Learning Difficulties on the Rise

As awareness and research into childhood learning difficulties continue to advance, more children are being diagnosed with learning difficulties earlier than ever.

It can be distressing to receive a diagnosis that a child has a learning difficulty, but on the flip side, once the problem has been identified, steps can be taken to overcome the difficulty. 

Early intervention is likely to be more effective and with the right approach it is possible children to overcome learning difficulties and to turn their grades and enjoyment of school around, and that results in kids feeling better about themselves and experiencing an uplift in their whole demeanour.

According to Michael Black, founder and CEO of Success Tutoring, who have been successful in helping thousands of kids overcome their learning struggles, while diagnoses for learning difficulties can only be made by professionals, teachers and parents who have the children's best interests at heart can learn to recognise some of the top five signs of learning difficulties in children.

"No two learning difficulties are the same, but parents can take note of some common signs," Black adds.

Tutors and teachers can create a powerful partnership by aligning their efforts to support students' learning comprehensively. Teachers have the advantage of understanding the curriculum and educational standards, while tutors offer personalised attention and targeted support.

By sharing insights on students' strengths, weaknesses, and learning styles, tutors and teachers can tailor their approaches to maximize the student's potential. Regular communication between tutors and teachers can ensure consistency and coherence in the student's learning journey, leading to enhanced academic outcomes.
 
There are five top signs of learning difficulties.
 
Negative Attitude Towards School
"Most children naturally love to learn so if your child is speaking negatively about school and mentions that they don't enjoy learning, it's a sign that they are probably struggling with something at school," Black said.

"In more extreme cases, they could express such negativity that it manifests itself in nightmares! Meanwhile, others might develop anxiety about going to school or become frustrated when given homework tasks.”

Problems With Paying Attention
"Children who have problems focusing will have problems with learning because they struggle to focus on what the teacher is saying and can't seem to be able to sit down and pay attention," Black said.

"Of course everyone these days is familiar with the ADHD diagnosis. Please realise that ADHD is not a disability, it is a learning difficulty. There's a difference between a learning disability and difficulty. Learning disabilities are lifelong and pervasive while a learning difficulty is something that can be rectified with intervention."

Trouble Following Directions
"When children have trouble following directions or need to have instructions repeated, it takes them longer to complete tasks at school. They can also seem to not remember what they have been taught even if it's just been taught or has been taught on numerous occasions," Black said.'

"Children with ADHD often have trouble following instructions. This is a sign of having trouble with executive function, which means a group of skills needed to get through a task. So, it's not that they're zoning out, it's actually a struggle to process information.

"We use unique approaches while undertaking tutoring to assist children to work through and complete tasks.  These learned techniques are then used by children at school as well."

Problems with Reading and Writing
"Problems with literacy can have a huge impact on a child's ability to participate in school. If the child shows signs like not knowing the sounds associated with letters, or skips words in a sentence but doesn't stop to self-correct, or can't remember words, or sounds the same word differently each time, a child will need some help with their reading and writing," Black said.

"There are lots of ways to support common problems like dyslexia, which in fact is so common that around 20 per cent of the Australian population has mild, moderate or severe dyslexia."

Problems with Numeracy
"Certain cognitive problems like difficulty remembering math facts, concepts, rules and formulae, difficulty with left and right orientation and difficulty following sequential procedures are signs of numeracy learning difficulties," Black said.

"Dyscalculia is a far lesser-known cousin of dyslexia and affects fewer people. Like problems with literacy however, there are resources and ways to support these learning difficulties."

Tutoring Helps
Class sizes can run as large as 25 students and more per classroom in Australia, it's a huge responsibility for a classroom teacher! Some children thrive better in a smaller group setting with more focus on them, which is how tutoring can help.

"An experienced tutor will always encourage students to ask questions, and to take charge of their learning because it encourages intellectual independence. Tutoring is a very rewarding journey to take with a student.  As a tutor, it is wonderful to see a child flourish and improve their self-confidence,” he says.

The diversification of learning styles and the recognition of individual differences in learning abilities have highlighted the need for personalised instruction. Overall, the demand for tutoring reflects a societal emphasis on academic achievement and the recognition of tutoring as a valuable tool for educational success.

“We've seen students gain confidence in their abilities, develop effective study habits, and overcome learning obstacles with the support of dedicated tutors. Furthermore, many tutored students have demonstrated remarkable improvements in grades at school and tutoring. It’s not uncommon to see students score 40% at school (before tutoring) and in as little as 8 weeks see results of 80%+ (after receiving tutoring services). We also notice that confidence and overall love for learning is enhanced! These successes underscore the value of personalised instruction and the importance of individualized support in nurturing students' potential.”

Image by Andrea Piacquadio