• Dyscalculia – difficulty with math
• Dysgraphia – difficulty with writing

•  Difficulty telling right from left
• Reversing letters, words, or numbers, after first or second grade
• Difficulties recognizing patterns or sorting items by size or shape
• Difficulty understanding and following instructions or staying organized
• Difficulty remembering what was just said or what was just read
• Lacking coordination when moving around
• Difficulty doing tasks with the hands, like writing, cutting, or drawing
• Difficulty understanding the concept of time

Children Learning disorders may struggle to understand a subject despite their best efforts can get frustrated, feel helpless, or withdraw out of frustration. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, and other emotional or behavioural disorders may occur along with learning disorders. It can be particularly challenging for children to succeed in school when multiple problems overlap. It is essential to correctly diagnose each disorder so that the child can get the appropriate treatment.

 Children with learning disorders often need extra help and instruction  that are specialized for them. Having a learning disorder can qualify a  child for special education services in school.  Generally, an important first step is to understand the child's learning  difficulties and consider how they will affect their communication,  self-help skills, willingness to accept discipline, impact on play, and  capacity for independence. Such problems deserve a comprehensive  evaluation by an expert who can assess all of the different issues  affecting the child.  

The assessment process may involve:

Depending on the child's age and the difficulties, different tests may be required:

• A preliminary analysis of the child's educational background 
• Standardised cognitive assessment (capacity for thinking and reasoning) - WISC
• Academic skills testing that is standardised (WIAT)
• Other relevant tests, if necessary (to evaluate working memory difficulties or attention/focus, for example)
• A thorough examination report with a concise summary and an outcome
• Specific suggestions for at-home and in-class learning
• Detailed parent feedback session to address all of your concerns