When a Parent Suspects a Disability
Many times, a parent may suspect that something is wrong long before testing takes place. Often, though, the parents deny this thought that something may be wrong until a teacher or doctor mentions something and suggests testing. If a parent suspects a problem, discussing the issue with the teacher and pediatrician is the first step to ensure that there is indeed something different about the child’s ability or interaction.
Parents who are watching for the warning signs of a learning disability may be the first to notice that something may not be quite right with their child. Some of the signs to watch for include:
- Poor grades
- Sick a lot, resulting in a lot of absences from school
- Lot of fighting at homework time
- Lying about not having any homework
- Hiding graded work or avoiding talking about school
While these signs are not a guarantee that a child has a learning disability, many students who have learning disabilities show these signs prior to being diagnosed.
The child who is struggling in school due to a learning disability will often feel like he is failing, and will try to hide or avoid school and school work. If in fact the child has a learning disability, addressing these issues as discipline or laziness problems will not solve the problem. In fact, disciplining the child may make the problems worse.
Continue reading: What parents should do next if they suspect a disability.
