Learning Disorders

Learning disorders cause millions of American children to struggle in school and other aspects of their life. At AMS Neurology in Pasadena, California, dedicated pediatric neurologist Charles Niesen, MD, provides the patient-centered care that helps children grow and thrive while living with a learning disorder. To get the best in expert learning disorder diagnosis and management, call the AMS Neurology office or click on the online appointment tool now.

What are learning disorders?

Learning disorders are a group of conditions that cause trouble with learning, ultimately impacting performance in school and other areas of life. Despite the challenges of learning disorders, children can manage their condition and thrive with help from the expert neurology specialists at AMS Neurology. 

What are the symptoms of learning disorders?

Learning disorder symptoms vary with the specific part of the brain affected. Symptoms of some of the most common learning disorders include: 

Dyslexia

Dyslexia involves difficulty reading and understanding text. A child with dyslexia may experience difficulty learning to read, read below their age level, read very slowly, and struggle to pronounce words correctly. 

Dysgraphia

Dysgraphia involves challenges with writing. Children with dysgraphia may have symptoms such as difficulty learning to write, hard-to-read handwriting, frequent misspellings, and inconsistent letter spacing. 

Dyscalculia

Dyscalculia involves difficulty with numbers. Common symptoms of dyscalculia include struggling to learn to count, having problems adding in their head, and trouble understanding mathematical symbols. 

As a result of these issues, many children try to avoid reading, writing, or math at school and in their daily life. 

While attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) isn’t a learning disorder, it’s generally considered a related disorder since it causes problems that affect learning like paying attention and focusing. Up to half of children with ADHD also have a learning disorder. Autism and learning disorders often occur together as well. 

How are learning disorders treated?

Learning disorder treatment can help your child improve their skills and develop new ways to learn. Treatment is usually multipart and typically involves the AMS Neurology providers and your family and child’s teachers. 

Your child may need:

• Medication to improve concentration and focus
• Individualized education program (IEP) at school
• Professional tutoring
• Classroom modifications like audiobooks or reduced assignment load
• Occupational therapy to develop writing motor skills

Your child’s learning disorder management plan may change as they grow and develop new skills. The AMS Neurology specialists are always available to help with a round the clock phone service line for support. 

If you notice possible signs of a learning disorder in your child, early intervention is the best way to help them learn, grow, and be the best they can be. Call the AMS Neurology office or click on the online appointment maker to arrange your child’s evaluation today.