An Overview on Learning Difficulty among School Children

Abstract

Formal schooling in many other nations begins between ages 4 and 5, some research states that it starts earlier than this. The function of elementary schools throughout the world is to provide opportunities for children to acquire at least basic competencies in reading, writing, and computation. During middle childhood years, children are thought to be functioning developmentally at what Piaget termed the concrete and formal operational stages. Basic literacy as well as computational and conceptual skills is acquired at this phase. But some children may not be able to learn one or more of these skills as per their age. Their intellectual capacity and normal visual and physical abilities are unable to acquire one or more age appropriate language and /or arithmetic skills. They find it difficult to acquire the skill even when adequate learning opportunities are provided. These children have learning disabilities/ difficulties. Studies have revealed that nearly 10% of the childhood population has developmental language disorders of one type or the other and 8-10% of the school population has learning disability of one form or the other. Early intervention presupposes early identification. At present, there is no universally standardized screening procedure to guide referrals from schools. Interventions to rectify the issue should focus on developing and strengthening language and basic skills of reading, writing and arithmetic. In addition we should ensure that children should be allowed to “think” for them, to develop higher cognitive functioning is vital.