How can I tell if my child has a learning disability?

Sometimes what you worry may be a learning disability is just a temporary setback that your child will outgrow. But it's best not to wait and see. You'll be doing your child a favor if you trust your instincts and you don’t ignore the concerns you have now. Early intervention can make a big difference in your child's future.

During the preschool and kindergarten years, children learn at different rates and with different styles. But if your child has significant trouble with numbers, letters, or speech, he may have a learning disability. Learning disabilities are a category of disorders that stem from how the brain processes information, making it difficult to grasp some concepts.

A child with a learning disability may understand a story perfectly when it is read to him but will struggle to answer questions about it afterward. Another child might easily recite the alphabet from A to Z but be unable to name individual letters when they're pointed out. Still another child may have a hard time putting together puzzles, tying his shoes, or buttoning a sweater.

Children with learning disabilities usually have normal or above normal intelligence, but they have trouble expressing their knowledge. Because it is so difficult for children with learning disabilities to master certain tasks, they often experience frustration, anger, low self-esteem, and even depression. Your child may know just what he wants to accomplish – to say or write or do – but getting there isn't a straight path.

"Information going in the eyes and ears is somehow not translated correctly. What comes out is not the correct answer," says Ron Liebman, a child psychiatrist in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania. "We're talking about children with normal IQs."

What are the warning signs of a learning disability in children age 5 and under?

Learning disabilities are often grouped into three categories: speech or language disorders; problems with reading, writing, or math skills; and a range of other disorders such as problems with coordination, motor skills, or memory.

Sometimes it's clear that a child has one kind of disability, such as dyslexia or dyscalculia – disorders that impair reading and math abilities, respectively. But it's also common for children to have a combination of different disorders.

Attention deficit disorders are not by themselves learning disabilities. But children with learning disabilities frequently have attention problems, as well.

Early warning signs of a learning disability

Red flags that could indicate a learning disability in children age 5 and under include:

• Delayed speech

• Pronunciation problems
  

• Difficulty learning new words

•  Difficulty learning to read

• Trouble learning numbers, the alphabet, days of the week, or colors and shapes

•  Poor concentration

• Difficulty following directions

• Poor grasp of a crayon or pen

• Difficulty with buttoning, zipping, and tying

 

How can I have my child evaluated?

Diagnosing learning disabilities is controversial. Some experts believe they are overdiagnosed, a handy catchall for a host of normal differences in learning styles. Diagnosing learning disabilities in preschoolers and very young children is particularly controversial because they learn at such vastly different rates. According to Liebman, learning disabilities can't be firmly diagnosed until a child is in the third grade.

That doesn't mean you should ignore any concerns you have now. Early intervention can make a big difference in your child's academic future. If you're worried about your child's competence with reading, writing, numbers, or speech, talk about it with people who are familiar with your child, such as your child's teacher.

Teachers are usually adept at spotting the early warning signs of a learning disability. If your child's teacher hasn't already raised the issue with you, don't hesitate to bring up your concerns. Talk to your child's doctor, too.

Sometimes what you worry may be a learning disability is just a temporary setback that your child will outgrow. But it's best not to wait and see. You'll be doing your child a favor if you trust your instincts and talk to her teacher or doctor about getting an evaluation if her development seems off to you.

Your child will need a formal evaluation for learning disabilities – usually done by a child psychologist, neuropsychologist, neurodevelopmental pediatrician, or psychiatrist – to know for sure whether she has a problem. The evaluation is done in an office setting and takes a couple of hours. Your child will be asked to do various tasks using toys and educational materials.

Your public school district should be able to help arrange an evaluation. By law, every school district must have a procedure for identifying, assessing, and planning an educational program for kids with any kind of disability, including learning disabilities.

What can be done to help a child with learning disabilities?

Learning disabilities are permanent and don't go away. But much can be done to help your child compensate for the disability and learn to work around the problem. For instance, the teacher can present materials in different ways, and your child can practice skills over and over again in a setting that is supportive and patient. Children with learning disabilities can and do learn.

As a parent, one of the most important things you can do is support your child and assist with positive learning experiences. The goal is to focus on your child's strengths. If he struggles with the alphabet but loves animals, encourage that interest and help him become an animal expert.

Give your child lots of self-esteem boosts by encouraging his skills and passions. "Plan activities that you know your child can do and be successful at," says Nicki Arnold, a psychologist and mother of a son with learning disabilities. Arnold nurtured her son's love for skiing when he was just 5 and wasn't doing well academically.

Don't try to be an expert on treating learning disabilities yourself. Your job is to provide encouragement, love, and patience and to seek out experts who have the skills to help your child learn. If your child has been diagnosed, he should be eligible for special services. 

Consult with your child's teacher or local organizations serving children with disabilities.

Psychological counseling can also help. Children with learning disabilities often feel like failures, leading to low self-esteem. They are often frustrated, and their frustration can turn into anger. "The emotional or psychological issues are, in my mind, more important than learning that two plus two equals four," Liebman says. 

Parents need to learn how to handle their child's emotional outbursts. Although conventional wisdom says that you shouldn't encourage a child who's a tantrum or crying fit, this kind of emotional release can be beneficial for kids with learning disabilities. If you stay close to your child during these times and tell him that you love him and you know that things are hard for him, you show her that he doesn't have to struggle alone – you'll always be there to help him.

Remember to take care of yourself, too. Being the parent of a child with learning problems is stressful. Many disability organizations also have support groups and counseling for parents.

by Catherine Rauch

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Posted by Kids Are Special in LEARNING DISABILITIES

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