Getting Treatment for your Child

Maybe you’ve noticed that your child is struggling in school, or is even reluctant to go to school. Maybe you’ve received feedback that your child is having trouble paying attention in the classroom. These behaviors can be a sign of an undiagnosed learning disability. 

Historically, learning disabilities remain under-diagnosed. Boys can often “act out” when they find they can’t follow the lesson, while girls may withdraw completely. Keep in mind, teachers may not recognize any signs of a learning disability, so it is important to avoid dismissing the possibility until you are sure of your child’s academic situation.

The first reaction of many parents is to wait and see if the situation corrects itself. Yet, the earlier a learning disability is diagnosed, the sooner proper interventions can happen to give your child the support they need to succeed and learn. While it is never too late, it is best to start interventions early, to prevent your child from falling further behind. 

The Evaluation 

The first step is to have your child evaluated. You can obtain an evaluation through the following sources:

  1. Your school district. This is usually free, however, some school districts do not put a specific diagnosis on the evaluations they give (this practice is being challenged in the courts). Nonetheless, it is important to obtain a specific diagnosis to identify the specific support your child will need.

  2. A private practitioner (such as a neurologist). This is the “gold standard” approach. These full neurological evaluations can be cost-prohibitive, but will provide the most complete picture of your child’s learning profile. Some insurance carriers will cover the test. Alternatively, you can see if the provider will be willing to accept a payment plan. If you are food- or home-insecure, see if the provider will be willing to provide this service for free (“pro bono”). Nonetheless, the cost of the evaluation will be outweighed by the significance of the very specific information about your child’s disability. A thorough evaluation can indicate the issues your child is having, even if it isn’t a specific learning disability.

  3. A qualified special education teacher. Some schools may have a teacher who has been specifically trained to evaluate children for learning disabilities. Take advantage of this resource if your school offers this. 

  4. The internet has “tests” which can be used to point toward a problem. These tests do not provide a diagnosis and are typically associated with sites that are selling treatment. While there is nothing wrong with trying this approach, be careful to understand the terms of service. Recognize that the “test” is not comprehensive, and may not identify important nuances about your child’s learning style. This is not the most thorough form of an evaluation, but can certainly be a good option if you do not have access to other resources.

Updating Your Evaluation 

Your child’s needs may change over time, and the learning plan may need to be updated occasionally. Updating the evaluation every 3-5 years can track your child’s progress and determine if any changes to their learning plan would be beneficial. 

What is a learning plan? 

A learning plan enumerates the set of action steps that your school must put in place in order to support your child’s best interests and ensure that your child is learning in the most beneficial environment possible. A learning plan can include items such as meeting with a literacy specialist a certain number of times per week, being seated at the front of the class, or many other approaches. A common mitigation is extended time, which recognizes that there are numerous reasons why children may need more time to take tests. These reasons include everything from test anxiety to a learning disability. Every child’s learning plan is unique to their own particular needs.

Implementing The Recommendations 

The evaluation should include specific next steps to take. If the evaluation includes a diagnosis, your child may be eligible for an Individual Education Program (IEP): a customized approach to address the specific learning needs identified for your child. Common interventions include regular sessions with a trained literacy specialist, speech and language therapist or other specialized educator. If your child has a diagnosis, he or she has the legal right to receive these services for free. Ensure that you work with your child’s school to form a plan of action for your child’s development. 

What to do if you run into roadblocks

If the school district is not cooperative, there are many attorneys who are willing to work pro bono to move your case forward. (This is because if they win the case, the School District will be required to pay their work fees.) You can find these attorneys by googling “Legal Aid Special Education” or “Special Education Attorneys” for your city or town.

THEY DON’T GROW OUT OF IT

Many parents believe that a learning disability is a temporary situation. Sometimes, well-meaning individuals will say things like, “Oh, don’t worry, they’ll grow out of it.” Nothing could be further from the truth. This erroneous belief can lead some parents to leave their child undiagnosed and untreated. Having a learning disability is not something that ever goes away. It always exists, but through repetitive and tailored learning strategies, it may become less apparent over time. It is important to recognize that if your child has a learning disability, they have it for life, and it is your job to help them get the resources necessary to help them learn and achieve their full potential.  

Support

Although this process may be new or confusing to you as a parent or guardian, please remember that your child is struggling and needs your help, love, and support! The result of helping your child grow with a learning disability is worth the complexity of the process and they will be grateful for the time, effort, and resources, you provide for them.