Built deep within human instincts is the need to gather together. For protection, for warmth, to commune and to share wisdom. Human beings need to feel a sense of belonging. Anytime there is something odd or off about an individual, this need and ability to connect can be disrupted. When the abnormality affects the ability to communicate itself, as is often the case in learning disorders, the results can be socially and emotionally catastrophic.
Feelings of isolation and subsequent depression touch the lives of most people affected by learning disorders. Even the parents of the affected child tend to develop feelings of inadequacy, especially as they navigate through the medical and schooling communities to advocate for their child. Despite incredible progress in regard to learning disorders, there are always further strides to be made.
Experts can still be baffled by a particular set of symptoms and not arrive at the correct diagnosis, which can delay getting the correct help for the affected child and family. And in the meantime parents and child are struggling to figure out not only what, exactly, needs to be addressed but how to go about dealing with it.
Handling the attitude of the rest of the world is even more stressful. Invitations to social events often dry up after it is discovered how difficult a particular family member can be to deal with, especially in crowded atmospheres like a birthday party or outing to the zoo, where special needs can flounder in the face of sensory overload and other floods of information.
Behaviors notwithstanding, even well-mannered individuals can be ostracized simply because they do not fit well enough within any acceptable social mold. Interacting with peers is important to social development and these square pegs simply can't match themselves to the round holes of what is considered normal society.
The learning disordered child is not only struggling with their ability to learn basic schooling functions, but often must also be taught how to behave socially, especially in the cases of Asperger's and other high-functioning Autism cases. ADD and ADHD individuals, too, may have trouble relating to their peers as their speedy brains make unusual leaps of logic that leave their friends puzzled at the odd conversational segue or perhaps laughing when no joke was intended. A tendency to take things too literally can also cause misunderstandings, leaving the special child to feel even more alienated than when they first began their conversations.
Parents of these special children feel their offspring's pain right along with them, often experiencing a sense of helplessness as to how to best aid them in becoming more acceptable, or better yet, to get the world to accept them for who they are. Or at the very least to help them be happy with who they are, despite their social and other issues.
Attempting this when their instincts tell them that connecting with others is essential is difficult at best, seemingly impossible at worst. The entire family can feel incredibly outnumbered by the world at large. Self-esteem wilts in the face of such odds.
