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Dyslexia and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are the most common learning disorders in children/adolescents. Dyslexia is when a person shows difficulty matching letters to sounds and has difficulty reading. ADHD is when a person has trouble paying attention, hyperactivity, and rash actions. These are both very common symptoms, which means there is a very high possibility that you know someone with one of these learning disorders.
I have two friends that struggle with Dyslexia. When I hear them talk about their learning disability and how it affects them, they emphasize one thing the most-- their learning disability doesn't make them dumb, they just learn differently. They also talk about how people who haven’t been diagnosed with a learning disorder and don't have it, use the excuse of having Dyslexia or ADHD as an excuse for their laziness in school. Saying things such as, “Well, I have Dyslexia, so that’s why I have trouble with capitalizing words.” or, “I probably have ADHD, so I have trouble not talking to my friends in class.” My classmates agree with the fact that having a learning disorder is not an excuse for your laziness and being unmotivated in school. My female friend, Avery, says that she feels insecure about her disability. She hates it when people point out her mistakes when she reads in class but, what she lacks in reading, she makes up for in the rest of her schoolwork, with A’s/B’s in all classes.
Although some children/adolescents have learned to adapt to their learning disability, there are still some insecurities and fears that come from a psychological standpoint. In an opinion article by Fotis Papanastasiou, he states that children with learning disabilities constantly encounter emotions and circumstances such as shame, anxiety, frustration, social isolation, melancholy, and little self-confidence. He touches on how children feel a lack of motivation to learn, as they do not receive much credit in their academics, therefore feeling dissatisfied with themselves. Papanastasiou also points out how bullying affects children with learning disabilities. He shares information from a survey conducted by the University of Macedonia at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki sharing that children with learning disabilities suffer from school bullying at double to ten times the usual rate compared to other children.
Although there is no cure for Dyslexia or ADHD, there are some options that can help alleviate the struggles that come with these learning disabilities. For Dyslexia, some helpful tips and accommodations include using an audiobook to read, extra time on tests, and quiet spaces to work. For ADHD, limiting distractions as much as possible during tasks, taking activity breaks to help with restlessness, and using tools to help with organization. Even though learning disabilities provide challenges and obstacles in one’s educational journey, help and support are always available, with countless communities that embrace learning disabilities and offer support and resources. And to all those who are struggling with their learning disability, remember one thing: you are never alone.
Resources:
Here are some foundations and organizations to help with learning disabilities in children and adults!
Sources:
Hasan, Shirin. “ADHD: Tips to Try (for Teens) - Nemours KidsHealth.” Kids Health, https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/adhd-tips.html. Accessed 2 January 2023.
Martinelli, Katherine. “Understanding Dyslexia and How to Help Kids Who Have It.” Child Mind Institute, http://childmind.org/article/understanding-dyslexia/. Accessed 2 January 2023.
Shaywitz, Shelly. “What is Dyslexia? - Yale Dyslexia.” Yale Center for Dyslexia, https://dyslexia.yale.edu/dyslexia/what-is-dyslexia/. Accessed 2 January 2023.
“What is ADHD? - What is ADHD?” CDC, https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/facts.html. Accessed 2 January 2023.
Papanastasiou F (2017) The Psychological Implication of Learning Disabilities. Acta Psychopathol 4:1. doi: 10.4172/2469-6676.100157
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