Learning Difficulties in Children: Does My Child Need an Assessment?
Every child finds some aspects of learning difficult at times. But what if your child seems to be working much harder than their classmates, or continues to struggle despite extra help and encouragement?
You may be wondering:
“Does my child have a learning difficulty?”
Perhaps they are struggling with reading, spelling, writing or maths. Maybe schoolwork takes an unusually long time, they avoid particular subjects or their results don't seem to reflect their abilities.
Understanding what is behind these difficulties can be an important first step towards providing the right support.
What is a learning difficulty?
A learning difficulty is a broad term used to describe challenges that affect how a child learns or demonstrates their skills.
Learning difficulties can affect areas such as:
reading and decoding
spelling
writing and written expression
mathematics and number skills
remembering and using information
following instructions
completing schoolwork
working efficiently or independently.
Some difficulties are temporary and improve with additional teaching or practice. Others are more persistent and may indicate a Specific Learning Disorder (SLD).
What are the signs of a learning difficulty?
Every child is different, but you may notice that your child:
struggles more than expected with reading, spelling or maths
takes much longer than their peers to complete schoolwork
avoids particular subjects or homework
becomes frustrated or distressed by learning tasks
continues to make similar mistakes despite additional support
has difficulty remembering basic skills or information
performs inconsistently
has a noticeable gap between their apparent ability and academic achievement.
Sometimes the signs are subtle.
A child may be bright, curious and able to explain ideas verbally, but struggle to demonstrate the same knowledge in reading or writing.
This can be particularly confusing for parents and teachers.
What are Specific Learning Disorders?
Specific Learning Disorder is a formal diagnostic term used when a person has persistent difficulties learning and using particular academic skills that are substantially below what would be expected for their age and have a meaningful impact on their functioning.
Specific Learning Disorder can involve difficulties with:
Reading (dyslexia)
A child may have persistent difficulties with accurate or fluent reading and spelling.
Read more: [Does My Child Have Dyslexia? Understanding Reading Difficulties]
Written expression (dysgraphia)
A child may have difficulties with spelling, grammar, sentence construction, organising written ideas or producing written work.
Read more: [Does My Child Have Dysgraphia? Understanding Writing Difficulties]
Mathematics (dyscalculia)
A child may have persistent difficulties understanding numbers, learning mathematical facts or carrying out mathematical procedures.
Read more: [Does My Child Have Dyscalculia? Understanding Maths Difficulties]
These difficulties can occur individually or together.
Is a learning difficulty the same as ADHD?
Not necessarily.
ADHD can affect a child's school performance through difficulties with attention, working memory, organisation and executive functioning.
For example, a child may understand how to complete a maths problem but make frequent mistakes because they lose track of the steps.
A child with a specific learning disorder may understand the instructions and remain focused but still find the underlying academic skill particularly difficult.
ADHD and learning disorders can also occur together.
This is why it isn't always possible to determine the cause simply by looking at a child's schoolwork.
What about autism or anxiety?
Learning difficulties can also occur alongside autism, anxiety, language difficulties and other developmental or emotional factors.
For example, a child may have difficulty completing work because of:
a specific difficulty with reading
attention difficulties
anxiety about making mistakes
difficulty understanding language
sensory or environmental demands
or a combination of factors.
Understanding the bigger picture is therefore important.
Can a child have strong abilities and a learning disorder?
Yes.
A learning disorder does not mean that a child has low cognitive ability.
Some children with learning difficulties have significant strengths in reasoning, problem-solving creativity, verbal abilities or other areas while experiencing persistent difficulties with particular academic skills.
This can sometimes make learning difficulties harder to recognise. A child may demonstrate strong understanding when talking about a topic but struggle to show the same knowledge through reading, writing or mathematics.
This is one reason a cognitive and academic assessment can be helpful.
Looking at cognitive abilities alongside academic achievement can help identify a child's individual pattern of strengths and difficulties.
How is a learning difficulty assessed?
A comprehensive learning assessment may consider:
developmental and educational history
cognitive functioning
reading
spelling
written expression
mathematics
working memory
processing speed
attention and executive functioning where relevant.
Assessments such as the WISC can provide information about cognitive functioning, while an assessment such as the WIAT can provide information about academic achievement.
The purpose isn't simply to produce scores.
The pattern of results can help explain how a child learns, where they are experiencing difficulty and what support may be most helpful.
Does my child need a learning assessment?
An assessment may be worth considering when learning difficulties are persistent, affecting your child's confidence or academic progress, or continuing despite appropriate support.
You don't need to wait until your child is significantly behind.
Early understanding can help families and schools put appropriate strategies in place and prevent a child from developing the belief that they are simply “not good at school”.
Do I need to know what the problem is before seeking an assessment?
No.
This is an important part of the assessment process.
Parents are often unsure whether their child's difficulties relate to dyslexia, ADHD, autism, a learning disorder or something else.
You don't necessarily need to choose the “right” assessment before seeking help.
At thegrowspace, we start with the concerns you have noticed and consider the broader picture. Where appropriate, a comprehensive assessment can explore cognitive functioning, academic achievement, attention, executive functioning and other relevant areas.
The goal is not simply to find a diagnosis.
It is to understand why your child is struggling, recognise their strengths and identify what can help them learn with greater confidence.
Worried about your child's learning?
If your child is working hard but continuing to struggle with reading, writing, spelling or mathematics, a learning assessment may help provide some answers.
Contact thegrowspace to discuss whether a comprehensive learning or psychological assessment could help you better understand your child's strengths and difficulties.