SymptomChildren's health
Learning Difficulties: Signs, Causes and Support
Learning difficulties are problems with acquiring or using skills such as reading, writing, math, attention or memory that are greater than expected for a person's age and schooling. The most common causes are specific learning disorders like dyslexia and dyscalculia, ADHD, developmental language disorder, hearing or vision problems, and intellectual disability. They are not a sign of laziness or low intelligence. Early assessment and the right support at school and home make a large difference to outcomes.
Also called: Learning problems, learning disability, difficulty learning, specific learning difficulty
At a glance
- What it is
- Difficulty learning or using academic or everyday skills, beyond what is expected for age.
- Common types
- Dyslexia (reading), dyscalculia (math), dysgraphia (writing), ADHD, language disorders and processing difficulties.
- Other causes to rule out
- Hearing or vision problems, anxiety, sleep problems, missed schooling and medical conditions.
- Diagnosis
- Developmental, educational and psychological assessment; hearing and vision tests.
- Support
- Specialized teaching, school accommodations, therapy and, for ADHD, sometimes medicine.
When to get help
See a doctor within a day or two
- A child or adult who loses skills they previously had, such as speech, reading or walking
- New learning or memory problems after a head injury, seizure or illness with fever
- Sudden confusion, severe headaches or behavior change alongside learning problems
Book a routine appointment
- A child not meeting reading, writing or math expectations despite teaching and effort
- A preschooler with delayed speech or difficulty following instructions
- Poor attention, forgetfulness and impulsivity affecting school or work
- A child who avoids school, has frequent headaches or stomachaches on school days, or seems anxious about learning
- An adult who has always struggled with reading, spelling or numbers and wants an assessment
What learning difficulties are
A learning difficulty means a gap between a person's learning and what would be expected given their age, intelligence and teaching. Terms vary between countries and settings:
| Term | Usually means |
|---|---|
| Specific learning disorder (US medical term) | Persistent difficulty in reading, writing or math despite normal intelligence and teaching |
| Learning disability (US education) | Same as above in US schools; qualifies for special education services |
| Learning difficulty (UK) | Specific difficulties such as dyslexia, without global intellectual impairment |
| Learning disability (UK) or intellectual disability (US) | Below-average intellectual functioning and adaptive skills affecting all areas of learning |
Types of learning difficulties
Specific learning disorders
- Dyslexia: difficulty with accurate, fluent reading and spelling, often due to problems processing the sounds in words. It is the most common learning disorder.
- Dyscalculia: difficulty understanding numbers, math facts and calculations.
- Dysgraphia: difficulty with handwriting, spelling and organizing written work.
See specific learning disorder for diagnostic criteria.
Attention and executive function
ADHD causes inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. Children may be bright but underachieve because they cannot sustain focus, organize work or remember instructions. ADHD and dyslexia often occur together.
Language and communication
- Developmental language disorder: difficulty understanding and using spoken language, which then affects reading and learning.
- Autism spectrum disorder: differences in social communication and flexibility that can affect classroom learning.
Motor coordination
Dyspraxia (developmental coordination disorder) causes clumsiness and difficulty with handwriting, sports and self-care tasks.
Intellectual disability
Intellectual disability affects reasoning, problem-solving and everyday adaptive skills across all areas. It can be associated with genetic conditions such as Down syndrome and fragile X syndrome.
Signs of learning difficulties by age
Preschool
- late talking, small vocabulary, trouble learning rhymes or the alphabet
- difficulty following simple instructions
- trouble with colors, shapes, counting
- clumsiness with crayons, buttons or scissors
School age
- reading slowly and inaccurately, guessing words, avoiding reading aloud
- poor spelling that is inconsistent
- reversing letters and numbers well beyond age 7
- trouble learning math facts, telling time or handling money
- messy handwriting and difficulty organizing written work
- forgetting instructions, losing things, not finishing work
Teens and adults
- slow reading and avoiding reading or writing tasks
- difficulty summarizing, taking notes or organizing time
- trouble with mental arithmetic or budgeting
- low confidence, frustration or anxiety about learning
Causes and contributing factors
- Genetics: dyslexia and ADHD strongly run in families.
