A child who has trouble seeing the blackboard or hearing the teacher will have difficulty with schoolwork, so an eye or hearing examination is essential. Hearing loss due to an ear infection may be temporary, but only a hearing specialist can rule out permanent auditory problems.
Youngsters who are unusually active don't always calm down as they grow up. A physician's professional diagnosis of Attention Deficit Disorder or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder will explain why a child can't sit still in class or concentrate on his studies.
Educators are increasingly aware of dyslexia -- the brain's inability to translate visual images, like written words, into understandable language. The problem appears in the early grades when learning becomes dependent upon reading. A similar but less frequently diagnosed problem is dysgraphia, a writing disability. A child who succeeds in reading and language-related subjects may fail in assignments involving writing. He may even fail in math simply because his handwriting is so distorted that he can't line up numbers properly.
Bullying has become more widely publicized because of school tragedies. The popularity of the Internet and social networking offers more opportunities for a child, or a group of children, to torment and harass another child who is seen as vulnerable or unable to fight back. A child who is being bullied will have difficulty concentrating on schoolwork and may be unwilling to go to school.
A child whose parents are going through divorce is likely to become so distracted and worried about the family situation that she can't concentrate on her studies. A complicated visitation schedule can cut into homework time.
A youngster who is suffering from physical, verbal or sexual abuse at home may be fearful and unable to concentrate in class. He may get frequently angry, fight with classmates and rebel against authority at school. To a child in pain, schoolwork is the least of his concerns.
Teens who work after school or who are involved in extracurricular activities are to be commended. However, their schedules are often so crowded with sports and other activities that they are too tired to do homework. Teens who work late hours may have little time for studying and have trouble staying awake in class.
Moving to a new town or a new school in the same town can be a traumatic experience. A youngster going from a small elementary school to a big middle school with new teachers and classmates, cliques, boy-girl interactions, peer rejection and other adolescent issues may experience falling grades.
While the Internet is a great source of information for students, obsession with social network sites, video games and other online distractions can have a seriously detrimental effect on grades. Similarly, texting in class and at home wastes time that would be better spent on studies.
A sudden drop in grades and loss of interest in school can be symptoms of drug or alcohol use. Coupled with other symptoms, such as stealing or dropping old friends in favor of unsavory new acquaintances, school failure is an indication of a serious problem needing immediate intervention.