GENERAL ISSUES
How do performance pressures and anxieties affect someone?
Individuals with Specific Learning Difficulties are often prone to some performance pressure and anxiety which makes them more prone to errors, and under-confident about aspects of their work. This is likely to manifest in appearing to not to want to attempt to do some tasks, appearing overwhelmed at times and to be reticent to express ideas. It is this fear of failing that actually becomes a barrier to learning and whilst this fear exists individuals will often avoid new situations, or those they perceive as risky, thus denying themselves valuable learning experiences. Again this is often wrongly perceived as laziness or lack of effort or motivation on the part of the learner.
Erratic performance can be confusing for parents and teachers and is often the outcome of living with learning difficulties. Understanding individuals in terms of their learning difficulties is helpful. They are coping with vulnerabilities, which are confusing to them and are likely to be the source of erratic performance, loss of confidence and slow progress in some areas of learning.
Check out Parents, Children+Schools (or Organisations +
Individuals if you are interested as an adult).
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