The document summarizes research on the psycho-social problems experienced by children with learning disabilities (CWLD). It discusses how CWLD often experience psychological issues like low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression due to the frustration of their learning struggles. Research shows 70% of CWLD have poor self-esteem and 75% have social difficulties. CWLD are less accepted by peers and teachers, leading to lower self-esteem and increased risk of issues like loneliness, anxiety, and depression. Common emotional difficulties for people with learning disabilities include shame about their struggles, fear of failure or judgment, environmental and emotional sensitivity, difficulties regulating emotions, and resisting change.

1. REVIEW ON RESEARCH ARTICLES ON IDENTIFICATION OF
CAUSES OF PSYCHO-SOCIAL PROBLEMS WITH CWLD
- DR. REENA SUMIT SHINDE
Educational Therapist

2. Research articles covered
1. Learning disabilities and psychological development in childhood and adolescence,
Jonathan Cohen , Annals of Dyslexia volume 36, pages287–300(1986)
2. Learning disabilities and psychological problems: an overview by: Great Schools
Staff | September 23, 2009
3. Psychosocial Problems among Learning disabled college students, by Robert E.
Manganello, University of England, RTDE, VOL. 9, pp. 67-70
4. The Psychological Implication of Learning Disabilities, ACTA PSYCHOPATHOLOGICA
ISSN 2469-6676, 2018 Vol.4 No. 1:1
5. Top 5 Emotional Difficulties of people with Learning Disabilities, LD Pride.net

3. Meaning of Psycho-social
• Psycho-social term refers mind’s ability to, consciously or unconsciously, adjust
and relate the body to its social environment.
• The definition of psychosocial is relating to the combination of psychological
and social behaviour.
• The psychosocial approach looks at the individual in the context of the
combined influence that psychological factors and the surrounding social
environment have on their physical and mental wellness and their ability to
function.

4. Psycho-social development
• Psycho-social development is the development of the personality , including acquisition of
social attitudes and skills, from infancy through maturity.
• The primary theory of psycho-social development was created by Erik Erikson, a German
developmental Psychologist.
• Erikson divided the process of psychological and social development into eight stages that
correspond to the stages of physical development.
• At each stage, according to Erikson, the individual faces a psychological conflict that must be
resolved in order to progress developmentally.

5. Erikson’s Psycho-social stages

6. Different Issues in psycho-social development

7. Connection between Learning disabilities and psychological problems
• Children with learning disabilities (LD) often have problems that go far
beyond those experienced in reading, writing, math, memory, or organization.
• For many, strong feelings of frustration, anger, sadness, or shame can lead to
psychological difficulties such as anxiety, depression, or low self-esteem, as
well as behavioural problems such as stubborn behaviour or attention seeking
behaviour.

8. Research background for LD children
• Research conducted by Dr. Kenneth Kavale of the University of Iowa and Dr. Steven R.
Forness of the University of California at Los Angeles indicates that as many as 70% of
children with LD suffer from poor self-esteem.
• “Over time, children with LD may just stop trying,” Dr. Raskind says, “entering a state of ‘
learned helplessness 'where they see little connection between their efforts and ultimate
outcomes. ‘ Why bother? 'they may ask, ‘ No matter how hard I try, I always end up
failing.’”
• Research by Dr. Kavale and Forness indicates that as many as 75% of kids with LD have
social difficulties such as making and keeping friends. “In fact, social and psychological
problems are so interconnected,”

9. Cont.…
• Research has shown that children with learning disabilities are less accepted, and often
rejected by their peers.
• Teachers and other adults also may tend to have negative views of children with learning
disabilities.”
• Such social rejection can result in loss of self-esteem and negative views of oneself.
• In addition, social rejection can result in feelings of loneliness, which, in turn, may lead to
psychological difficulties such as anxiety and depression.

10. Psychological and related difficulties of kids with LD
• Research has shown that
• - individuals with learning disabilities may experience increased levels of anxiety.
• - may be at greater risk for depression.
• - experience higher levels of loneliness.
• - may have a lower self-concept (self-esteem).
• - are at greater risk for substance abuse.

11. Some warning signs of psychological difficulties
• According to Dr. Brooks, signs of low self-esteem may be masked by a variety of self-defeating coping
strategies, such as:
• Quitting, when tasks become difficult or frustrating;
• Avoiding a task or activity for fear of failing;
• Clowning, to hide lack of confidence or to relieve pressure;
• Controlling, to counteract a sense of helplessness;
• Being aggressive and bullying, to fend off feelings of vulnerability;
• Denying, in order to manage the pain they would feel if insecurities were acknowledged;
• Being impulsive, finishing tasks as quickly as possible “just to get it over with.”

12. Top 5 Emotional difficulties of people with LD
• motor coordination
• time management
• attention
• organizational skills
• processing speed
• Social skills needed to make friends and
maintaining relationships
• emotional maturation
• verbal expression
• memory
1. SHAME:
• People growing up with a learning disability often feel a sense of shame.
• Some adults feel ashamed of the type of difficulties they are struggling to cope with such as basic literacy skills, slow
processing, attention difficulties, chronic forgetfulness, organizational difficulties, etc.
• Students with LD have other major difficulties in one or more of the following areas:
Many adults with learning disabilities have difficulty in performing basic everyday living tasks such as shopping,
budgeting, filling out a job application form or reading a recipe. They may also have difficulty with making friends and
maintaining relationships.

13. Cont.…
2. FEAR:
Another emotional difficulty for adults with learning disabilities is fear. This emotion is often
masked by anger or anxiety.
• Feelings of fear may be related to one or more of the following issues:
• Fear of being found out
• Fear of failure
• Fear of judgement or criticism
• Fear of rejection

14. Cont.…
3. Environmental and emotional sensitivity:
Environmental sensitivity: Many people with LD and ADD have specific sensitivities to their
environment such as certain fabrics they cannot wear, foods they cannot tolerate, etc.
Emotional sensitivity: Many adults with learning disabilities see themselves as more
emotionally sensitive than other people. Emotional difficulties occur when they are unable to
cope with the onslaught of emotions they are feeling.

15. Contd..
4. Emotional regulation:
Dr. Kay Walker, describes the connection between learning disabilities and self-
regulation problems.
Emotional wounds from childhood and youth may cause heightened emotional
responses to rejection. In turn, social anxiety and social phobia may result

16. Cont.…
5. Difficulty Adjusting to Change:
Change is scary for everyone, but for people with learning disabilities and other neurological
disabilities, change may be particularly difficult.
Children with learning disabilities may prefer procedures to stay the same and have a hard
time moving from one activity to another.

17. MYTHS VS FACTS
MYTH 1: CWLD have below
average intelligence and cannot
learn
MYTH 2: LD’S are just excuse for
irresponsible, unmotivated or
lazy people
MYTH 3: LD’S only affect
children. Adults grow out
without LD
MYTH 4 : LD’S are only academic
in nature. They do not affect
other areas of person’s life
MYTHS

18. MYTHS VS FACTS
FACT 1: People with LD’S have
average to above average
intelligence
FACT 2:LD’s are caused by
neurological impairments not
character flaws
FACT 3: It is now known that
LD’s continues throughout the
individual’s lifespan
FACT 4: Some people with LD’s
have isolated difficulties in
reading, writing or mathematics
FACTS

19. To conclude,

21. DR. REENA SUMIT SHINDE
- 09223299312
- EDUCATIONAL THERAPIST SPECIALIZED IN LEARNING DISABILITY