09/24/2026
Some learning and developmental differences can overlap, which is why it is not always obvious what is sitting behind a child’s difficulties.
Dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia and dyspraxia can all affect learning, but in different ways.
A child might struggle to read fluently but explain something brilliantly aloud.
They might understand exactly what they want to write, yet find getting those ideas onto paper exhausting.
They might cope well in many subjects but become completely overwhelmed by number concepts.
Or they may need far more effort to plan, coordinate and sequence physical actions.
And, importantly, children can have more than one of these differences.
We need to look beyond one individual sign and notice the pattern, intensity and impact across everyday life and learning.
The more accurately we understand where the difficulty lies, the better we can support the child rather than simply assuming they are not trying hard enough.
Understanding the difference helps us understand the child.
