How A Learning Difference Creates Anxiety in Teens
You can be intelligent and have a learning difference/disability. They are not mutually exclusive. An intelligent person who learns in an atypical way will experience anxiety at school. If this type of learner is not supported in their learning style year after year, anxiety will increase.
Public schools are built for a certain type of learner. But there are only 50% of the population who learn in the style that is taught in public schools, so the other 50% tend to do their best to get by, and some just stop learning altogether.
Learning differences/disabilities do not reflect a child's intelligence, but they can make it very difficult to thrive in a standard public school system. Schools packed with too many kids in one classroom, where teachers need to teach to a standardized text, will not have time to teach to the variance of learning styles in their classrooms. Kids can often get by with making their own workarounds through the elementary years. It is common to start seeing some struggle by the 5th or 6th grade. In the counseling setting, I usually see teens who have struggled with academics for years, and they are coming to the clinic because the anxiety and shame have gotten to be too much to handle. Because most teens have no idea that their struggles are a learning difference/disability, they have begun to internalize their struggles as a reflection of their failures as a person, rather than a reflection of an imperfect school system. Sadly, that can turn into anxiety as they cope with the challenges every day. But it does not have to be this way with the support of teen counseling in Salt Lake City, UT!
What You Can Do
If you determine that they may have a learning difference, then I recommend pursuing an assessment to determine for sure. There are a few ways to get this assessment. A teacher in the school who is a strong advocate for your teen, a pediatrician, and a teen mental health counselor who is familiar with learning differences and how to assess them. The most in-depth assessment is done by a neuropsychologist. They can do a myriad of tests to determine your teen’s cognitive strengths and weaknesses that will help you pinpoint the best way to support their learning challenges moving forward.
Some questions you can ask them are:
Do you enjoy reading? Or have you always found it difficult?
Do you keep up with what the teacher is saying in class, or do you get lost?
Do you find yourself unsure of what you are supposed to be doing for homework?
Do you just feel behind or lost in class all the time?
Do you feel more nervous in class than at home or with your friends?
Common Learning Differences
ADHD
Slow Processing Speed
Low working memory (difficulty memorizing facts)
Non-verbal Learning Disability ( actually high ability in language and difficulty with math)
Level 1 Autism
All of these Learning differences are very common and do not reflect a person’s intellectual abilities. That is precisely why they can be hard to identify. The challenge they are having is not always apparent because they don’t show up often in all subjects. These learning differences are often referred to as “invisible” because they are so hard to pick up on. But identifying them can make a huge difference in your teen’s ability to learn, feel successful, and meet their full potential.
Why?
Anxiety can occur when a person is confronted with an environment that they struggle in, but don’t know why, and they don’t want to be labeled as “stupid” or “wrong” or “broken”. As a teen therapist for many years, I have seen learning differences, signs of anxiety, and depression. Once a learning difference is identified, they can begin to identify their struggle as something to work with rather than a character flaw or proof that they are a failure. This perspective shift alone can lift anxiety. It is exciting to know that there are answers and solutions to support these teens.
As a teen therapist for many years at Shade Tree Family Counseling, I see learning differences as the common source of many common symptoms of anxiety and depression. It is exciting to know that there are answers and solutions to support these teens.
Once a kid feels that school is a place where they can learn and they feel valued and understood, school will become a place they enjoy. Most importantly, they will gain the opportunity to feel confident about who they are and how they learn.
Helping Teens Overcome Anxiety Through Teen Counseling in Salt Lake City, UT
If your teen is feeling anxious and defeated because of a learning difference, support is available. Through teen counseling in Salt Lake City, UT, your child can discover new ways to manage stress, rebuild confidence, and thrive at school. At Shade Tree Family Counseling, we’re here to help your teen feel understood, capable, and ready to embrace their full potential. Follow these three simple steps to get started:
Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to see if Teen Counseling is right for your child.
Begin meeting with a skilled teen therapist.
See your teen begin to overcome and heal from anxiety!
Additional Services Offered at Shade Tree Family Counseling
At Shade Tree Family Counseling, our team is dedicated to walking alongside families as they build stronger connections and find hope in difficult seasons. We provide teen counseling to help adolescents manage anxiety and stress, along with EMDR Trauma Therapy for those seeking to heal from painful experiences. Families can also benefit from Family Counseling to improve communication and strengthen bonds, as well as Teen Group Therapy, which offers support and understanding from peers who share similar struggles. Want to dive deeper into the benefits of counseling? Explore our blog for practical tips, resources, and encouragement tailored for parents and teens.