Pediatric Learning Disorders

A learning disorder is when a child has trouble learning in certain school subjects. Your child may have problems with reading, math or writing. Skills are below what's expected for the child’s age, grade level and intelligence. The problem is bad enough to interfere with school or everyday activities.

Experts believe a learning disorder happens because of a problem in the nervous system. The problem may be in the brain's structure. Or the chemicals in the brain may not work right. As a result, a child with a learning disorder receives, processes or communicates information in a different way.

Learning disorders may run in families. They may also be linked to:

• Problems during pregnancy
• Problems during birth or early infancy
• Other health conditions, such as ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder)

Each child’s symptoms may vary. Common symptoms are:

• Reading disorder. A child reads below the expected level given his or her age, grade in school and intelligence. Children with this problem read slowly and have trouble understanding what they read. They may have trouble with word recognition. They may confuse words that look alike. This disorder is sometimes called dyslexia.
• Mathematics disorder. A child has problems with numbers. They may have trouble counting, copying numbers the right way, adding and carrying numbers, learning multiplication tables and recognizing math symbols.
• Disorder of written expression. A child has trouble with writing skills. They struggle with grammar and punctuation, spelling, paragraph organization or written composition.

Parents or teachers may first spot the signs of a learning disorder in a child. The child may often have trouble with:

• Reading, spelling, writing or doing math problems
• Understanding or following directions
• Telling right from left
• Reversing letters or numbers. Examples are confusing b and d, or 12 and 21.

Before a mental health referral is made, your child's healthcare provider will want to rule out any other health problems. Once this is done, a mental health provider, such as a school psychologist, can appropriately diagnose a learning disorder. The provider will talk with parents and teachers. The child will also need educational and mental health testing.

Public schools have a duty to evaluate children with certain learning problems. When appropriate, these schools must also offer treatment. Check with your school to find out how to request an evaluation. An evaluation identifies if your child has a learning disorder. It also finds learning strengths and weaknesses. The results help decide on your child’s educational needs and best placement at school.

A learning disability may greatly interfere with your child’s ability to succeed in school. If so, then they may be eligible for certain protections and reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or Section 504 of the Civil Rights Act. Talk with your child’s teacher or principal about how to get more information.

Treatment will depend on your child’s symptoms, age and general health. It will also depend on how severe the condition is.

Parents, teachers and mental health experts work together to help a child. Treatments may include:

• Individual or group classes
• Special classes or resources
• Speech therapy
• Family therapy
• Medicines, if a child is easily distracted or hyperactive

Experts don’t know how to prevent learning disorders in children. But spotting and treating one early can ease symptoms and enhance your child’s normal development. It can also improve your child’s quality of life.

A learning disorder has no cure. But early diagnosis and treatment can make it less severe. It will also improve your child’s learning potential and quality of life.

You play a key part in your child’s treatment and well-being. Here are things you can do to help your child:

• Keep all appointments with your child’s healthcare provider and school personnel.
• Work with your child’s healthcare providers and school to create a treatment plan. Your child likely will get care from a team that may include the primary care provider, school psychologists, therapists, social workers and experts from your child’s school. Your child’s care team will depend on your child’s needs and how serious the learning disorder is.
• Reach out for support from local community services. Being in touch with other parents who have a child with a learning disorder may be helpful.