Learning problems: identify them to better help your child

In most countries around the world, children have been back at school for around a month now. As the kids settle back into their routines and finally start getting down to their more serious school work, some parents may be worried to learn that their child is struggling academically.

Learning disorders or disabilities are a growing concern for parents and teachers. But what exactly is a learning disorder and how should the children concerned be taken care of?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), learning disabilities are "permanent disorders of neurological origin that affect the acquisition, understanding, use and processing of verbal or non-verbal information".

It must be kept in mind that the origin of these disorders is neurological and has nothing to do with the intelligence of the child. Neither parents nor teachers are therefore responsible for their appearance.

@Ben White / Unsplash

Concretely, these disorders are manifested through difficulties in the acquisition of fundamental school knowledge, such as reading, spelling or arithmetic.

@Santi Vedri / Unsplash

Other areas of child development may be affected, such as mastery of oral language, attention, memory, gestural activities, spatial vision and the ability to organize oneself.

@Marisa Howenstine / Unsplash

These disorders should not be confused with learning difficulties. Learning difficulties are temporary and often linked to socio-emotional factors such as family problems, economic difficulties or frequent changes of school.

@Element5 Digital / Unsplash

According to data from the Nantes University Hospital Center, 3 to 5% of children in an age group are affected by at least one of these disorders, and 1% of them present a severe form.

@Aaron Burden / Unsplash

Unlike certain non-specific disorders (deficiencies, genetic diseases, autism, mental delays), specific learning disabilities correspond to a structural neurodevelopmental disturbance leading to a lasting and severe disability. But what are they?

@Markus Spiske / Unsplash

Dysphasia is a long-lasting specific disorder of oral language development in children.

@Jason Rosewell / Unsplash

Dyslexia is a specific disorder characterized by difficulties in learning to read. Often associated with a difficulty in spelling, it is characterized in particular by a poor association between graphemes (written signs) and phonemes (sounds), and by an inability to quickly grasp a word as a whole.

@Johnny McClung / Unsplash

Dysorthography is a specific disorder of the acquisition of written language, characterized by significant difficulties in spelling.

@Annie Spratt / Unsplash

Dyscalculia manifests itself in children through a faulty perception of numerical quantities. Frequently associated with a language or coordination disorder, it leads to difficulties in memorizing and learning mathematical operations.

Dyspraxia is characterized by motor problems, especially in the planning and coordination of movements. Difficulty automating certain gestures, such as writing, tends to lead to other disorders.

@Wayne Lee-Sing / Unsplash

Attention deficit disorder (ADD) causes children to be unable to concentrate and maintain their attention during an activity. Sometimes combined with other learning disabilities, they lead to careless errors and difficulty following instructions.

@Andy Kelly / Unsplash

Attention deficits can present with hyperactivity (ADHD) or without (simple ADD).

@Mi Pham / Unsplash

These disorders can be recognized through different symptoms: hyperactivity (for attention disorders), difficult coordination of movements, confusion between words, difficulties of orientation in space.

@Michal Parzuchowski / Unsplash

A learning disability can only be detected with certainty after excluding other factors: intellectual or neurosensory impairment, psychiatric difficulties or difficulties linked to the social environment.

@notethanun / Unsplash

The diagnosis requires a specialized assessment, carried out by a speech therapist for learning language and mathematics, or by a psychomotor therapist for motor or perception difficulties.

@Adam Winger / Unsplash

There is no "miracle recipe" for learning disabilities. However, appropriate care by a specialist can manage them, if not cure them.

@Sebastian Pandelache / Unsplash

An essential point: the child must be reassured and correctly informed about the difficulties he is going through. They must also be able to benefit from time, calm and help in organizing their work.

@Gabriel Vasiliu / Unsplash

Pedagogical adaptations are also desirable at school, such as extra time during tests, oral reading of instructions for children with reading difficulties, or the possibility of using a computer for those with writing difficulties. .

In addition, certain practices allow teachers to promote the learning of the children concerned: using visual content, giving precise instructions, varying the volume and tone of voice, and above all maintaining a warm and welcoming climate in the classroom!