A Complete Guide to Childhood Learning Difficulties: Causes, Assessment, and Six Solutions All in One

1. Why Can't My Child Learn? — The Three Main Causes of Childhood Learning Difficulties

Physiological and Neurological Factors

‧ Genetics: Studies show that children of parents with dyslexia are 4–8 times more likely to develop the condition.

‧ Brain Differences: Functional MRI has found that children with dyslexia have lower activation in the left temporal lobe, leading to slower speech processing.

‧ Prematurity, low birth weight, and birth trauma also increase the risk.

Psychological and Behavioral Factors

‧ Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and learning difficulties have a 60% comorbidity rate.

‧ Anxiety and depression reduce working memory capacity, causing children to "forget what they've memorized."

Environmental and Parenting Factors

‧ Excessive 3Cs: >2 hours of unstructured screen time per day leads to significant lags in language and executive function.

‧ Misaligned Instruction: Emphasis on rote memorization and a lack of multisensory strategies can make it even harder for disadvantaged children to keep up. 

2. Quick Self-Assessment: 10 Early Warning Signs

Skipping words and lines in reading, significantly lagging behind in speed.

Math: Reversing numbers (21↔12), and difficulty mastering carry.

Gripping the pen too tightly, writing beyond the grid, or mirroring.

Leaving the chair more than three times in ten minutes.

Taught today, forgotten tomorrow, unable to remember even after repeated review.

Skipping homework, or even experiencing physical and mental symptoms such as stomach aches and headaches.

If three of these conditions are present and persist for six months, a professional evaluation is recommended.

3. Professional Evaluation Process: 4 Steps to Obtaining an IEP

Step 1: Screening

‧ Administer the LDST Learning Disabilities Screening Test.

Step 2: Intelligence and Achievement Assessment

‧ WISC-V + Subject Achievement Tests to confirm a 1.5 standard deviation gap between ability and achievement.

Step 3: Psychological Assessment

‧ Administering attention, memory, and emotional scales to rule out emotional disorders.

Step 4: Interdisciplinary Meeting

‧ Developing an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) with the help of a physician, psychologist, and special education teacher. 

4.6 Evidence-Based Solutions

School Adjustments

‧ Extend exams by 20–30%, use voice-to-text, and computer-assisted learning.

Multi-sensory Learning

‧ Reading: Sandbox writing + magnet spelling; Math: Gusto blocks for carry manipulation.

Structured Family Schedule

‧ Pomodoro timer: 25-minute study sessions followed by 5-minute breaks to reduce distractions.

Occupational Therapy

‧ Targeting dysgraphia, training in fine motor skills and postural stability.

Medication and Behavioral Therapy

‧ For concurrent ADHD, Ritalin is used, upon physician evaluation, in conjunction with behavioral management.

Positive Feedback

‧ Use the "sandwich feedback method": affirmation → suggestion → encouragement to enhance self-efficacy.