If your child was having trouble breathing, you wouldn’t hesitate to find out whether she had asthma or some other medical condition, right?
And if your child was squinting while watching TV or reading and having trouble tracking a ball thrown at her, you wouldn’t shy away from having her eyes checked by a specialist, correct?

Using an inhaler or wearing glasses can carry a “stigma” the same way that struggling to read, write, and do math can impact how people perceive someone’s competence to achieve, compete, and excel at different school-related tasks.

Think about “testing” as “finding out” and not as a way to label or brand your child. The LD label (if deemed appropriate after testing, careful discussion and consensus between you and school personnel) is used solely to formally acknowledge the need to provide some special types of services. Any “stigma” attached to the label will result from misinformation and in most cases, can be minimized (or eliminated) by open and honest conversations about the things your daughter does well, the areas in which she needs assistance, and a shared commitment to ensuring that she has plenty of opportunities to shine. And be sure to include your daughter in these conversations!