Numerous studies show that a significant proportion of children with learning disorders develop pathological anxiety. This proportion stands at 69% for dyslexic children, with a higher prevalence among girls. In most cases, psychological support is strongly recommended, so as not to add further difficulties to their DYS disorder…

The correlation between dyslexia and anxiety

Conducted on 114 patients diagnosed with dyslexia, a study[1] found that 69% of them suffered from anxiety disorders. Note that anxiety is a normal response to a perceived danger, an alarm signal that shows up as a feeling of unease, distress, or even fear. While anxiety is normal at certain stages of a child’s development, it becomes pathological when it disrupts them and causes significant everyday problems.

In this study, dyslexic children showed pathological anxiety, with no effect of age or school level (primary or secondary school). However, dyslexic girls appear to suffer from it more than boys: that said, follow-up with a psychologist was recommended for 65% of the 114 patients in the study.

Signs of anxiety in a dyslexic child

The signs of anxiety vary widely in dyslexic children: they may include a sudden change in behaviour (restlessness, irritability, crying, tantrums…), somatic symptoms (headaches or stomach aches, bodily tension and stiffness), sleep disturbances (difficulty falling asleep, nightmares…), avoidance behaviours (refusing to go to school), unusual concentration problems, or an excessive need for reassurance.

Note that there is a type of anxiety directly linked to school: performance anxiety! This is a state of apprehension, tension and unease, triggered by fear of failure and often linked to an assessment situation (exam, oral test, etc.). It results in significant stress, somatic symptoms, growing worry, and even avoidance as the deadline approaches.

Psychology to break the vicious circle

A dyslexic child is more likely to develop anxiety: yet, beyond the difficulties inherent to dyslexia, anxiety itself has consequences for learning. It paralyses thought and action, and it negatively affects working memory. In cases of severe dyslexia, this weakness in memory is already present, but it becomes even more pronounced with anxiety.

To break this vicious circle, in which the more anxious a dyslexic child is, the less they succeed, and the less they succeed, the more anxious they become, the help of a psychologist can prove invaluable. Together, they will work on self-esteem and a sense of competence, to improve the child’s perception of things and events.

Don’t hesitate to reach out to one of the psychologists on the Ora-Visio platform, who specialise in DYS disorders: fully aware of the various impacts of these difficulties, they will know how to adapt their approach to the needs of the dyslexic child and to whichever manifestation of their anxiety disorder is most problematic day to day.

[1] Study: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0222961722000721