Early intervention in all areas of learning disability is a key component to helping your child successfully meet the challenges that lie ahead in the school setting. Parents are a child s first and best teachers and they are often the ones to identify the early signs of a learning disability. Although there is no typical profile of a child with a learning disability, some common characteristics are frequently noted among these children. Misreads information Assessments and testing for children who exhibit signs of a learning disability When a learning disability is suspected, based on parent and or teacher observations, a formal evaluation of the child is necessary. A parent can request this evaluation or it may be advised by the school.
Parental consent is needed before a child can be tested for a learning disability.
There are a variety of assessment tests for evaluating learning disabilities. Prior to any formal testing a conference is usually arranged between the child s parents and representatives from the special education department. Parents often feel intimidated or overwhelmed during this period so it is a good idea to write down any questions or thoughts that you wish to discuss before you get to the meeting. Don t be afraid to ask for more complete explanations if you are unclear about what a specialist is telling you. Just as there are many different types of learning disabilities, there are a variety of tests that may be administered to your child in an attempt to pinpoint the problem areas.