“Am I Dumb?”

Last week I met a delightful mom who was trying to understand and get help for her equally delightful 8-year-old boy.  She shared that he came home from school asking

“Mom, am I dumb?”

I’ve heard this scenario so many times over the years.   Why would a smart child or teen or adult think they’re dumb?

When you’re smart but struggling, you look around the classroom and you can easily see that your peers are finishing assignments quicker or getting better grades.  You’re very aware of the tremendous amount of time that it takes you to do your homework, while others in the neighborhood are already done and out playing.  You know how hard you studied for the test, but got an embarrassing grade anyway.

So you figure, you must not be all that smart.

I met a man at a seminar once who said that he couldn’t read until he was 12.  He hated going to school because he felt so dumb.  But the truth was, he was brilliant, and by the time he was 21, he had figured out strategies for playing the stock market that made him a millionaire.

In order to learn easily, we need to be able to pay attention, remember, and receive clear and accurate information through our visual, auditory, and motor systems.  When any of these underlying thinking/processing skills are weak, it can cause learning to be a struggle.

Struggling learners and their families are told to cope with the learning challenge and find ways to get around it.  Most parents that we speak to refuse to believe that coping is the answer.  And they are right!

Coping is Not Enough

Coping with a learning or attention challenge is like riding a bike with a flat tire.  It can be done, but it will always take more energy and effort than riding a bike should.  And it is simply not necessary.

Our Amazing Brain Can Learn to Learn More Efficiently!

Brain research on neuroplasticity has proven that through targeted and intensive training, the brain can literally change and grow.  New and permanent neuropathways or connections can be made that will allow individuals to learn new skills and process information more effectively.

Our experience and that of our colleagues in this field over the past 30 years have proven that most learning and attention challenges can be dramatically improved or completely corrected.

If you or your child struggle with learning, whether it’s dyslexia, a learning disability, or simply working too hard or too long, things can change.

JOIN US at a Parent Information Night to find out how to break the cycle of learning challenges and struggles in school.  Go to www.learningdisability.com for details and information.

Back-to-School Gift:  When you attend our Information Night, ask for a copy of At Wit’s End, A Parent’s Guide to Ending the Struggle, Tears, and Turmoil of Learning Disabilities.