Whether it’s a diagnosed disorder or not, Learning and behavioural issues affect more than just the ability to learn. They can impact relationships and carrying out daily activities. Having the correct support can help an individual understand themselves and the way that they work. They can then use their strengths to improve the way they function in the world and get the best out of it.
Learning difficulties come in all shapes, sizes and varying degrees. They are the result of the brain having trouble processing information, preventing someone from learning or using things they have learnt. They can be due to genetic or neurobiological factors that alter one or more cognitive processes in the brain.
These issues can lead to:
- Poor math
- Difficulty reading and writing
- Lack of concentration
- Poor Memory
- Lack of confidence & self-esteem
- Excessive fears and anxieties
- Poor emotional regulation.
- difficulties with time management and organisation.
- Poor comprehension.
For some individuals, these issues are part of a bigger disorder or disability.
- Dyslexia: Affects reading and related language-based processing skills.
- Dyscalculia: Affects a person’s ability to understand numbers and learn math facts.
- Developmental co-ordination disorder: A disorder which causes problems with movement and coordination, language and speech.
- Dysgraphia: Affects a person’s handwriting ability and fine motor skills.
- ADHD & ADD: A disorder that includes difficulty staying focused and paying attention, controlling behavior and hyperactivity
- Executive functioning: Affects, planning, organization, strategizing, attention to details and managing time and space.
- Developmental Language disorder: difficulty in understanding what they read or of spoken language. The ability to express one’s self with oral language may also be impacted
- Auditory processing disorder: The brain has difficulty receiving, processing and making sense of the sound the ear is receiving.
Many learning difficulties cannot be “cured”. however, there are factors that have an impact on the brains processing and interventions available to support the needs of each individual.
What can impact the brain’s ability to process information?
- Nutritional imbalance: The body needs to have optimal nutrition in order for the brain to be able to easily process information. Some nutrients that are great for brain function are: Omega 3 fatty-Acids, , Flavanoids, Saturated fat, Vitamin B6 and B12, vitamin D, vitamin E, Calcium, zinc, Selenium, copper and Iron.
- Toxic overload: Environmental toxins can do damage to the developing brain or impact the brains normal functions in various ways. A toxic environment (causing stress and emotional trauma) can cause the brain to shut down to protect itself.
- Food or other intolerances: Although the mechanisms are currently poorly understood, studies have shown that any excessive immune response to substances (allergies, sensitivities and intolerances ) have been associated with behavioral impairments, including motor and learning deficits. more about Kinesiology and sensitivities here.
- Structural misalignment: The nervous system and the spine have a very very close relationship. The spine needs to be aligned correctly and be able to move properly in order for there to be balance brain activity. Misalignments can create nerve entrapments or pressure on the nerves potentially causing issues with messaging between the brain and the body.
- Brain disorganisation: The brain functions best when the different areas are communicating in an orderly fashion. Brain disorganisation can occur through trauma, stress, or a mismatched pattern. a little more here
- Sensory processing issues: When the brain has trouble processing or handling the information being gathered by the senses and these become overwhelming. The child may exhibit co-ordination difficulties or have strong aversion to sounds and light. The senses are where we gather all that we learn. whether from sight, sound, touch, taste or smells.
- Lack of confidence: A child that lacks confidence to try new things or step outside their comfort zone is unlikely to feel comfortable learning new things.
- Fear and anxiety: Fear and anxiety cause the body to produce stress hormones. With excessive amounts of these stress hormones, the body is unable to learn new things, and behaviour and decision making is greatly impaired.
- Past Trauma: Trauma leaves behind a lingering sense of danger. this can cause stress hormones to course through the body, even when no danger is present. Trauma also changes the brain in ways that stops the brain from growing and learning new things.
Behavioural issues
Often behavioural issues come hand in hand. A child (or adult) with difficulties in learning, may in fact find it difficult to understand and express themselves effectively. We learn to communicate through action and emotion first. We tell people we are happy by smiling. We express anger and frustration by stomping our feet and frowning. When someone expresses behavioural issues, it is often the only way they are able to communicate their needs or emotions. Helping your child understand their needs so they can express them more clearly can be the best way to help your child.
How can Kinesiology help?
There are many tools in a kinesiologists toolkit that are linked to improving learning, memory, brain integration, nutrition, stress release and much more. A kinesiologists role is to help identify what the child wants to be able to do and help their bodies be able to support that as best it can. We don’t treat or diagnose anything, as we don’t work with a medical model. We work with muscle testing to identify factors and techniques that the body indicates will help improve and upgrade its performance. Many kids with learning difficulties and behavioural issues experience an improvement through kinesiology and maintain that improvement through regular tune ups.
What’s unique about me?
I personally make these sessions about how they want to function rather than focusing on fixing a ‘problem’. We don’t want them to feel “something is wrong with me” as this is counter productive and also not true. Instead, I like to help them see we are all unique and that our bodies and brains all work differently. Sometimes our bodies don’t know what to do, or don’t have what it needs to function at its best. So, I help them to find out what those things are. By focusing on the things they want to get better at, they feel empowered because they are focusing on growth and becoming a better version of their already wonderful self rather than feeling like they need to be fixed.
