How to Diagnose a Learning Disability in Children
The term "learning disability" is a broad classification applied to a number of disorders that may adversely affect a person's motor skills (such as hand-eye coordination), memory, focus or ability to process certain forms of information (such as written words). Learning disabilities typically manifest at a young age and pose distinct challenges to parents and educators. While only licensed professionals--including physicians and clinical psychologists--can accurately diagnose a learning disorder or related condition such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), parents can watch for certain symptoms to determine whether or not their children ought to be tested.
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Instructions
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Collect and review the child's school work spanning a period of weeks to months. Does he show consistently poor performance in certain subjects or on a specific type of assignment (such as essays or reading-comprehension exercises)?
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Observe or assist the child with her homework. Is she frequently confused by written instructions? Does she read and/or write at an extremely slow pace, or struggle with abstract concepts or calculating simple math problems in her head? Does she have difficulty staying focused? Does the child lack organizational skills? Does she frequently confuse one letter or mathematical symbol (such as a plus or "divided by" sign) with another? Continue to observe the child's progress over a span of days to weeks to determine that any apparent symptoms are not simply isolated occurrences.
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If the child repeatedly exhibits one or more of the symptoms described above, have his vision and hearing checked by a medical professional.
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Consult a physician, clinical psychologist or other licensed professional who can accurately diagnose a learning disability or ADHD. Do so if the child's vision and hearing are normal.
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References
- Photo Credit Young child learning to write her name image by levo from Fotolia.com
