Anxiety and Dyslexia

Being called on in class. 

Quizzes and tests.

Multi-part assignments.

Oral presentations. 

Project deadlines.

To all people, these things may bring up some anxious feelings in educational settings. However, to the students who have learning differences (such as ADHD, dyslexia, dyscalculia or other learning disabilities), you may see kids who are even more stressed, worried, and anxious in these situations. 

Performance anxiety is the idea that people may be fearful about performing different required tasks. The anxious feelings do not only appear during the task, but it is an anticipation of the bad things that MAY happen because of the task (such as the test, presentation, or project). They may anticipate things such as rejection, humiliation, feeling like they are not “good enough”, feeling like they are not “smart enough” to do a good job, bullying from others etc. 

Anxiety can have a huge impact on learning, whether you have a learning difference or not. However, research found that approximately 70% of students with learning disabilities experience higher levels of anxiety than do students who do not have learning disabilities. 

If you take a moment to consider what a kid with a learning difference may be going through, it might help to better understand their experience with anxiety: 

• Falling behind in class may create mores anxious feelings

• Feeling isolated and alone may create more anxious feelings

• Feeling centered out for needing support may create more anxious feelings

• Difficulty paying attention and missing instructions may create more anxious feelings

• Not understanding the task may create more anxious feelings

• Feeling disorganized and flustered may create more anxious feelings

You can imagine the potential cyclical nature of learning disabilities and feelings of anxiety. All of the experiences with needing to perform, complete tasks, and succeed on tests, can create feelings of anxiety in kids with learning differences. Then, the anxiety starts to interfere even more with their learning experience and outcomes. 

Further, it may also become hard to tease out whether the anxiety is due to the experiences with the learning disability, or whether there was already a diagnosable co-morbid condition of anxiety alongside the learning difference. 

So what can we do to try to help with some of these anxious feelings? What we have found to be useful is: 

• Help kids to own their disability, be open about it with others and decrease any shame they feel

• Teach kids to advocate for themselves and what they personally need to be successful

• Practice mindfulness to help with the “what if” scenarios we can get into

• Practice and role-play situations and scenarios the child may encounter to help them feel more prepared

• Use a journal to help them to share their thoughts and worries

• Build that confidence, self-esteem and resilience

• Work on problem-solving skills (use books, stories and examples where possible)

• Acknowledge and empathize with how they are feeling

• Help them to practice positive self-talk

However, it is always a good idea if you are concerned at all that your child is struggling with anxiety, to reach out to a professional to seek tips and advice for your specific situation. 

For more support regarding worry and anxiety, check out our Masterclass with Dr. Dawn Huebner, When Worry Makes Sense, When Worry Takes Over (also by Dr. Huebner) or The Little Panic Approach to Anxiety and Supporting Your Child (by Amanda Stern) all available inside our SYT Support Library (which is FREE!).

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Written by Jillian Watson, B.Ed., M.Ed., OCT