It is common to speak of Reading and writing problems when a child doesn’t learn to read or write during training, and/or development is slow and/or stagnates. The difficulties can be seen in connection with learning the letters, separating them from each other, remembering the names and sounds of letters or shaping letters. For some, it may also, or instead, be difficult to learn the alphabetical principle (breaking the alphabetical code), i.e. to realise / understand that the letters represent language sounds in spoken words. Only when the alphabetical code is broken, can we speak of functional letter learning. This basic and functional letter learning is very important for learning to read and write.
Symptoms of reading difficulties
In reading, symptoms of difficulties may be that the person is struggling to learn isolated words, makes many mistakes, reads very slowly, reads monotonously and technically, and/or finds it difficult to understand words, sentences, messages and context in the text. The symptoms are especially apparent when reading unknown texts.
A symptom of difficulties may also be that the person continues to read recurring words as if s/he had not seen or read the word before. A sign of difficulties can therefore also be that reading and practising doesn’t have much effect, and that development is slow or stagnating.
Many people therefore find that they are unable to reach the stage in their development where they can read correctly, easily and fluently, while at the same time they are able to vary ways of reading and speed as required. Consequently, it may be difficult for them to understand what they are reading. It may also be difficult to”communicate” with the text, i.e. integrating their own competence, experience and knowledge in the reading process. The benefit of reading – and the reading experience – is as much about the thoughts, associations, reflections the readers personally adds during the reading process. People with reading difficulties may feel that they have not progressed sufficiently in their development to experience the communication aspect in the reading process. They find it more than enough to concentrate on the actual reading.
Symptoms of writing difficulties
In writing, symptoms of difficulties may be that the person is struggling to write individual words, and makes many mistakes (simplifies, leaves out letters, switches letters around). It is also symptomatic that the person writes slowly, illegibly, and very briefly. It may also be difficult to get started on writing. They do not know what to write, cannot find words and/or put the words together incorrectly (wrong syntax). It may be difficult to arrange, structure and present the material. They may therefore find it difficult to express themselves in writing in a way that makes it easy for a reader to understand the message and connections in the text. People with writing difficulties are consequently often unable to communicate what they know, and what they want to say in written communication.
Variation in difficulties
Symptoms of difficulties can vary from person to person. The way that the difficulties are manifested, will also depend on a person’s strengths. This applies to both reading and writing. Some may be very good at camouflaging and compensating for their difficulties, so that their difficulties are harder to detect. It may be the most difficult to detect in reading. At an early stage in development, pupils may for instance learn the text by heart. It is also important to be aware that some people with learning difficulties (both children and adults) seem to read quite well after a while, but find that reading is time consuming and sometimes difficult to understand. Often they also have similarly lasting difficulties with spelling.
Early assessment
It is important to raise the alarm as early as possible if there is any concern about a child’s reading and/or writing suggesting that he or she is having difficulties with this. It is also important not to explain away the difficulties, especially if the child also has other issues, such as behavioural problems. It is important to find out why children are having difficulties with reading or writing, to help them develop further. Early assessment of the situation is also important to prevent unfortunate emotional or social reactions.
