Oman wellness: Learning difficulties in children

Learning difficulty or LD is not any kind of a disease. A child with LD can be extremely sharp in other areas. True there are challenges but that’s to do with parenting as a whole, not just specific to learning problems.

Learning difficulty or disability (LD) is a neurological disorder and children having this are often known to have a differently wired brain. Children with LD have problems in coping with their academics which include reading, writing, remembering spellings, recalling, reasoning, and the ability to organise information. Common learning disabilities also include dyslexia, a disability in which a person has trouble in reading or understanding written words. Other difficulties range from challenges faced in solving arithmetic problems, auditory, and visual processing disorder.
Throwing light on this subject Dr Sreekumar, paediatrician at KIMS Hospital Oman, says that while there are no cures for LD but with adequate support and interventions at the right time, children with LDs can be successful and can get into distinguished careers in their life.
Learning disorders can be categorised into dyslexia where children with this problem have difficulty in understanding written words, dysgraphia, a writing disorder in which a person finds it hard to form letters or write within a defined space. Dyscalculia is a mathematical disability in which a person has difficulty in solving arithmetic problems and grasping mathematical concepts. Auditory and visual processing disorders are conditions in which despite having normal hearing and vision, a person has difficulty understanding language because the brain can’t process the information gained by reading and hearing in an adequate manner.
Non verbal learning disorder is a neurological disorder which originates in the right half of the brain, causing problems with visual-spatial, organisational, evaluative, and holistic processing functions.
Learning difficulties has nothing to do with one’s intelligence. It’s just that these children have brains that are wired differently.
Talking about the signs and symptoms of LD Dr Sreekumar says that it varies in each child. While some struggle with words and alphabets, others have problems with maths, memorising, and comprehending skills.
In general parents should watch if their child has a delay in language development, pronunciation problems, trouble learning numbers, alphabets, days of the week, colours, shapes, difficulty in understanding and following instructions, trouble learning about time, extremely restless and easily distracted, easily loses or misplaces belongings, school books or other items.
“If a parent or a teacher suspects some form of LD in a child an early intervention is highly recommended,” says Dr Sreekumar.
“The first thing to be done is to have your child evaluated with the help of a group of professionals.
Diagnosing a learning disability can only be done through people specialised in this field which includes paediatricians, clinical psychologist, child psychiatrist, educational psychologist, and psychometrist. “The process includes testing, knowing the history, and observation by a trained specialist,” he adds. Treatment usually includes both strengthening the skills and developing a learning strategy tailored to take advantage of a child’s strengths.
For example repetition and mnemonic devices might make it easier to memorise a math formula, and drawing a picture to illustrate a word problem might help a child visualise what has been asked. “Children with LD are often highly intelligent, possess leadership skills or might be good in music, arts, sports or in other creative areas. So focus on their skills and strengthen it,” says Dr Sreekumar.
Parenting a child with learning difficulties has its own dilemmas but right approach by parents can help children achieve success. Parents should be aware of the strengths and weaknesses of their children and work on their strengths.
Pressures from school might be stressful but they must talk to professionals and counsellors in schools to learn the strategies for dealing with the difficulties. It is important to work on their self esteem and make them feel that not being able to perform well in school is not the end of the world.
Children with learning difficulties in the mainstream schools deserve special attention and care by teachers and special educators to help them cope with the academics. It’s not just the parents’ responsibility as a child spends five-six vital hours in a day in school. So teachers are equally responsible for their development. Children should not be shamed as slow learner; instead they should be encouraged. Small achievable targets and words of motivation make a lot of difference. It is important for parents to shed off their inhibitions and help their child.
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