What Helps Learning Disorders?

A learning disorder can make school, and life, very hard for a child. Parents and teacher want to help, but it is hard to know where to start. Compared to other disorders, there is little information about learning disorders available. Here are some ideas about helping your child:

• If you think your child has a learning disorder, but you are not sure, get your child evaluated as soon as possible. Talk to your child's teacher, the principal at your child's school and your child's doctor. Your child will need an assessment by a professional. Your child will need to complete intelligence and achievement testing. Clinical or school psychologists often do this testing.
• If your child has been diagnosed with a learning disorder, look into special education services. Your child may qualify for IEP or 504 accommodations at school. The public school system is required to provide an evaluation for special education services free of charge.
• If your child qualifies for an IEP or 504, there are many services and accommodations that the school can provide free of charge to help children with learning disorders do well. You can work with staff at your child's school to create a custom plan to help your child. Review the plan with your child on a regular basis to make sure it is helping. Here is a list of things that may help:
• Having teacher read instructions out loud
• Having an aide read to your child
• Allow child to give verbal responses, not written
• Allow for extra time for tests
• Allow frequent breaks during the day
• Break tests up over several days
• Break large assignments up into smaller assignments
• Large print in written materials
• Let child use calculator for all math assignments
• Allow child to have an index card with multiplication tables or math formulas on it
• Allow child to type assignments, tests, and notes
• Allow child to dictate assignments, tests or notes
• Your child may benefit from help outside of school. Tutors can provide the one on one help and patience your child needs.
• Practice acceptance. Help your child learn to accept and overcome their learning challenges. Emphasis that having a learning disorder does not mean your child is not intelligent. Encourage your child to do his/her best.
• Encourage practice. Practice may not mean perfect, but it can make things that are challenging easier. Many times when things are hard, like reading, children want to stop doing them. Encourage your child to try things that are hard on a regular basis. This does not mean forcing your child to read, but encouraging regular effort. Reward and praise your child's effort, not their output. Any attempt at doing something difficult should be rewarded and praised.