I have learned always to look for a simple answer to why a child is struggling to learn. Firstly,if there is a simple answer, chances are that there is a simple solution. Secondly, I have seen too many children suffering from learning difficulties because of the need for an answer to a simple problem.
I use a three stage process when diagnosing children’s learning problems and have been amazed at how often I can stop at the first stage.
The three stages are looking for a child’s physical learning skills, then checking on a child’s emotional learning skills, and finally, working out a child’s cognitive learning skills.
So, the first stage checks a child’s physical learning skills and one of the main skills a child needs is good vision the ability to use their vision well.
I always ask whether the child has had a recent eye exam and who did it. If the child has not had their vision checked recently I ask that this gets done by a well qualified person who can pick up on small symptoms.
Then I ask whether or not the parent has any concern re their child’s vision. They might have noticed signs such as the child rubbing their eyes, eye tiredness, or head tilting when looking at things.
But there may also be other signs that the child’s learning problem may be caused by poor visual perception. These can include omitting words when reading (and therefore failing to get the full meaning), confusing similar looking words and even day dreaming and lack of concentration.
I worked with a child once who had trouble concentrating in class and finishing homework. She seemed bright but was getting frustrated at her lack of progress. After working with her for a few minutes it was obvious to me that she had visual perception problems. She kept turning workbook pages round in order to try and make sense of them. Once she had hr eyes tested and given glasses for her astigmatism she overcame many of her learning issues.
A simple solution to her problem.
Learning difficulties are caused by many things, but it is always a good idea to check the basic issues first. You never know, there might just be a simple solution!
