Learning disabilities—now often referred to as learning differences—affect a child’s ability to understand or use language. Differences are defined as a discrepancy between a child’s potential and her actual achievement. (Note: A learning difference is not the same as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD.)

Diagnosing Learning Differences

Some common signs of learning differences include:

• Disinterest in school
• Experiencing major trouble with certain subjects
• Grades that drop drastically, either over time or among subjects
• Acting out or other behavior issues
• School avoidance

Currently 2.8 million school-age children receive help for learning disabilities, and a lot more receive help but are not legally classified as LD. If you think your child should be screened for them, ask your school for help. (The Office of Civil Rights of the federal government monitors learning differences and ADHD rights.)

Dealing with Learning Differences

When a child has learning differences, it is often harder on the parents than the child. They somehow feel like they have failed, but this isn’t the case; no one knows how these differences develop. The key is to diagnose these differences early on so that your child can use her strengths to make up for her weaknesses. It is also important to know that learning differences can be compensated for, and that children with them can go on to succeed in college and beyond.

Different Types of Learning Difficulties

Language differences may be suspected if your child has trouble following directions and has to have information repeated to her. These interfere with your child’s ability to understand what is being said or her own ability to verbally communicate.

If this is the case for your child, encourage communication with her. Don’t settle for “stuff” when you ask what happened at school. When giving her instructions, use clear language, make eye contact and have her repeat instructions back to you. At school, once she has been diagnosed, teachers will know how to adjust for your child.

Reading difficulties can make it hard for children to get information from written words. Comprehension difficulties, a type of reading difference, involve the inability to make a connection between words and their meanings in context.

Writing and spelling differences are common and complex in grade schools. You should suspect writing differences if your child has trouble with learning cursive; these can stem from hand-eye coordination difficulties. Spelling problems are often associated with memory problems or symbol association difficulties.

Math difficulties are also prevalent in kids ages five to eight. Some children actually have trouble deciphering numbers when they see them all together; other math problems stem from difficulties with reasoning skills.

Getting Help for Grade-Schoolers

Again, a thorough evaluation can pinpoint wha areas are affected if your child has one of these problems. Additionally, a good therapist or educational psychologist will be able to find the crux of your child’s issue and work with her to compensate for it. If you have concerns about LD, don’t forget your pediatrician as a resource. Some physicians are specifically trained in this area.