A child learns many things—how to speak, listen, read, write, as well as do the math. Many of these skills are harder to learn than others. In case a child is trying his or her best to learn some particular skills but may not able to keep up with the peers, you need to find out the reason behind it. A child can have a learning disorder.
In case your child has a learning disorder, it is better if it is found out sooner. This ensures that your child gets the required as soon as possible. In this article, we would be talking about the causes and symptoms of learning disorders in children.
Causes of Learning Disorders in Children
Learning disorders are an operational difference in the brains of certain children. They do not affect the intelligence quotient (IQ) of a child. Learning disorders are more common in children who have chronic health conditions. Many experts claim that there is no single or specific cause of a learning disability. However, some factors can lead to learning disability:
- Heredity: In case the parents of a child have a learning disability, it is likely that the child would develop a similar disorder.
- Illness during or after birth: An injury or an illness during or after birth can lead to learning disorders. Other factors can be consumption of alcohol or drugs during pregnancy, poor growth in the uterus, physical trauma, premature or prolonged labor, or low birth weight.
- Stress during infancy: Any stressful incident that happens just after birth such as head injury, high fever, or poor nutrition can lead to learning disorders.
- Environment: The environment also plays a big role as increased exposure to toxins can lead to a learning disorder.
- Comorbidity: It is important to identify learning difficulties in students as such children are at a higher risk of having disruptive behavior disorder or attention problems. More than 25 percent of children with a reading disorder can also have ADHD.
- Sensory deficits: A learning disorder can also be caused due to certain sensory deficits such as poor vision or hearing loss.
- Nutritional Deficits: A child needs many essential nutrients and vitamins at the growing stage. In case certain nutrients or vitamins are deficient in the child’s diet, it may lead to a learning disorder.
Support Options for Learning Disorders in Children
A learning disorder cannot be completely cured. However, with proper support and timely intervention, children with learning disorders can be successful at school. Teachers and parents are the first people who notice that the child is facing difficulty to read, learn, or write. In case you think that the child has a learning disorder, you can seek help from a trained specialist or mental health expert for an intervention program or therapy.
The early detection of a learning disorder helps in building study skills for students with learning difficulties through therapy or treatment. Neglecting such a condition can affect a child’s ability to cope up with this condition. In case a child has a learning disorder, the doctor or school may recommend:
- Extra help: A trained professional or a reading specialist can teach different techniques to the child for improving his or her academic skills. A tutor can also teach organizational and study skills for the child.
- Individualized Education Program (IEP): The school or a special educator can help in developing an IEP for the child. This technique will describe how the child can best learn in a school.
- Therapy: Depending on the type of learning disorder, a child might benefit from therapy. For example, a child with language disabilities can be helped by using therapy. Occupational therapy can help in improving the motor skills of a child with writing problems.
- Complimentary or alternative therapy: Many alternative therapies such as music, dance, and art can also benefit a child with a learning disorder. Parents can apply alternative therapy for helping their children.
Conclusion
Parents as well as experts should set goals for the child who has a learning disorder. The slow learner treatment can help in improving the child’s abilities with proper support. The treatment of a learning disorder depends on several factors. In most of the cases, if a child receives good family and educational support, he or she can be directed to different occupations depending on their strengths. A long-term outcome does not only depend on academic achievements but also supportive adults, personal qualities, as well as community factors.