Academic Difficulties

Understanding Academic Difficulties

Throughout their academic lives, many kids are affected by academic difficulties, which can include problems like underachievement, teacher neglect, and learning challenges. Academic worries may negatively affect a student’s performance in the classroom, but they are also likely to have a big impact on other aspects of life, frequently putting a child or adolescent under unnecessary stress and interfering with their home, work, and play lives.

Common Signs of Academic Concerns

Students with academic concerns often report the following struggles

Inefficient study habits
Difficulty understanding course material
Exam anxiety that leads to poor performance
Procrastination on assignments
Difficulty planning, managing time, and organising to complete assignments or study tasks
Inconsistent class attendance
Academic probation or loss of scholarship

It is important to note that students are most often motivated to do well but find it difficult to organise their study schedules, course content or have habits the optimise time available to study. Unfortunately in some situations resulting in punitive action with far wider ramifications on their well being and future.

Academic Challenges And Identification

Academic and non-academic difficulties may arise due to attentional dysregulation, and executive functioning deficits, that are commonly associated with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Additionally, specific learning disabilities (SLDs) such as Dyscalculia, which is difficulty with understanding numbers; Dyslexia, which is difficulty with reading; and Dysgraphia, which is difficulty with writing can contribute to academic difficulties. The presence of these difficulties is established using a cognitive assessment.

Impact of Academic Problems

Academic difficulties can lead to immense stress for children, adolescents, as well as parents. They may exhibit emotional and physical symptoms of anxiety, have a change in appetite, sleep, or daily routines. Children may feel socially isolated, or may be picked on or bullied for not performing well.

A child with a learning disability that is not recognized or correctly treated, for example, might become overwhelmed due to pressure to earn better grades, confusion about why they are not doing well, and frustrated with teachers who do not offer needed assistance. Students with academic difficulties might then become anxious about school, and the stress might also manifest as aggression toward the child’s teacher or peers.

Potential Underlying Causes

Academic and non-academic difficulties often arise due to an underlying issue. At times, a combination of factors can contribute to academic difficulties:

Poor adjustment to school/college life
Lack of a sense of belonging or connection to peers
Ineffective study skills or habits; not asking for help or tutoring support
Personal issues such as poor health, finances, responsibilities at home, difficult relationships
A lack of motivation
Poor concentration
Less clarity around goals, academic interests, studying subjects that are not of interest
Increased difficulty of coursework, more workload
Procrastination due to perfectionism
Undiagnosed or untreated learning disability

These problems include confusion about or disinterest in a subject, poor time management, procrastination, lack of attention from teachers, bullying, and inappropriate or violent behavior toward others.

Treatment for Academic Difficulties

Therapy can be a helpful way for students to work on understanding academic-related troubles and develop strategies for dealing with any related mental health challenges.

If academic problems arise due to a result of a traumatic experience, or any other personal issues, therapy can help in navigating those underlying issues. Once these are processed, the child may find an improvement in their academic performance.

Therapy can also help the child develop better study habits, understand what works for them, and build insight into their capabilities and difficulties.

Frequently Asked Questions

My child is very bright but doesn’t concentrate or focus on studies, what should I do?

Parents often observe this and may hear of it as feedback in school from teachers. These observations typically do not create distress in junior school or early middle school. However as academic pressure rises 9th grade onwards these difficulties start manifesting in more pronounced ways. Low concentration, focus, difficulty staying in class, being easily distracted are often signs of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity disorder in kids. Please refer to this article for more information Tell tale signs of ADHD in kids.

Do all academic difficulties have an underlying learning difficulty/ specific learning disability?

No, all academic difficulties do not necessarily have an associated specific learning disability. Academic difficulties related to concentration, task initiation or other executive functioning skills may have other underlying causes. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in kids is often seen to occur where children have the above mentioned challenges.

What's the difference between ADHD in kids and a learning difficulty?

An learning difficulty makes it difficult to acquire specific skills such as reading skills or maths skills. On the other hand ADHD in kids impacts more global skills and executive functions like the ability to focus, the ability to control emotions, and the ability to control impulsive behaviour.

What are specific learning disability (SLDs)?

A specific learning disability typically refers to a disorder that interferes with a student’s ability to listen, think, speak, write, spell, or do mathematical calculations resulting in academic problems and academic difficulties. Students with a specific learning disability may struggle with reading, writing, or math.

What are the types of specific learning disabilities?

“Specific learning disability” is used to describe many different types of learning issues. evaluation may show that your child has a specific learning disability in a certain subject area.

For example: a specific learning disability in reading, also known as dyslexia, a specific learning disability in writing, also known as dysgraphia, a specific learning disability in mathematics, also known as dyscalculia.

What are the signs of specific learning disabilities?

Signs of learning specific learning disabilities include

Evident, persistent difficulties in reading, writing, arithmetic, or mathematical reasoning.
Inaccurate or slow and effortful reading or writing.
Poor written expression that lacks clarity. Difficulties remembering number facts.
Inaccurate mathematical reasoning

What to do if you notice signs of a specific learning disability?

It’s important to take notes if your child struggles with listening, speaking, reading, writing, spelling, or math, take note of the specific issues you see. So that you have more information while talking to a specialist.

Discuss your observations with your teacher. If there is a special education needs department in the school your child is studying in it helpful to discuss your observations with them. A school or specialist might ask for a cognitive assessment to evaluate the degree and extent of a learning difficulty, Basis the cognitive assessment special accommodations might be provided to your child e.g. extra time in exams, extra help in class or extended deadlines for assignments.

Most importantly trust your gut. As a parent you know your child the best. If you suspect there is a problem it is best to get help as soon as possible.

How common are specific learning disabilities?

Specific learning disabilities are not uncommon. According to available research 63% of people know someone who has a learning disability, 43% of people wrongly think that learning disabilities are correlated with IQ and 10-15% of school-aged children have a learning disability.