- Brain development differences: in how language, numbers and attention are processed.
- Prematurity and low birth weight.
- Prenatal exposures: alcohol (fetal alcohol spectrum disorder), drugs, some infections.
- Genetic conditions: Down syndrome, fragile X, others.
- Brain injury or illness: head injury, meningitis, epilepsy, lead exposure.
- Environmental factors: missed schooling, frequent moves, chronic stress or neglect.
Problems that look like learning difficulties
Before diagnosing a learning disorder, clinicians rule out:
- hearing loss, including glue ear in young children
- vision problems
- anxiety, depression or trauma
- sleep problems, including sleep apnea
- absence seizures (brief staring spells)
- thyroid problems, anemia or other medical conditions
- learning in a second language
How learning difficulties are assessed
- Talk to the school: teachers can describe classroom performance and may start extra support while an assessment is arranged.
- See your child's doctor or pediatrician: to check hearing, vision, development and medical causes, and screen for ADHD and autism.
- Formal evaluation: an educational or clinical psychologist assesses intellectual ability, academic skills, memory, language and attention. In the US, parents can request a free evaluation from their public school under IDEA.
- Specialist input: speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, developmental pediatricians or neurologists as needed.
Adults can seek assessment from a psychologist; it may lead to workplace or college accommodations.
Support and treatment
Educational support
- Structured literacy instruction: explicit, systematic phonics teaching is the most effective approach for dyslexia.
- Targeted math interventions for dyscalculia.
- Accommodations: extra time, audiobooks, text-to-speech, speech-to-text, calculators, reduced copying, preferential seating.
- Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 plan in US schools.
Therapy
- speech and language therapy
- occupational therapy for motor and handwriting difficulties
- behavioral strategies and parent training for ADHD
- counseling for anxiety and self-esteem
Medicine
ADHD medicines can substantially improve attention and learning when ADHD is present. There is no medicine for dyslexia or dyscalculia.
At home
- read together daily and keep it enjoyable
- break tasks into small steps with checklists
- praise effort and progress, not just results
- keep a consistent homework and sleep routine
- focus on and build your child's strengths
Frequently asked questions
What are the signs of learning difficulties?
Common signs include slow, inaccurate reading, poor spelling, trouble with math facts, messy handwriting, difficulty following instructions, forgetfulness, and frustration or avoidance of schoolwork. In preschoolers, late talking and trouble learning letters, numbers or rhymes can be early signs.
What is the difference between a learning difficulty and a learning disability?
Terms vary by country. In the US, learning disability usually means a specific problem with reading, writing or math. In the UK, learning difficulty means a specific problem, while learning disability means broader intellectual impairment. Intellectual disability affects all areas of learning and daily skills.
What causes learning difficulties?
Most are caused by differences in brain development, often inherited. Prematurity, prenatal alcohol exposure, genetic conditions and brain injury increase the risk. Hearing or vision problems, anxiety, sleep problems and missed schooling can cause similar difficulties and should be ruled out.
Can learning difficulties be cured?
Specific learning disorders are lifelong, but they can be managed very effectively. With early, targeted teaching and accommodations, many people read, write and calculate well and succeed in school and work. ADHD symptoms often improve with treatment.
How do I get my child assessed for learning difficulties?
Start by talking to your child's teacher and pediatrician. The doctor will check hearing, vision and development. In the US, you can request a free evaluation in writing from your public school. A psychologist can also carry out a private assessment.
Sources
This guide was written from current patient and clinical guidance, including:
- American Psychiatric Association: What is specific learning disorder?
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD): Learning disabilities
- CDC: Learning disorders in children
- US Department of Education: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
- American Academy of Pediatrics: Learning disabilities, dyslexia and vision