Learning disabilities affect a child’s ability to listen, speak, read, write, spell, or reason, and can greatly impact their learning and academic development. Issues with learning can be mild or severe and affects everyone in different ways. Learning disabilities can negatively impact an individual’s self-esteem, or they may develop anxiety, behavioural problems, face bullying from peers. The most common learning disabilities include:
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: a behavioural problem that is marked by inattention, hyperactivitiy and impulsivity.
Dyslexia: difficulty with reading, such as reversing letters
Dyscalculia: difficulty with math and numbers
Dysgraphia: difficulty with writing
Dyspraxia: affects motor skills
Auditory and Visual Processing Disorders: affects visual and auditory processes (sight and sound)
It is important to address potential concerns early so that the appropriate arrangements can be made with school administration and teachers to optimize a child’s learning experience and increase chances of academic success.
How Counselling Can Help
Counsellors conduct Comprehensive Psychoeducational Assessments that help determine an individual’s cognitive strengths and weaknesses in the areas of language development, memory, verbal and visual learning, and information processing. Psychological and psycho-educational assessments usually involve an in-depth interview and completion of relevant psychological tests to identify learning needs and strengths, identify emotional or behavioural problems, and to provide recommendations to facilitate learning and academic achievement, or work performance.
Additional Resources for Learning/Academic Concerns
Learning Disabilities Association of Canada:
Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario:
Learning Disabilities Association of Durham Region