Challenges of Learning Disabilities in Children

Children are generally seen as a special gift from God to their family. They bring a bundle of joy and happiness to every home. The birth of a child is an event that sparks celebration, not only for the immediate family, but also for society as a whole. As days turn into weeks and weeks turn into months, the child is expected to perform age-appropriate behaviors ranging from neck control, sitting, crawling, standing, walking, talking, etc Expectations peak when the child is enrolled in school, from kindergarten to nursery, primary, and then at any level of choice. Most parents don't miss the chance to snap a photo of their child's first day of school, when the school and lunch bags are usually bigger than the child. At this point, parents and guardians burst with excitement when their children come home and are able to replicate what has been taught in school by singing, reciting, counting, calculating, reading or writing age-appropriate material.

Unfortunately, some parents or guardians have to wait so long for their children or wards to master some key learning skills, which is so easy for their peers. These challenges are called learning disabilities, which means difficulty in one or more areas of learning, even when intelligence or overall motivation is not affected. This implies that the child may be smart or literally "smart" and has the desire and zeal to learn but struggles. It can also be seen as an information processing problem that prevents a child from effectively learning and using academic skills, resulting in poor academic achievement.

Signs of learning disabilities include problems reading or writing or solving math problems. The child may have difficulty remembering certain things or have a poor memory. He or she may have difficulty paying attention or understanding and following instructions. There may also be difficulty understanding time. The child may resist going to school or doing homework or any other school activity. Also, he/she may exhibit poor coordination in gross and fine motor activities like walking, sports, or skills like holding a pencil. Additionally, there may be issues with frequently losing school materials or homework, acting out, or exhibiting excessive emotional reactions at school or during academic activities.

There are some common types of learning disabilities: dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, dyspraxia. Dyslexia is present when a child has trouble reading or understanding the relationships between letters and sounds, as well as spelling and recognizing words. It is suspected in a child who reads very slowly or spends a lot of energy reading simple things. He/she may lose interest in reading longer documents. Some of them have difficulty reading aloud, understanding and remembering what has been read. They also have difficulty pronouncing words.

Dysgraphia occurs when a child has difficulty writing or has very poor handwriting. This can make him nervous while writing. It occurs when a child has a poor grip on the pen or pencil or a feeling of pain or sore hands after writing for a short time. The child has poor handwriting that is very difficult to read, writes very slowly, and expends a lot of energy writing. He/she frequently erases written words or phrases, leaving their notebooks very messy. There may be a strong hatred or dislike of writing or drawing. Also, the child may write inconsistent letters and word spaces, make serious errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and may omit words or leave sentences unfinished while writing. Some may say words out loud while writing or have difficulty writing their ideas.

In addition, dyscalculia is related to difficulties understanding basic arithmetic concepts and numbers. This happens when a child has trouble understanding how numbers work and relate to each other, such as value, carrying, or borrowing numbers. He/she may have difficulty understanding word problems and the use of mathematical symbols. In addition, some children may have difficulty performing cash transactions, giving or collecting balances, or understanding the time sequence of events.

Finally, dyspraxia is specific to fine and gross motor skills. This usually has to do with balance and coordination difficulties. Many children have some of the symptoms of dyspraxia, but have been mistaken for laziness or a lack of strength. It is present when a child has poor balance which manifests as difficulty riding a bike, going up and down hills or stairs. He/she may have difficulty standing for long periods or have flat feet. Some children have poor hand-eye coordination, such as difficulty catching a ball or writing on a line or tying a shoe. Also, they may not be able to dance to the beat of the music. Some of them may fall often while walking, running or changing direction and tend to stumble or bump into objects and people.

Similar to most neuro-developmental or childhood disorders, there is no...