Difficulty in the classroom is sometimes the result of a learning disability. A learning disability is the result of differences in a child's brain structure or function, according to the University of Michigan Health System's online guide for parents. Learning difficulties affect different areas of learning, from specific subject matter to skills that may cause general difficulty with all subjects.
Dyslexia
Dyslexia refers to a difficulty in reading, which may include word recognition, decoding and spelling, according to Reading Rockets, an educational initiative funded by a major grant from the U.S. Department of Education. Dyslexia may also affect a child's writing and speaking abilities because she has difficulty processing language. Because almost every school subject requires reading and writing, dyslexia is likely to cause problems for a child across the board.
Math Difficulty
A child with difficulty in math may be diagnosed with dyscalculia, according to HealthGuide.org. Math is full of number-based concepts, from telling time to basic math functions. Dyscalculia causes a child difficulty in understanding these concepts and applying them in math class. Learning difficulties related to reading and writing may further complicate math learning difficulties, compounding the problem.
Visual or Auditory Processing
A visual or auditory processing problem affects many areas of a child's learning because most subject matter uses both functions. An auditory processing disorder makes it difficult for a child to distinguish between different sounds, according to the nonprofit HelpGuide.org. This makes it difficult for the child to read and comprehend spoken words. Visual processing disorders make it difficult to distinguish written words and symbols. This challenges the child when he tries to read, solve math problems, interpret maps or deal with pictures.
Motor Control Difficulties
Fine motor skills are used for writing and other skills necessary in the classroom. A child who has difficulty controlling her fine motor skills likely has challenges completing classroom tasks that require these skills. The official name for this learning difficulty as dyspraxia, or sensory integration disorder, according to HelpGuide.org.
Dysgraphia
Writing requires a child to coordinate several skills, including the fine motor skills to write the letters and the cognitive processes to form and organize thoughts. A child may have difficulty in either the physical act of writing or the mental processes of the skill. Dysgraphia refers to a difficulty with various aspects of writing, which also extends to other subject areas if the child has difficulty completing assignments.
