• Cognitive disorders affect the brain’s ability to process information, causing difficulty in learning and understanding concepts.
• Common cognitive disorders include dyslexia, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), executive functioning disorder (EFD), and auditory processing disorder (APD).
• Parents can help their child by seeking sensory treatment, providing extra support, creating a routine, and seeking professional help.
• Age can help treat cognitive disorders in some cases; children with ADHD may ‘outgrow’ the condition over time.
• Cognitive disorders can affect your child’s social life; parents should seek out activities where their children can socialize with other kids who have similar issues.
Cognitive disorders are conditions that disrupt the way people’s brains process information. They can make it difficult for children to learn in a traditional school setting and challenging for parents to identify. Here’s how cognitive disorders can affect a child’s learning and what you can do as a parent.
What Is a Cognitive Disorder?
A cognitive disorder is a condition that affects the brain’s ability to process information or think logically. It may cause difficulty with learning, understanding concepts, or recalling information. Common cognitive disorders include dyslexia, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and executive functioning disorder (EFD). In addition, some diseases affect the senses, such as auditory processing disorder (APD) or visual processing disorder (VPD).
Some of these disorders may be diagnosed early, while others may not be diagnosed until later in life.
How Do Cognitive Disorders Affect Learning?
Cognitive disorders can affect all aspects of learning, from understanding written material to memorizing facts and figures. Here’s a closer look into that:
Inability to Understand
If your child has difficulty understanding written material or verbal instructions, they may have a cognitive disorder such as dyslexia. Dyslexia can make it hard for them to sound out words and comprehend the meaning of sentences.
Memory Issues
If your child has trouble recalling information, they may have a cognitive disorder such as executive functioning disorder (EFD). This disorder can make it hard for them to remember facts and figures, store new information, or retrieve the stored data.
Trouble with Problem-Solving
If your child is having trouble with problem-solving skills, they may have a cognitive disorder such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This disorder can make it difficult for them to think logically and process information quickly.
What Can Parents Do?
Parents can do a lot to help their child who has a cognitive disorder. Here are some tips:
Seek Sensory Treatment
Sensory cognitive impairments such as auditory processing disorder (APD) and visual processing disorder (VPD) can be treated with sensory therapies. For example, there are now robust treatments for auditory processing disorder, such as the listening program. This treatment helps to retrain the brain’s ability to process auditory information.
Provide Extra Support
Parents can support their children by engaging them in activities outside school, such as music or art classes. These activities may help children learn better and increase their attention span.
Create a Routine
Creating a routine and sticking to it can help children with cognitive disorders stay focused and organized. However, parents should also provide structure by breaking tasks into smaller, more manageable parts.
Seek Professional Help
If your child is having difficulty in school or displaying signs of a cognitive disorder, seek professional help from an educator or the future. Professionals that can help include psychologists, educational therapists, and occupational therapists.
Age and Cognitive Disorders
It’s also important to know that cognitive disorders are not just limited to children. Adults can also experience mental issues, such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. If you suspect an adult in your life has memory issues or difficulty with problem-solving and decision-making, it’s vital to seek professional guidance.
However, it’s also important to know that age can help treat cognitive disorders. For example, children with ADHD can ‘outgrow’ the condition. Researchers believe this is due to their brain’s natural development over time. So as a parent, you can have hope that cognitive disorders can be treated and managed.
Social Life and Cognitive Disorders
Lastly, it’s crucial to understand how cognitive disorders affect your child’s social life. Depending on the disorder, they may struggle with interpersonal relationships or find it challenging to engage in conversations.
To help, parents should seek out activities where their children can socialize with other kids who have similar issues. This will allow them to feel like they belong and help pace their learning over time.
Cognitive disorders can be challenging for children to manage and difficult for parents to understand. However, with the proper knowledge and support, your child can still lead a successful life despite their cognitive disorder. Above all, remember that early intervention is vital; the sooner you recognize the signs of a cognitive disorder, the sooner you can get your child the help they need.
