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Learning Disabilities: Should I Be Concerned?

Source: National Center for Learning Disabilities
Topics: Learning Disability Diagnosis, Dyslexia Diagnosis, Dyscalculia Diagnosis
As a parent, one of the most important things you can do to help your child get a good education is to understand how she learns—especially if you are concerned that she may be struggling in school. But sometimes knowing what to do and where to find help can be confusing.

If you suspect that your child's learning difficulties may require special assistance, please do not delay in finding support. The sooner you move forward the better your child's chances for reaching her full potential.

Trust your own instincts

Maybe you have wondered if you are overreacting, or if the situation will work itself out over time. The truth is, you know your child better than anybody else. And regardless of who may tell you that it's a "phase" or "nothing to worry about," only you know how much your child dreads Monday morning. You have watched the impact of daily struggles on her self-confidence. Deep down, you know something isn't right.

The only "wrong" thing to do is to do nothing. If you wait to seek help for your child, her frustration and sense of failure will continue to erode her self-esteem, while the window of time for meaningful intervention narrows.

There may be a number of reasons why your child is having a hard time. But what you are seeing could also indicate a learning disability. This does not mean your child is slow or less intelligent than her peers. Her brain is simply wired differently for learning and she needs to adapt strategies that make the most of her abilities. The earliest possible intervention is critical to her success in school.
 
Learn to recognize the signs of a potential learning disability. If you have observed several of these signs in your child, it's time to talk with her teacher.

Seeing the Signs

It is normal for parents to observe one of these signs in their children from time to time. But if your child consistently exhibits several of these signs, it is important for you to take action to get him the help that he needs.

Pre-School

In Pre-School, did your child have:
  • Problems pronouncing words?
  • Difficulty finding the right word?
  • Difficulty making rhymes?
  • Trouble learning numbers, alphabet, days of the week, colors and shapes?
  • Trouble concentrating?
  • Trouble interacting with peers?
  • Difficulty following directions or learning routines?
  • Difficulty controlling pencil, crayons, scissors?
  • Difficulty with buttoning, zipping, tying skills?

Grades K-4

Does your child. . .

  • Have trouble learning the connection between letters and sounds?
  • Confuse the reading of basic words? (run, eat, want)
  • Make consistent reading and spelling errors?
  • Experience difficulty learning basic math concepts?
  • Have trouble learning about time?
  • Take a long time to learn new skills?
  • Have trouble remembering facts?

Grades 5-8

Is your child having difficulty:

  • With reading comprehension or math skills?
  • With letter sequences? (soiled for solid, left for felt)
  • With prefixes, suffixes, root words and other spelling strategies?
  • Organizing his/her bedroom, notebook, papers, and desk?
  • Time management?
  • Keeping up with papers or assignments?
  • With handwriting?
  • Understanding oral discussions and expressing thoughts aloud?
It can be hard to acknowledge that your child is having difficulty in school—let alone admit to the possibility of a learning disability. Perhaps you have worried that by calling attention to your child's learning problems he might be labeled "slow" or a "discipline problem," or that he might be assigned to a less challenging class.
 
What many parents—and their children—don't realize is that most kids with learning disabilities are just as intelligent as their peers. Their brains are simply wired differently for learning. They need to be taught in ways that are best adapted to how they process information.
 
By understanding more about your child's learning problems, you are one step closer to getting the help you both need. Your child can still have hope for a wonderful future if given the proper tools and learning strategies.

 Adapted from the work of Coordinated Campaign for Learning Disabilities.

Checklist of Signs and Symptoms
Most people have problems with learning and behavior from time to time. During the school years, parents and educators should be on the alert for consistent (and persistent) patterns of difficulty that children and adolescents may experience over time as they may signal an underlying learning disability (LD). While variations in the course of development are to be expected, unevenness or lags in the mastery of skills and behaviors, even with children as young as 4 or 5, should not be ignored. And because LD can co-occur with other disorders, it's important to keep careful and complete records of observations and impressions so they can be shared among parent, educators and related service providers when making important decisions about needed services and supports.

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Reprinted with the permission of the National Center for Learning Disabilities. © 1999-2009 National Center for Learning Disabilities, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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