There are certain aspects of learning disabilities which increase
the risk for an individual to experience mental health issues. Failure
to identify a learning disability at an early age and to consequently
delay the provision of intensive, individualized instruction results
in school failure. A child who was well-adjusted as a five or six
year old can acquire overlays of emotional disturbance after years
of school failure. Anxiety and depression would be likely experiences
for such a child from the age of nine or ten.
Certain specific learning disabilities are characterized by perceptual
deficits, including misinterpretation of facial expression, body
language, or verbal cues that lead to awkward social interactions.
These, along with impulsivity associated with ADHD, contribute to
generally poor social skills, which in turn lead to alienation or
social conflict.
Individuals of all ages with learning disabilities and ADHD are
subject to ridicule from peers and are often the objects of bullying
behaviors. Low self-esteem is a frequent by-product of learning
disabilities.
School failure leads to disassociation from school settings, and
the adolescent and teen with learning disabilities who has not received
proper academic supports and services runs a higher risk than average
for becoming involved with tobacco, alcohol and drugs. School drop-out
is linked strongly to functional illiteracy; teens who drop out
are at high risk of becoming involved in illegal activities and
eventual incarceration, and for becoming teen mothers and fathers.
Teen addictions, aggressive and other anti-social behaviors, and
risky pregnancies are therefore linked to learning disabilities
and ADHD.
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