“My child has poor memory power, doctor.”
“Every PTM meeting teachers complain about incomplete homework, incomplete notes, and missing notebooks.”
“My child can’t sit still, always on the move, fidgeting, losing, or breaking things.”
“The tantrums my child has over nothing are so uncalled for.”
“My child is falling behind in class, and has no friends.”
“My child doesn’t interact with anyone.”
“My child plays video games for hours but can’t concentrate in class.”
“Everyday my child loses his pencil box or some of its contents.”
“All boys are lazy and don’t study. Only interested in play.”
“The child is too pampered, his parents need to be more strict.”
“I know a really good tuition teacher. It will sort everything out.”
These are some of the common complaints and so-called solutions I hear about children with learning disabilities. Learning disabilities are psychological disorders that affect the way a child learns new things throughout their life. If a child has a learning disability, they may find it difficult to speak, read, write, pay attention, understand information, remember things, perform mathematical calculations, or coordinate movements. However, most parents dismiss the child’s genuine concerns as tantrums and believe that getting a “good” (read: strict) tuition teacher will “sort” everything. As a result, these children- who have the potential to do extremely well in life, if given the right support- either struggle to get through school or drop out. Helping them begins with making parents understand learning disabilities- what they are, how to identify them, and where to find support.
To put it simply, children with learning disabilities see, hear, and understand things differently. The so-called disability is only a difference in the way their brains are wired, i.e., the way they process information and make connections. If diagnosed at an early age and given special assistance, children with learning disabilities have a chance at excellent academic success. Albert Einstein, Alexander Graham Bell, and George Washington- they each had a learning disability, but it didn’t deter any of them from achieving what he did.
As parents, we must be able to identify learning disabilities. It’s an umbrella term for a wide variety of conditions, which have been classified according to the specific areas of learning and processing that they affect. Although I will discuss each disability in detail in my upcoming posts, here’s a brief introduction to some of the most common ones:
Dyslexia
Try reading the following:
It’s difficult, right? You’re probably able to decode it, but it takes time. Those with dyslexia experience this difficulty and take this amount of time every time they read. In case you weren’t able to, here’s the decoded text:
Dyscalculia
Also known as number blindness and math dyslexia, dyscalculia affects the ability to process numbers and do math. Look at the questions below:
Children with dyscalculia would answer this question just as quickly and accurately as those without it. However, if you asked:
A dyscalculic child would take relatively longer to answer this. Chances are, they might not be able to give the right answer.
Dysgraphia
As visible above, dysgraphia is characterized by messy handwriting. But it takes years of practice for a student to master neat handwriting, so parents and teachers should look for other signs as well. We’ll discuss the signs in detail in the post dedicated to dysgraphia. Observe if the child has difficulty:
- Forming, sizing, and spacing letters correctly
- Holding down a piece of paper with one hand while writing with the other
- Controlling a pencil or pen
- Using an appropriate amount of pressure when writing
- Maintaining correct posture and hand positioning when writing
- Spelling
Auditory Processing Disorder
It affects the ability to process sound. Children with auditory processing disorder are unable to distinguish subtle differences in words. As a result, they find it difficult to sound out words and understand the basic concepts of reading and writing.
Some other conditions may not be classified as learning disabilities but need to be mentioned here, since they often co-occur with learning disabilities and make the learning process even more difficult. These include:
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), where children have difficulty sitting still, paying attention, and following instructions.
- The Autism spectrum of disorders, where behaviour is repetitive and restrictive. Children with Autism may find it difficult to communicate, make friends, and make eye contact.
Thus, there is no single symptom or condition that parents and teachers need to be on the lookout for; there are many. A child might be great at reading and spelling but have trouble doing basic mathematical calculations, or vice versa. Note that it is normal for any child or adult to find things difficult from time to time, so parents and teachers need to pay close attention in case the child is finding certain areas of learning problematic on a regular basis.
Children with learning disabilities are prone to depression, anxiety, and conduct disorders. This is natural; processing differences can make the environment seem overwhelming. They may also feel “less than” the other kids in class and embarrassed, since they have difficulty with tasks that the others seem to be performing with ease. However, we can make it easier for our children by letting them know what we have just understood: that they are as capable as all the others. With some guidance, some effort, and some confidence in themselves, they can achieve their full potential. It is our duty to ensure that they receive the guidance and feel the confidence; believe me, they will put the effort on their own, and its intensity will astonish us.
If you suspect that your child has a learning disability, the next step is to have them tested and evaluated by a qualified professional. There is no need to “wait and watch”; the sooner you seek help, the sooner your child can be on the road to success. It may turn out that the child’s problems are not due to a disability, but intervention is still needed.
Finding a reliable professional can be a journey. Start with the child’s school; the counsellors might be able to refer you to the required centres. If not, ask your doctor and your friends and family if they know someone who can help you. Child psychologists, child psychiatrists, adolescent psychiatrists, neurodevelopmental pediatricians and primary care pediatricians might be able to identify and screen learning disabilities.
While on this journey, it is important to remember that you know your child best. If the people you consult reassure you that “there is nothing to worry about” but your heart says otherwise, persist. It may turn out that the child’s difficulty is not due to a learning disability, but the child as well as you may still need assistance.
In conclusion, I’d like to share a wonderful story that I came across on the internet. I don’t know how true it is, but it doesn’t matter. If you’re a mom or a dad, you’ll understand once you read it:
A boy was sent home from school. He handed his mom a sealed envelope, saying, ‘My teacher asked me to give this to you.’
His mom was tearful as she read the letter aloud to her child: “Your boy is so bright that the teachers here aren’t good enough to teach him. Please teach him yourself.”
The boy went on to light up the world with his invention of the electric bulb. He was Thomas Edison.
Years later, after his mother had died, he was looking through old family things. He suddenly saw a folded piece of paper in the corner of a desk drawer. He opened it. On it was written: “Your son is mentally ill. We won’t let him come to school anymore.”
Edison cried for hours. Then he wrote in his diary: “Thomas Alva Edison was a ‘mentally ill’ child that, by a hero mother, became the genius of the century.”
Here’s to them- all the hero mothers, fathers, and teachers- who will always believe in their children, encourage them, and put their happiness first.
