When a child is struggling at school, we often focus on reading, writing, or behaviour.
But sometimes, the difficulty lies in something less obvious—how your child listens, or processes what they are hearing.
Listening Affects Learning
Listening plays a key role in:
- reading and phonics
- spelling and comprehension
- following instructions
- expressing thoughts clearly
If listening is difficult, learning can feel confusing and overwhelming.
Signs Your Child May Be Struggling
You might notice:
- saying “huh” or “what?” frequently
- difficulty remembering spoken information
- trouble expressing ideas
- sensitivity to noise
- becoming overwhelmed in busy environments
- appearing distracted or “zoned out”
These are not signs of laziness—they are clues.
My Story
When I returned to study as an adult, I realised I couldn’t listen and take notes at the same time.
I would leave lectures with a headache—and very little memory of what had been said.
It wasn’t until I had a listening assessment that I understood why learning had always felt so hard.
I remember thinking:
“Do you mean it didn’t have to be that difficult?”
What This Means for Your Child
Many children experience similar challenges.
They may:
- work very hard just to keep up
- feel frustrated or embarrassed
- begin to doubt their ability
- wonder why everyone else seems to get much better results
As one child said:
“I know I’m not stupid… but why is this so hard?”
A Gentle Approach
Rather than focusing only on behaviour or outcomes, it can help to look beneath the surface.
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