Promoting Social and Emotional Skills in Children and Adolescents with Learning Disabilities: Implications for Intervention.

Abstract

Payal Maheshwari

Social and emotional skills are the most consistent indicators of success for all childrenâ??and that includes children with learning disorders/disabilities. Learning disabilities, and their accompanying academic challenges, can lead to low self-esteem, isolation, and behavior problems (Kemp, Smith and Segal, 2015). Children and Adolescents with learning disabilities (LDs) often have difficulties that go far beyond those in reading, writing, math, memory, or organization. When they experience constant struggle and failure, students may develop negative self-esteem, even when others offer support and encouragement. Low self-esteem and lack of confidence only serve to further, interfere with learning and academic success and can reinforce a cycle of failure and negativity. For many, strong feelings of frustration, anger, sadness, or shame can lead to psychological difficulties such as anxiety and depression.