Helping Kids With Learning Disorders Succeed

Wednesday, 9 September 2015 08:42

Parents need to be supportive and understanding if their child is struggling with a learning difficulty.

School can be really difficult for kids with learning disabilities, and parents are being urged to seek help.

Sometimes being in the classroom can really bring these learning challenges to light. Clinical Therapist at Oxford-Elgin Child and Youth Centre Janel Wills says it's important to recognize the signs and make sure your child's school knows what's going on. "Have a school meeting to come up with the strategies that are going to work best for them. Get those other support people in place at the school so that they can really have a successful entry. Having some of those strategies whether it's taking some body breaks or getting some extra help or a homework buddy, those types of things. That really helps."

Two common ailments include ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder) and dyslexia. Signs of ADHD include slipping grades, impulsive behaviour, and an inability to sit still and focus. Kids might even start to get angry and frustrated and start to withdraw from family and friends. Wills says dyslexia is not as easy to spot. "You'll see more academic problems with dyslexia. And that one is a little harder to diagnose. We're looking at help from the school when looking at psycho-educational assessments and looking at other assessments that can help pick that out. Because they'll need some more accommodation and they'll need to have an individual education plan as well."

For many of these kids, the best thing you can do is offer your support. "The important thing for a parent is being a very, very strong advocate and really listening to the kids and saying you know what I know this is frustrating. What can I do to help?" says Wills. "And really just being that strong advocate and really listening to their kids is the best thing. And really saying,'You know what? We'll do everything we can to get some help.'"

Wills also encourages parents to check out the Leaky Brakes program they are doing in partnership with CPRI. This is intended for family members, educators, mental health professionals, bus drivers, babysitters, and anyone who might benefit from a better understanding of illnesses like Tourette Syndrome, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, ADHD, and Oppositional Defiant and 'rage' Sensory Processing Dysfunction.

There is also the walk in clinic at Oxford-Elgin Child and Youth Centre's Woodstock office on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. if you want to talk to a counselor about your child's educational or emotional well being.