Is Your Child Having Trouble Learning in School?

It can be very hard to hear a teacher or family member call your child a slow learner. There can be a few different causes for a child having trouble learning in school, but there are also many solutions. Early intervention is the most important way of helping your child be successful in school.

Some children may actually have a learning disability. This is usually indicated when the child has a normal IQ but cannot learn in a normal classroom environment. He could be having trouble processing the information given by a teacher in written or spoken form, or he may have a problem taking tests within the allotted time. These children need to be thoroughly evaluated by the school psychologist and their teachers. Your child will be given age-appropriate tests to determine the exact problem and how to appropriately teach the material to him.

Another group of children may actually be slow at learning, and also have a slightly lower IQ. It may not be low enough for them to be considered mentally retarded, but just enough to make it hard for them to learn as fast as the other children in a classroom. These children often have a more immature personality and social skills, and get along better with younger children. Their growth and size are comparable to those of other children in their age group. These children benefit from individual tutoring, and do not usually qualify for special education, because their IQ is not low enough. Private tutoring information is available at all public schools, and the tutoring can be performed by professionals or high-school students. A truly slow-learning child may not be able to take advanced college classes, but can find rewarding employment and do very well socially in life.

Children who are constantly getting into trouble and failing in the classroom may have the condition attention-deficit disorder. These children have a normal IQ but are often disciplined by teachers or parents. This condition can be mistaken for a child not focusing due to lack of intelligence, or may be chalked up to bad behavior. With the right diagnosis and treatment, these children can easily begin to succeed in a regular classroom. Problems with discipline will naturally dissipate as the condition is treated. Your pediatrician or a psychologist can initially evaluate your child and begin the process of finding out how to help him.

A parent has to loudly voice her concerns to the relevant teacher, counselors, principal and pediatrician to get help for her child. It takes a lot of persistence to help a child improve to the best of his ability in school--but your hard work and effort will pay off in your child's success and happiness.