Learning disorders happen when the brain takes in and processes information in an atypical way. These disorders can impact children of all ages, and these disorders can vary significantly in severity. There is no connection between intelligence and learning disorders, and many very intelligent children are diagnosed with these disorders every year. There can be a gap in expected skills related to learning disorders, but this gap does not exist due to any deficit of intelligence.
These disorders are often diagnosed in children, but some adults do not secure a diagnosis until they seek help for problems with learning or socialisation later in life.
The most common learning disabilities can impact a person’s ability to:
Language use and comprehension, as well as reading and writing, all depend upon an array of sensory experiences that must come together to create the activity in question. For those with learning disabilities, some or all of the information that is necessary to access and use these skills might be misinterpreted by the brain.
In more mild cases of learning disabilities, a child might be able to engage in all of these activities, but they might find reading, writing, learning, and communication so tiring that they suffer from emotional outbursts and frustration. When older children are diagnosed late in life with learning disabilities, one of the early symptoms that might make them seek medical care is a sense of deep frustration or anger when completing complex tasks.
There are various things that might cause a learning disorder. Family history and genetics can play a big role in the incidence of learning disabilities in children. Belonging to a family with one or more close relatives with learning disorders can be a significant risk factor.
Beyond genetic predisposition to learning disabilities, there are some other possible causes and risk factors that might lead to learning disorders:
Diagnosis of learning disorders can be a complex process in many cases. Suffering from a constellation of learning disorders is not uncommon, although some people have specific learning struggles that are not multi-faceted in nature. Teachers, parents, doctors, and even mental health professionals are often involved in the process of securing a diagnosis for children with learning disabilities. When teens are diagnosed with learning disorders later in childhood, other mental health professionals might be involved in the diagnosis process as well.
In most cases, these disorders have to be diagnosed through the use of a variety of different tests that help identify specific comprehension and communication issues. If there is a suspicion of ADHD or anxiety involved in the case, these will be tested for as well. Often, anxiety and ADHD will need to be addressed alongside the learning disorder.
There is no real way to prevent a learning disorder. Most of these conditions are related to genetics or are the result of an accident that one could not prepare for. The only preventative measure that can be taken is to make your child wear a helmet when engaging in activities that could lead to injury to the brain.
Treatment of learning disorders can be complex in many cases. Some children will need the support of a mental health professional as well as a tutor or a learning specialist that is able to specifically address each patient’s unique learning disorder. Adjustments to the way that learning is directed at school can make a big impact. Speech-language therapy is often recommended, as is occupational therapy.
Medicine can also help to address the symptoms of ADHD, which can complicate learning problems. Cognitive behavioural therapy and a healthy diet have also been shown to improve the symptoms of learning disorders. For many patients with these disorders, creating a treatment plan that works can take a few years of trial and error.