DOUBTS AND FEARS OF THE LEARNING DISABLED

The social and emotional components of learning disabilities must be addressed as fully as academic difficulties. What happens when children realize they are not succeeding in school? All too often, these children are burdened with feel-ings of inadequacy and failure-feelings that may be over-whelming and, if unchecked, possibly never overcome. &dquo;Doubt,&dquo; &dquo;fear,&dquo; &dquo;worry,&dquo; and &dquo;embarrassment&dquo; were the words used and the feelings described by a group of LD children. Furthermore, they explained that such &dquo;negative&dquo; feel-ings often surfaced or were heightened during periods of transi-tion. That is, their self-esteem suffered most when they were going from a regular educational placement into a special placement or from special placement back into regular school, college, or professional environment-the &dquo;real world.&dquo