Bright children with persistent academic struggles may have a specific learning disorder, a neurodevelopmental condition that requires early diagnosis and specialised intervention, experts warn.
Children who seem bright but consistently struggle with grades may be living with a specific learning disorder, or SLD, according to paediatric specialist Farid Agung Rahmadi. Speaking at an online seminar organised by the Indonesian Paediatric Society on Tuesday, he said the condition is a neurodevelopmental disorder that can cause lasting difficulties in reading, writing or mathematics for at least six months.
Farid said SLD is linked to weaknesses in particular cognitive processes, including phonological skills, working memory, processing speed and visual-spatial ability. That can leave a child struggling in one academic area while performing well elsewhere. He noted that some children can take part actively in classroom discussion and show strong non-academic problem-solving skills, even as test scores remain low.
Specialists at Johns Hopkins Medicine and the American Psychiatric Association describe learning disorders in similar terms, saying they can affect children whose intellectual ability is otherwise normal or above average. They also stress that the problem is not laziness, poor parenting or low intelligence. Instead, persistent difficulty in reading, writing or maths may reflect an underlying disorder that deserves proper assessment.
Warning signs include ongoing learning problems, a mismatch between a child’s spoken understanding and written results, and a growing reluctance to attend school. Child health experts say early diagnosis matters because it opens the door to targeted help, which can include specialised teaching, therapy and support for related conditions such as ADHD. Farid said care works best when parents, teachers, health workers and psychologists respond together so a child’s strengths are not overlooked.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
