School is on every parent’s mind. Whether their child is in private or public, just starting out, about to graduate high school, or finishing college, it’s definitely on the ‘top three’ list. For some parents, it’s the number one concern, which might mean rethinking priorities. But the point is, the vast majority of parents of school-aged children are concerned about learning, performance, achievement, college, and beyond. And while the demands of school are tremendous for all children, the majority of kids do just fine with educational challenges they encounter. In general, kids complete the K-12 journey, although it may be more than a little bumpy at times, and college should prove to be a relatively smooth journey for most.
However, there are an estimated 25% of children who may be struggling with learning or attention issues along the way, making that road a very steep upward climb. Getting the right help, and knowing how best to approach your child’s needs, is critical.
Some important facts to know: Learning disabilities include a broad range of issues. Sometimes referred to as learning differences, disorders, issues, styles, the bottom line is the same; the brain is wired a bit differently, affecting a range of abilities and skills, such as reading, writing, attention, comprehension, language, and math, as well as others. These difficulties can interfere with processing and retaining information, analyzing material effectively, applying knowledge appropriately, developing good decision-making skills, and can make for challenging social relationships.
If your child is struggling with reading, having real trouble completing homework, forgets things very easily, and the difficulties are consistently present no matter how much effort is applied, it may make sense to explore further with a professional. Below are some age-specific skills and guidelines to consider for all school-aged children.
What To Look For
In reviewing what to look for, please remember these groupings are meant to serve as a guide. It’s always best to check in with your child’s pediatrician and/or teacher, before jumping to conclusions about a learning or attention problem. Some children experience delays and catch up later, with no need for supportive services or any sort of intervention. It’s important to remember that consistency and severity of a problem is what you are evaluating. All children struggle with something at some point. But if it’s serious enough to interfere with learning or causing emotional distress, best to check things out. Many of the symptoms and signs below can appear at different points in time. These are the more typical indicators to look for at particular developmental stages.
Ages 2-4
- Difficulty learning numbers, letters, colors, shapes
- Delayed speech
- Limited vocabulary growth
- Poor motor skills
- Expressive language problems (mispronunciation of words)
- Poor rhyming skills
- Difficulty following simple/age-appropriate directions
Ages 5 – 10
- Confusing basic words
- Consistent spelling and reading errors
- Problems connecting sounds with letters
- Poor organizational skills
- Difficulty learning new tasks
- Delayed or poor motor skills; clumsy, falls easily, prone to accidents
- Slow to learn and remember facts
- Confuses or misuses arithmetic signs
- Poor or unusual pencil/pen grasp, such as a fist grip
- Difficulty understanding concept of time
Ages 11 – 14
- Avoids reading aloud when asked
- Poor handwriting skills, printing or cursive
- Problems with understanding and applying prefixes, suffixes, and root words
- Difficulty with word problems
- Avoidance of written assignments
- Poor retention of information
- Difficulty with interpersonal relationships, making friends
Ages 15 into Adulthood
- Difficulty summarizing plots, stories, movies
- Increased difficulty with transition between tasks
- Avoids majority of reading and writing skills
- Poor memory abilities
- Increasingly poor grasp of abstract concepts and ideas
- Approaches work very slowly, with trepidation
- Spelling problems continue or worsen
- Often misreads social cues
What to do if you think your child may have a learning problem
Since parents know their children best, they are often the first ones to recognize that there might be a problem. It’s important not to get overly concerned without first considering all possibilities and seeking the advice from a professional, such as a pediatrician. A lot of time and expense can be wasted seeking out learning specialists, tutors, and developmental experts without first knowing if there is a real need for concern.
Summary
Sometimes the best advice is to wait and see if the problem persists or gets worse. If there really seems to be a delay or a disability, then it is good practice to explore further with a qualified professional, such as a pediatric neuropsychologist, or developmental pediatrician, and have an evaluation completed.
If you discover your child has a learning disability or an attention problem, it’s important to know how best to approach their unique learning issues. Most kids with learning disabilities or attention problems do just fine, but it’s important they get the right supports, educational experiences and opportunities suited to their needs. It’s critical to find out how they learn best, so they can bolster their strengths and rise above their weaknesses.
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Jamie Kay, Ph.D., received her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from The Derner Institute at Adelphi University. She was the Director of the Center for Attention and Learning at Lenox Hill Hospital for seven years, securing and maintaining six Robin Hood Foundation grants. She has held senior positions at behavioral health centers and hospitals throughout the greater metropolitan area. Dr. Kay developed a series of groups and workshops at the esteemed 92nd Street Y Parenting Center on the Upper East Side of New York and maintained a private practice in Manhattan for over 20 years. Currently, Dr. Kay works exclusively with parents of children with learning disabilities, through Learning Solutions NYC (www.LearningSolutionsNYC.com)