Ever thought of taking a break from learning? Do you think there is any moment where learning does not take place? Well, learning is something we cannot ignore. From childhood until old age, learning has become our forever partner, guiding our cognition and other abilities.
Life is a long journey that teaches us so many things and sometimes requires us to keep learning and dealing with everything life brings. To pass an examination, we need to learn the concepts, use a phone, learn the key features, deal with anxiety, learn the ways to cope with it, and the list goes on. So, is there anything we can accomplish without learning? Definitely, no. Unfortunately, learning abilities may not accompany everyone’s cognition. People with learning disabilities find it hard to carry on with their daily life activities, as the roots of these disabilities contribute to mental health problems. These problems and their consequences interfere with one’s ability to learn how to face easy and challenging life events.
Even the simplest task for mentally healthy individuals might be the toughest or impossible task for individuals with learning disabilities. Learning disabilities can be of varying types: dyscalculia, dyslexia, dysgraphia, etc.
Extensive research on learning disabilities has confirmed that learning disabilities are accompanied by various risk factors. These lead one to experience poor mental well-being.
Biological factors: Intake of multiple medications, physical problems, and pain can lead to poor mental health. Additionally, genetic problems, for example, Prader Willi syndrome, are known to cause mental health problems that interfere with one’s learning abilities.
Lack or no support: Being socially left out and reduced social support are linked to the roots of anxiety and depression in those with learning disabilities. This further weakens an individual’s ability to cope up with the upcoming stress or burden.
Negative events: Often, people with learning disabilities are previously or presently surrounded by negative events in life further, exposing them to situations of abuse, poverty, deprivation, etc.
Attitudes of people: There is a huge population out there holding discrimination and stigmas about these disabilities. It is also no wonder one is found to be in a worse condition of psychological distress. This further acts as an obstacle for one to fight the disabilities alive in them.
The vulnerability to negative life events and varying abilities to cope with challenges leads individuals with learning disabilities to display a wide range of symptoms such as difficulty reading or writing, poor memory abilities, and failure to be attentive. It also involves trouble following the rules, being disorganized, clumsy, find it hard to express thoughts, poor school/work performance, acting odd or out and much more.
Recent research revealed that although learning disabilities can occur in anyone, compared to adults, it is the category of children who are more prone to develop learning disabilities over time. With the increased learning disability cases, many mental health organizations have taken initiatives of conducting therapies, workshops, counselling sessions. These sessions are appropriate for parents to help their children live a bright future. The following describes few ways parents can adopt for their children’s mental well-being:
Recognize the disorder: Before jumping to any conclusion, make sure to have a clear idea of the types of learning disorders that exist, the signs displayed, and so on, which will help identify the right treatment program for your child.
Maintain positive perspectives: First, remind yourself that obstacles are natural in anyone’s pathway. Then, it is your responsibility to plant the seeds of encouragement, moral and social support in your child to deal confidently with the ‘likely’ to encounter obstacles.
Gain expert knowledge: It is always good to maintain your own research record and be aware of the therapies or techniques that contribute to the disappearance of learning disabilities. When you be an expert, you are sure to seek the right tools for the better mental well-being of your child.
Be their voice: Never hold your voice back for your child considering learning disability as a weakness. The challenges to get special aid for your child can be frustrating. However, embrace your role as a parent by being reasonable and calm to achieve a remarkable difference for your child.
Be focused: Have your focus on the challenges ahead of you and view them as a speed bump. Be sure to adopt a hardworking and optimistic approach along with a sense of humour that will highly embrace your child’s perspective towards anything in life. Work your energy on what works best for your child.
Medications and therapies: If ever one feels their child requires professional help, it is advisable to meet a psychologist. Depending on the cause and severity of the disability, some treatments methods that may be adopted include medications and/or therapies such as family therapies, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), psychodynamic therapy, and many more.
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