For parents, children's school reports mean a lot. Those whose kids come home with straight As gloat proudly while those presented with less-than-perfect report cards feel a range of emotions _ disappointment, anger, worry or even fear.
Usually the kids who don't do well are blamed for their bad grades, and the parents are likely to put it down to laziness, or perhaps even stupidity.
Learning disorders, while not a new term, have not been very well recognised in Thailand. A lot of parents, or even teachers, still do not have a genuine understanding of the issue, and this lack of understanding further drives children with difficulties away from learning.
Dr Partimokkh Promchuay, of Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital's Special Needs Child Center, said learning disorders affect between 5% and 10% of students. It can be said that the challenges are quite common, and without correct understanding these children can be lumped under the umbrella of "bad students".
"Supposedly, there are children with learning disorders in every school, although the severity varies. If the teachers are not able to detect it or address it properly, they will just label the students as lazy, stupid or just another nuisance in the classroom," Dr Partimokkh said.
There are three main challenges faced by those with learning disorders _ learning disabilities in reading (dyslexia) learning disabilities in mathematics (dyscalculia) and learning disabilities in writing (dysgraphia).
The signs can show as early as preschool, although in younger children is can be difficult to detect. They will become more apparent when the child starts primary school.
"Learning disorders are harder to detect because unlike other difficulties such as Down syndrome or autism, children with these challenges appear just like ordinary children. Sometimes it is easy for people to misunderstand that they are bad students who just don't care about school, or hyperactive children who just don't like to sit down and pay attention," said Dr Partimokkh.
Bad grades do not necessarily mean a child has learning disorders, but it is a possibility. There are many factors that can be at the root of underachievement in class _ negligence by parents, an unfit learning environment, distraction, physical problems, emotional problems, intelligence problems, or a combination of all of the above.
A professional assessment by a child psychologist should be able to point out the underlying problems and how to help the child overcome the challenges.
Speaking at the IPN Thailand event "How to tell if your child may have learning disabilities", Dr Kwan Hansongkitpong, an autism intervention expert and clinical psychologist, said that while learning disorders are not curable, they can be overcome or managed with the appropriate support.
"Once the children have the accommodation that they need, they can deal with the challenges. If left unaddressed, the difficulties can lead to low self-esteem, lack of motivation and loss of interest in learning altogether," said Dr Kwan.
Dr Kwan also clarified that children with learning disorders do not necessarily have problems with learning. They might have normal intellectual abilities, but just need to be taught through a different approach.
"Maybe they would prefer learning through audio books or other media, and their school could offer a learning style to accommodate their needs. Sometimes they might need a different assessment method, just not a paper-based test, because the aim of the test is to measure their knowledge, not the ability to read or write."
She also confirmed that children with learning disorders can eventually learn if the condition is diagnosed. For example, a child with dyslexia can and will manage to read if the parents and teachers try to encourage learning.
"How they read might be different, and the pace can be different, too. This does not mean they have to be separated from ordinary children, or that the parents should just give up and surrender to the challenges." Since most tests in school are paper-based, children with writing and reading difficulties are at a disadvantage, although their understanding might be of the same level as their peers. Dr Kwan suggested assessments should be done in different ways, not just on paper, and children should have their say in how they want to be assessed.
"Children should be given options to express their understanding. They might want to present it in front of the class, draw it, or write it. Paper-based tests are easier to create and grade, but what we need to consider is whether they can measure the children's knowledge," said Dr Kwan. "Children who get good grades might not understand the content but are able to memorise well. If that's the case, they won't be able to apply the concept that they have learned, and that would be useless." She added that there is as yet no information to confirm whether success in life after school is associated with high scores.
Parents should be aware of their children's challenges, but not judge them based on those. Dr Kwan said that every child has strengths and weaknesses, and both should be addressed equally.
"Be aware of their weaknesses, but also find their strengths and try to encourage those. They might be good at music, but not writing, so what you might want to do is encourage them to write down the lyrics to make it more fun. Always praise the effort, not the production, because children with learning disorders have to try harder than everyone else. Praise them but at the same time challenge them to work a bit harder."
WHAT TO DO IF YOUR CHILD HAS LEARNING DISORDERS
Get a professional assessment to determine the problem and the severity. Early detection is key in helping children overcome the challenges.
Try to minimise negative factors that intervene with their learning, such as TV, computer use and games.
Encourage discipline and give them responsibility.
Promote reading and basic skills. Try to create a fun environment and make them feel interested.
Focus on extracurricular activities. Learning is a lifelong process and should not be limited to the classroom. Try taking them to museums or other places that encourage learning.
Make sure their daily schedule is well balanced. A good day should incorporate play time, learning time, rest time and family time. It does not make sense to send them to tutoring school to fill up their free time.