Assistive technology is the #1 ‘support’ that I saw as a teacher that was mis-used and that crippled the progress of a child’s learning and potential.
Where kids could have learned to read and write with the right interventions – they didn’t.
Where parents were told, ‘this is just to make content accessible’ – kids instead became over-reliant and their literacy skills plateaued and their confidence tanked.
What Nobody Is Telling You
And in an age where technology, and now AI, are taking over – let’s talk about the developmental risks to your child by having them rely on any assistive technology or AI to read, write, compute or learn that nobody is telling you.
I saw this slippery slope where the kids who couldn’t write were encouraged to use speech-to-text technology.
And the result was these kids never learned to read or write well.
Some would argue that at least they can access the content and this is equity. Now these kids can still move through their courses without barriers.
And that is true.
And what is also true is that when kids are given technology to read and write for them, when with the correct interventions and instruction they could learn to read for themselves, they are denied achieving certain competencies and skills not because they can’t learn but because of the failure of a system to provide effective instruction.
The Erosion of Self-Worth & Confidence
When your child is given technology as a long term solution to their reading and writing challenges, they are not only being denied the right to read, write and be functionally literate.
They are also deprived of the confidence and self-worth that comes with being able to read and write fluently, not to mention the feeling of success in overcoming a challenge.
It impacts their emotional regulation and self-esteem.
When your child constantly relies on accommodations, their brain gets the message: “I can’t do this.”
Without strengthening underlying systems, frustration, anxiety and avoidance grow.
Over time, this can develop into learned helplessness or school-based trauma where your child starts to believe they’re broken rather than just having weak and underdeveloped brain connections that need strengthening.
Your child is at a greater risk of mental health challenges like depression because they often have an over-developed right brain and weaker left brain which increases the likelihood of depression.
Add in learning trauma from being unable to read and you have a recipe for disaster.
When you instead address the weak connections, strengthen the weaker brain hemisphere, not only do kids learn to read and write fluently and regain their confidence, their risk of mental health issues significantly declines because now they have an optimally developed brain that is now resilient to life’s challenges.
How Over-Reliance on IEPs & Assistive Technology Hinders Brain Development
Before you assume I’m against assistive technology and IEPs, hear me out…
If a child doesn’t learn to read or write fluently because of reliance on assistive technology or other band-aid approaches – they’re not just missing out on becoming functionally literate.
They’re missing out on an entire web of brain development that impacts so much more than reading and writing.
When children struggle with reading and writing, they also struggle with other tasks which is why we can detect challenges like dyslexia at age 5.5 with 95% accuracy.
…because reading and writing challenges are a symptom of an imbalanced and disorganized brain.
If those bio-chemical factors that are driving literacy issues and those brain areas stay underdeveloped, it impacts coordination, memory, executive functioning and so much more.
When kids aren’t taught to read and write fluently and are given a laptop instead of a proper intervention, they are limited in ways that extend far beyond reading and writing.
#1 Processing Speed
Processing speed is often poor in these kids so when we don’t address the underlying reasons for reading struggles, kids also never develop good processing speed. This is important for auditory processing in order to understand and process what was said properly, to remember instructions, for coordination in sports, completing work in a timely manner and following a conversation in a social situation.
#2 Working Memory
Kids with reading and writing issues frequently have poor working memory, and technology doesn’t fix that. It in fact, can weaken it. Development of working memory is critical for everything. To hold numbers in our head while we calculate, to perform basic errands, to remembering teacher instructions or socializing.
#3 Executive Functioning
Organization, planning and mental flexibility are all necessary for good reading and writing. When your child relies on technology, they are bypassing developing the prefrontal cortex which results in your child having glitches to major challenges with initiating or completing tasks, organization, emotional impulsivity, trouble with time management and so much more.
#4 Poor Cerebellum Development Means Poor Coordination and Balance
A weak cerebellum doesn’t just affect academics. It affects gross and fine motor control like clumsiness, poor handwriting, sports, processing speed as well as posture and core strength. It can also impact visual motor awareness which is needed for driving (judging distance, speed, timing), typing accuracy and speed, trades and crafts (measuring, cutting, aligning, building) as well as STEM fields that involve diagrams, graphs and spatial reasoning.
#5 Language Development
When reading and writing circuits are underused, expressive and receptive language growth slows too. This can mean limited vocabulary expansion, trouble forming complex sentences or expressing thoughts clearly (these kids might mumble or talk less because expressive language is so much work) and difficulty following oral instructions or recalling details. This impacts school, as well as their social life and eventual work life.
Brain-Based Approaches Results in Lifelong Learning and Resilience
When we bypass developmental work that is needed for good reading and writing, kids might be able to access the content at any stage but they are deprived of the neuroplastic opportunity to develop the weak brain regions that impact everything from working memory to processing speed which impacts so many other areas of their life that extend far beyond literacy.
When real interventions are available, there is no excuse to deny kids the right to read and write. The brain can rewire with the correct approach and when challenged appropriately.
Technology may offer relief today, but the risks of underconnectivity reaches far beyond literacy.
If you’ve ever wondered whether your child’s struggles go deeper than what the school system is addressing – they do – and it’s not too late to strengthen those weak connections.
Join me in my on-demand masterclass, “Beyond the Label: The Real Reasons Kids Struggle with Learning”. This is where you can finally identify the root cause of what’s causing the breakdown and how to address it.
Sending so much Love & Hope,
Lorraine XO
