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The answer to this question is quite easy: adapting. However, to address this question of how to help kids with learning difficulties, we need to consider what learning difficulties are and what is considered “normal”. To do so, we will be getting a brief understanding of the signs of ADHD in kids and signs of dyslexia in kids, which are one of the most common learning difficulties.
Let’s understand our kids and find solutions to the problems they encounter.
Learning difficulties, also called “learning disabilities,” are challenges that affect how someone understands, remembers or uses information.
These difficulties aren't about intelligence—people with learning difficulties can be very smart! Their brains just work differently, making specific tasks harder, while other tasks can be easy or even come naturally to them. Think of it like needing glasses for blurry vision—it's about finding the right help to make learning easier.
Learning difficulties in children can create significant hurdles, affecting how kids process information, engage in school and build confidence. These challenges often appear in unique ways, making it essential for parents, teachers and caregivers to recognize the signs early.
By understanding learning difficulties in kids, we can provide the right support to help children overcome obstacles and reach their full potential. This section introduces the nature of these challenges, preparing you to explore signs of dyslexia in kids and signs of ADHD in kids, later on.
Learning difficulties in kids are neurodevelopmental disorders that affect skills like reading, writing, or focusing. They’re often genetic and present from birth, unlike general learning difficulties that might arise later in life from injury or stress. Here’s the latest on their global prevalence:
Learning difficulties in children can create significant hurdles, affecting how kids process information. These challenges often appear in unique ways, making it essential for parents, teachers and caregivers to recognize the signs early. By understanding learning difficulties in kids, we can provide children with the right support to overcome obstacles and reach their full potential.
How can parents, teachers or caregivers identify the signs of learning difficulties in children? Let's examine the most common diagnoses:
Important Note: Just because your child shows some of these signs doesn't necessarily mean they have a learning difficulty. However, it's always best for parents to consult a pediatrician, child psychologist, or educational specialist for a proper evaluation.
Dyslexia is a common learning difficulty in kids that makes reading, spelling and recognizing words challenging due to trouble processing phonemes, speech sounds. It often appears alongside ADHD, with a 2025 Frontiers in Psychology study estimates that 25–50% of kids with ADHD also have dyslexia, based on data from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). Parents can spot signs of dyslexia in kids early by looking out for these behaviors:
Early help, like reading apps or tutoring, can make a big difference for kids with dyslexia. With the right support, kids can significantly improve their reading skills. Research shows that with early, structured literacy programs—characterized by explicit, systematic phonics instruction—approximately 95% of students (including those with dyslexia) can learn to read at grade level.
ADHD (Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder) is a common learning difficulty in kids that affects their ability to focus, stay calm, or think before acting, causing challenges at home and school. Here are some easy-to-spot signs of ADHD in kids:
ADHD symptoms can range from mild to severe and may persist into adolescence and adulthood if not properly addressed. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 6 in 10 children diagnosed with ADHD experience moderate to severe symptoms, significantly affecting their social and academic functioning. Early recognition and support can greatly improve outcomes for children living with ADHD.
ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) is outdated and no longer considered a separate diagnosis. Today, it's part of ADHD, specifically called the inattentive type, according to the DSM-5 used worldwide. ADHD now includes three types: inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive, and combined. And "ADD," is the inattentive type of ADHD.
The signs of ADD in kids involve inattention without significant hyperactivity. Here are the most common signs of ADD in kids:
For example, a child with inattentive ADHD might quietly struggle to pay attention during reading, while another child with combined ADHD might be restless and interrupt others. Both types need support like behavioral therapy or school strategies, but kids with more hyperactivity often need extra help with structure and routines.
Inattentive ADHD is often missed in girls because their symptoms are quieter, which is why early screening is so important. Globally, research published in the American Journal of Psychiatry reports that ADHD affects approximately 5.3% of children, with the inattentive type being one of the most common presentations.
How to help kids with learning difficulties involves reimagining education and nurturing to adapt to these challenges, ensuring kids thrive as themselves without being defined by their struggles. Rather than focusing on “fixing” children, parents should aim for adaptation, fostering a sense of normalcy while addressing unique needs.
This section explores why medications and supplements alone fall short and how personalized education can empower kids with AD(H)D or dyslexia to succeed without standing out as needing constant special attention.
Medications for ADHD can help some kids focus better or feel less impulsive, but they don’t solve all challenges tied to learning difficulties in kids. As parents you might wonder, “Are meds enough or do kids with ADHD need special education?”
The answer is that pills alone don’t address the full picture—kids need more than medical fixes to shine. A 2023 Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry study highlights side effects like sleep issues or appetite loss, which can worsen learning challenges if not paired with other supports.
Helping kids with learning difficulties, like ADHD or dyslexia, means adapting support to their unique needs so they can thrive without feeling defined by their challenges. Here are six practical ways to support kids with learning difficulties:
These strategies help kids with learning difficulties succeed by adapting to their needs and celebrating their unique strengths, ensuring they feel capable and empowered.
Can too much tech cause ADHD in your child? Is one of the questions that people started to ask or does too much screen time cause ADHD in children? If this is possible, how and what can we do about it?
In today’s digital age, technology is a double-edged sword for children’s development. While it offers incredible tools for learning, excessive or improper use can contribute to learning difficulties in children. Research highlights the risks of unrestricted device use and the benefits of purposeful, guided technology to support learning.
Too much screen time from tablets or fast-paced videos can overstimulate young brains, worsening signs of ADHD in kids (like trouble focusing) or signs of dyslexia in kids (like struggling with reading), according to a 2025 Pediatrics study.
This study notes that excessive screen exposure can heighten attention issues or reading challenges, though it doesn’t directly cause these learning difficulties. But too much screen time does not cause ADHD.
For dyslexic kids, unsupervised tech use can heighten reading and processing struggles. Constant notifications and rapid content can cause sensory overload, reducing focus and increasing stress. Also this leads to digital addiction in the end.
When used purposefully, technology transforms into an ally, empowering kids with tailored tools to succeed. Instead of letting tech overwhelm kids, parents can use it smartly to support learning in a fun, engaging way.
Personalized education is key to success. Educational apps are a fantastic tool for kids in general but especially for kids with learning difficulties. Apps with game-like lessons, such as structured reading exercises for dyslexia or focus-building tasks for ADHD, let kids learn at home without costly tutors. Platforms like BrainBite offer AI tutor courses kor kids in a variety of lessons that are aligned with their age group and school curriculum.
Parents can limit screen time by choosing these purposeful apps, turning tech into a positive force for growth. So, how to help kids with ADHD problems requires more than pills; it demands changes like limiting screen time and fostering structured routines.
Parents must combine medical options with adaptive strategies to support kids holistically, ensuring they grow confidently without being defined by their diagnosis.
Through this article, to understand the learning difficulties we have mostly focused on the common signs of dyslexia in kids, signs of ADHD in kids, signs of ADD in kids and how to spot them. Also, briefly looked into the answer to how to help kids with ADHD and generic learning difficulties in the digital age, which is adaptation.
By embracing personalized education, such as tutoring dyslexic and ADHD kids, continuing education at home, using technology to your benefit, maybe with online courses or AI tutors, making it fun for children. This way parents can empower their children to thrive.
Limiting harmful tech exposure—like excessive tablet use or fast-paced videos—while leveraging tools like educational apps for kids with ADHD and dyslexia fosters a balanced environment.
Consult professionals to assess needs and advocate for your child’s unique strengths. With the right support, your kids can shine as confident, capable individuals, fully equipped to navigate their learning journey in today’s world.
