Weak Cognitive Skills That are Common in Kids With Learning Disabilities
Learning disabilities can pose significant challenges for children as they navigate their academic journeys. While these challenges may vary depending on the specific learning disability, a common thread often exists in the form of weak cognitive skills. Cognitive skills are the brain-based abilities that enable us to process information, think, learn, and solve problems. In this blog, we will delve into the link between weak cognitive skills and various learning struggles so you can know some best next steps to support your kids with learning disabilities.
Common Skill Weaknesses in Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a learning disability that primarily affects reading and language processing. Dyslexia is actually a broad term, and there are many subtypes of dyslexia that point to specific skill weaknesses. Some of these include:
- Phonological Dyslexia, where the learner struggles to recognize and identify sounds, patterns, and sound out words. For kids with phonological dyslexia, auditory processing is often the weakest cognitive skill that drives this struggle.
- Rapid Naming Dyslexia, where there’s a struggle to quickly recall letters, words, shapes, colors, numbers, etc. For many students who can’t seem to get the word out, there is a deficit in processing speed or working memory.
- Surface Dyslexia, where kids can sound out words but they struggle to recognize whole words on the page. Many kids who struggle in this way have weaknesses in visual processing and memory.
- Visual Dyslexia, which is what it sounds like: what the child sees on the page is overwhelming or confusing. They struggle to recognize letter shapes, switch letter orders, or forget where they are. Often issues with visual processing, attention, working memory, and processing speed can be at play here.
This is just a sampling of some of the biggest types of dyslexia. The reality is that every brain is unique, and a learner could have a combination of one or more of these types. Addressing reading struggles in kids with learning disabilities in particular requires a deeper dive into the underlying skills that are driving their struggles.
Common Skill Weaknesses in Dyscalculia
Dyscalculia is a learning disability related to math and number sense. Individuals with dyscalculia often have difficulty understanding and manipulating numbers, performing calculations, and grasping mathematical concepts.
Math requires an intricate connection of skills. Individuals who struggle with math or who have dyscalculia often have weaknesses in skills like attention, working memory, visual processing, logic, and processing speed.
Once again, every brain is unique so there’s not a one-size-fits-all approach. Assessing cognitive skills to understand your child’s unique strengths and weaknesses is an essential starting point when you suspect learning disabilities like dyscalculia.
Common Skill Weaknesses in Dysgraphia
Dysgraphia is a learning disability that affects writing. Children with dysgraphia may struggle with handwriting, spelling, and expressing their thoughts in writing. Fine motor skills, including hand-eye coordination and motor planning, are often weaker in individuals with dysgraphia.
On the cognitive side, weakness in working memory can hinder the process of organizing and structuring written content. Poor visual processing can make it hard for them to self-correct when they write a letter the wrong way. Logic, critical thinking, and executive function also all come into play when it comes to making sure their writings make sense and follow a reasonable sequence.
Common Skill Weaknesses in ADHD
It’s a common misconception that attention is the weakest skill in individuals with ADHD. In fact, research shows that skills like working memory, long-term memory, and processing speed are more deficient.
So why does it look like your child just can’t focus? These skills are vital for staying engaged in tasks, follow-through, controlling impulses, and completing tasks efficiently. When a child loses their place because of a working memory deficit, it looks a lot like a lack of sustained attention.
Again, without digging deeper to ask WHY your child struggles in a particular area, it’s hard to pick an intervention that truly targets their skill weaknesses.
LearningRx Targets the Weak Cognitive Skills That Are Common in Kids with Learning Disabilities and Struggles
Whether your child has a diagnosed learning disability or they just struggle more than peers, giving their brain the tools it needs to learn effectively is so important.
Think of it like building a house. You can do it without a solid foundation… but it won’t last long. You can build a structure using only hand tools… but you’re going to have to work a whole lot harder.
Learning happens in a similar way. Your child may be able to “get by,” but if they’re missing that solid cognitive foundation, they are going to crumble at some point down the road. In the same way, they may be able to compensate for skill weaknesses, but they are having to work SO much harder learning is much less efficient than it could be otherwise.
Filling your child’s cognitive toolbox can help them grow their thinking and learning skills—as well as their confidence and ability to perform in school and life. Click here to learn more about our approach at LearningRx!
