Learning Disabilities
Learning problems can be hazardous to your psychological health. Children who experience problems with learning are often overlooked and might become depressed. If a learning disability is not caught early on, the problems with learning can grow exponentially.
If your child has dyslexia, for example, and no one notices, she will begin to have problems with spelling. Later she might not be able to write sentences correctly and cannot fully comprehend what she is reading. Ignoring this problem creates a great deal of frustration for the child and a sense of being a failure. Depression is then likely to follow.
In teens with learning disabilities, if the problem is not diagnosed early, they will have a low tolerance for frustration and often quit trying. They will ask, “What's the use?” and believe they are stupid.
On the other hand, there are parents and teachers who are very concerned about their children's problems with learning. A child can be tested and evaluated early to see if he's learning at an appropriate rate or level. Once a diagnosis of a learning disability is made, the focus shifts to treatment.
Treatment
If your child is diagnosed with a learning disability, what will happen next? Your child might be placed in a resource class. She might be given a tutor. Additional accommodations might be made for her in the classroom so that she can keep up with her peers. In other words, every effort is made so that this child can have a successful academic experience.
Is it a learning disability or is she just lazy?
That's the million-dollar question, because the two can appear similar at times. Talking with your child's teacher is the first place to go for help. If necessary, an educational evaluation can pinpoint any learning deficits along with your child's strengths.
Children don't like to be singled out. Having a learning disability sets them up for teasing, name-calling, and rejection by their peers. Often, the child comes to believe what she is being told by others and her self-concept becomes negative. Once again, this negativity puts her in direct danger of becoming depressed.
The school is an excellent resource for understanding your child's development, talents, and problems. Just like gardens, children need attention to grow. Arming yourself with the right information pertinent to your child's needs is an effective way to prevent depression from creeping in.
