Invisible and long-lasting, learning disorders are not the result of an intellectual deficit (quite the opposite), but the difficulties they create need to be addressed as early as possible. To do so, several professionals can be called on, whether a speech-language therapist, a psychologist, an orthoptist, or an occupational therapist. At the same time, parents themselves can turn to a coach to discover how to support their child in managing their difficulties.
The coach’s empathetic listening
Contrary to popular belief, learning disorders occur in children with a high intellectual quotient. In other words, these children are perfectly capable of succeeding at school, provided schools learn to adapt to their needs and better value different kinds of intelligence…
Despite this, the first reaction from parents facing DYS disorders remains, even today, denial. Unable to accept this reality, they take time to start the process of getting a clear diagnosis. Deeply saddened, they suffer because of this difference, and through their attitude, they can end up hurting their child, who inevitably feels responsible for these feelings.
The coach’s role is to offer parents empathetic listening, before inviting them to reconsider their expectations of their child. Here, it is their hopes and shattered dreams that overwhelm them: they must learn to grieve the perfect child… Afterwards, they can put this situation into better perspective: each disorder has its own difficulties, adaptations, and solutions…
Supporting parents through their child’s schooling
Often in distress over their child’s learning difficulties, parents devote a great deal of time and energy to them, sometimes going as far as shouting out their frustrations… Here, the coach can help them break this vicious cycle, fuelled by the fear that their child will ruin their life, while the child, for their part, fears failure.
The professional teaches parents to keep their anger in check and to develop communication skills to step in without shouting or aggression. For example, they learn to replace phrases like “You’re draining all my energy” with “I have no energy left, can you help me move forward?”. The accusatory tone disappears, and using the first person makes them an active participant in the exchange…
Remember, a child with DYS is capable of learning, but simply does so differently from another child: the rule is to preserve their enjoyment in order to keep their motivation! Having a learning disorder, dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysorthographia, and so on, is not a life sentence.
Parents, you play an important role in your child’s schooling: don’t hesitate to get support from a coach to benefit from their tools for being a genuine support in the face of their difficulties. Get in touch with one of the professionals on the Ora-Visio platform to get a first idea of what they can offer you!
