Childrens Concentration Problems in Learning: Check the Real Causes

As children enter school age, especially transitioning from kindergarten to primary school where the learning style shifts to more academic focus, increased homework, and longer desk time, many parents encounter the problem of their child being restless, inattentive, not copying homework completely, or not wanting to do homework.This often raises the question, " Does my child have attention deficit disorder?" In reality, these behaviors can stem from various causes. Parents should be aware of these to address or consult a doctor appropriately.

Causes of children's learning difficulties

To find the true cause, understanding the child's behavior is necessary, which can be categorized as follows:

1. Hyperactivity and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD) Suspected symptoms include:

• Being restless, leaving their seat, fidgeting while sitting still.
• Having a short attention span.
• Easily distracted.
• Talking excessively.
• Interrupting others.
• Unable to wait their turn.
• Difficulty following steps or planning tasks.
• Forgetting assignments, homework, or belongings.

2. Learning Disabilities Children with impairments in reading, spelling, writing, or math may struggle with certain subjects.

Suspected signs of reading and writing disabilities:

• Confusing similar letters such as พ / ผ, b / d.
• Difficulty remembering letter names or distinguishing letter sounds.
• Reading and writing slower than classmates.
• Struggling to spell new words, guessing familiar words instead, or skipping words while reading.
• Frequent spelling errors.
• Slow writing speed with larger than usual handwriting.
• Problems comprehending reading material.
• Suspected signs of math disabilities:
• Slow and unskilled calculation.
• Confusing math symbols like plus and minus and how to calculate with them.
• Difficulty performing step-by-step calculations.

3. Developmental Delay Or intellectual disability. Suspected symptoms include:

• Slower development than peers.
• Slow learning or quickly forgetting what was taught.
• Lower ability in self-care or problem-solving compared to peers.

4. Vision Problems Suspected nearsightedness signs:

• Difficulty seeing distant objects clearly.
• Squinting or bringing books/screens very close.
• Eye strain or headaches after prolonged visual tasks.

5. Hearing Problems Suspected hearing impairment signs include:

• Unclear hearing.
• Difficulty understanding speech in noisy environments.
• Unusual noises or ringing in the ears.

6. Emotional or Mental Health Issues Such as depression, anxiety, or family problems.

If your child has learning difficulties, it is recommended that parents consult a pediatrician for further evaluation. This helps identify the true cause and leads to appropriate treatment, benefiting the child's learning and mental health, as well as improving parental understanding and ability to support their child.

Information by : Dr. Panyachalee Jongpaiboonpattana, Pediatric Developmental and Behavioral Specialist, Phyathai 2 Hospital