Learning difficulties – is a term used to describe a neurological difficulty with processing certain types of information.

• Learning difficulties need to be formally diagnosed by a psychologist or paediatrician
• Some of the most frequently occurring conditions are: Dyspraxia, Dyslexia or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder / Attention Deficit Disorder (“ADHD” / “ADD”, respectively)
• Some learning difficulties are seen in isolation and others alongside each other
• Dyspraxia: is described as a motor learning difficulty which can impact gross and fine motor skills as well as coordination. Messages from the brain are not relayed to the body effectively
• Dyslexia: is described as a reading disorder which affects reading accurately and fluently. It may also affect mathematics, writing, spelling and comprehension. It is a lifelong condition, but there are compensatory strategies to facilitate learning and function
• ADHD / ADD is a chronic condition used to describe difficulties with attention, impulsivity and hyperactivity

SYMPTOMS

• Difficulty organising their work or themselves
• Difficulty with memory
• Struggles to create neat, legible work
• Produces work at a slower pace and falls behind in class
• Difficulty copying work from the board or a book into their own book
• Loses their place while reading or copying
• Easily distracted
• Problems remembering the sequence of things
• Difficulty spelling
• Difficulty reading
• Struggles to recall instructions
• Makes careless mistakes
• Struggles to sit still
• Fidgety
• “Zones out” during a task

HOW WE CAN HELP

• At Q Enrichment Center, our Occupational Therapist will conduct an extensive, comprehensive assessment to determine the specific difficulties experienced by your child. A detailed report will be completed, along with a treatment plan specific to each individual’s needs.
• Intervention can focus on:
  • developing skills to improve participation in activities of daily living, learning and play
  • Improving underlying visual perceptual, motor abilities and attention using compensatory skills and alternative methods of learning to improve academic performance
  • Establishing a routine
  • Encouraging and facilitating correct developmental milestone patterns
  • Teaching the teacher, parent or caregiver by providing exercises and compensatory strategies that can be incorporated at home or school
  • For more information on how a Speech, Language and Swallowing Pathologist can help with this condition, click here.

Other Child Occupational Services

Speech Therapy For Children