Research indicates that parental reaction to the diagnosis of learning disability is more pronounced than in any other area of exceptionality. However, the pre-school development of the learning disabled child is often uneventful and the parent does not suspect that a problem exists. When informed of the problem by elementary school personnel, a parent's first reaction is generally to deny the existence of a disability. This denial is, of course, unproductive. Research conducted by Eleanor Whitehead suggests that the parent of an LD child goes through a series of emotions before truly accepting the child and his problem.
Some parents skip over stages while others remain in one stage for an extended period.
It's not from my side of the family. No one else understands. Again, the pattern of these reactions is totally unpredictable. This can make communication very difficult. The good news is that with proper help, most LD children can make excellent progress.