Disorder vs. Learning Difficulty: Know How to Identify the Difference

 

The correct diagnosis helps to restore the student's school life and spare them from greater consequences such as bullying and low self-esteem

During the school period, it is common for children and adolescents to struggle with one subject or another at some point. However, during this process, it is essential that parents and educators keep an eye on and monitor the developments of these obstacles that lead to low grades, after all, they can have two causes: disorder or learning difficulty. Despite what many think, disorder and learning difficulty have distinct concepts, and knowing how to identify some initial characteristics is crucial when seeking a specialist to properly address these disturbances. The educator specializing in childhood disorders, Cláudia Laet, explains that learning difficulty is not something organic; that is, it is a condition caused by external factors and environmental influences such as emotional, family, and even dietary issues. On the other hand, learning disorder refers to sensory and intellectual deficiencies that affect content absorption, information processing, and attention during learning, characterizing difficulties in the use of writing, reading, calculation, and reasoning, for example. [caption id="attachment_33458" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Claudia Laet, educator specializing in childhood disorders[/caption] Among the main learning disorders, the specialist highlights: ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) – a chronic neurobiological disorder characterized by inattention, anxiety, and restlessness, affecting 3% to 5% of school-aged children. Dyslexia – a genetic and hereditary disorder that compromises the ability to read and write correctly, usually manifesting in childhood and persisting into adulthood. Dyscalculia - affects an individual's ability to understand and manipulate numbers. "It is important to emphasize that correct diagnoses help save students with school difficulties, especially sparing them from consequences such as bullying, introversion, and low self-esteem, which can arise from unsatisfactory performance in school. Pedagogical therapy becomes essential in the treatment process, as it outlines the correct guidelines in an individualized manner," highlights Laet. The specialist also emphasizes that techniques such as special educational programs, therapy, and medication can help alleviate the effects of both learning disorders and difficulties. Early intervention, in fact, can be very effective in delaying blockages, especially if done in conjunction with therapists, educators, and family members. "To advance in this process, it is necessary to use appropriate teaching methods, positive stimuli, and psychological or psychiatric treatment, if necessary," explains Cláudia.   credit for the main photo: :PeopleImages by Istock