Many children have trouble with school at some point. Unfortunately, some face significant and persistent challenges despite their efforts. In many cases, these students have what is called a learning disorder (LD). Read on to find out more about learning disorders.
Learning disorders affect the way a person processes certain information, making it difficult to acquire certain academic skills. A learning disorder is a neurological condition and has nothing to do with a lack of intelligence, laziness, or bad teaching.
There are three types of learning disorders:
- Dyslexia (a learning disorder in reading)
- Dysorthography (a learning disorder in writing)
- Dyscalculia (a learning disorder in mathematics)
While you do not need a diagnosis to see a specialist or establish an individualized education plan, an assessment is still useful. For example, it provides an opportunity to do the following:
- Identify your child’s strengths and challenges
- Understand your child’s difficulties and put them into words
- Find the right tools to help them at school
- Determine strategies to put in place
- Etc.
A child with an LD will likely have to work harder than their peers to overcome their challenges. These persistent challenges may lead to a poor self-image, and some children may (wrongly) think that they are not smart or will not succeed in school. Helping your child build their self-esteem can prevent this from happening. You can boost their confidence by highlighting their efforts and encouraging them to do the following:
- Believe in themself and focus on their progress
- Draw a skills tree
- Overcome a personal hurdle
- Remember that mistakes are not the end of the world
- Understand that there are many ways to learn
- Etc.
For more tips and information on this topic, check out our article 5 activities to boost your high schooler’s self-esteem.
Learning disorders affect 5 to 15 percent of school-aged children. These students often struggle more with school and can take a long time to finish their homework. To give them the best shot at academic success, it is important to teach them effective strategies that focus on specific areas:
To help your child build self-confidence, try talking to them about role models (famous people they admire) who are successful because they have tapped into their full potential.
Having one or more learning disorders does not define your child. That is why we recommend focusing on other aspects of your child’s life. For example, you can talk about the following:
- Their wins at school
- Their best qualities
- Their dreams
- Their achievements outside of academics (e.g., sports, arts, social)
When you tell your child that you love them for who they are and respect their learning speed, you help them maintain their self-esteem. For more tips on supporting your child, check out our article Homework tips for children with learning disorders.
Writing : Marie-Hélène Verville
Scientific review : Mathieu Labine-Daigneault, M. Éd., resource teacher,
Executive Director of ADOQ
Rewriting : The Alloprof Parents' team
Destrempes-Marquez, Denise et Louise Lafleur, Les troubles d’apprentissage : comprendre et intervenir, Montréal, Éditions de l’Hôpital Sainte-Justine, « Collection Parents », 1999, 126 p.
Association américaine de psychiatrie, DSM, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Manuel diagnostique et statistique des troubles mentaux DSM-5 (5e éd.). Arlington, VA, American Psychiatric Publishing, 2013, 970 pages.