The difficulties often continue into adulthood. Problem solving and decision making Recommendations for helping children with learning difficulties related to spina bifida were made by Lollar. Young children need all their senses stimulated - seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, touching and moving. Many children with spina bifida have verbal skills beyond their years, but they may not understand or remember what they hear and say. They can be helped with these skills by discussing books or television shows after reading or seeing them, acting out stories, developing memory games to associate things that need to be remembered, and by using calendars and maps to add a visual dimension to things that are usually just heard.
Difficulty paying attention is common in children with spina bifida in school and at home.
Schoolwork and homework may be more easily accomplished if the child has a quiet place free from distractions to work. Short assignments or chores and frequent breaks can also help. The child may need regular reminders to stay on task. Hyperactivity in the child with spina bifida may be masked by the mobility difficulties, but restlessness and fidgety behaviour are common. In addition, these children may be impulsive, acting before they think.