You're worried

Perhaps you don’t know what to call your child’s problem in school, but you are worried about his progress. Perhaps the teacher has commented that s/he is not paying attention or is not keeping up. Perhaps s/he is spending too much time on home work (or not enough). Perhaps s/he studies hard for tests, but still does not do well. Perhaps she talks to friends too much in class. You know there is a school problem, but at this point, you can’t say whether your child has a learning disability or disorder, or other specific kind of learning problem. At this point, you need some general input.

As you read through the website we will discuss in some detail the ways learning problems are assessed and remediated. However, in the meantime, when it comes to evaluation, your choices can be summarized in the following ways:

1. Get an IEP through school by requesting an assessment at your local public school. The purpose of the process is to establish eligibility for special services, and to describe and recommend interventions to promote learning in school.
   
   
2. Seek an evaluation with a private educational specialist referred by your pediatrician. Educational psychologists usually focus on whether or not a child has a learning disability, and what to do about it.
   
   
3. Go to a psychiatrist or psychologist for a very general evaluation around school and perhaps behavior problems. Psychologists and psychiatrists will consider the full range of diagnostic possibilities impacting learning and performance. If testing is needed, the psychiatrist can refer to a psychologist. Conversely, if medication might be helpful, the psychologists can refer to a psychiatrist.

It should be noted that skilled professionals in many settings are well aware of the diagnostic and treatment possibilities impacting school participation and performance. When they cannot directly provide the service needed, they are free to refer you to other professionals who can meet your child’s needs. Professionals in any community are used to working together on complex learning cases. You should be prepared to ask about options when it comes to assessment, treatment, and service. And you should not be shy in asking for the probable costs for services outside of public agencies.

Once the evaluation has been done, you will be told how your child’s problems might be characterized and what to do about them. By reading the sections on this website on the various diagnostic labels, however, you will get an idea of what kinds of intervention might be recommended. Many are provided through the school, which must provide a free and appropriate public education (sometimes referred to as "FAPE"). Others might be accessed through other public agencies or privately in the community.

Or perhaps even after assessment you are still not satisfied that your child’s difficulties are understood or will be adequately addressed. Or perhaps even after intervention, you may feel that your child’s problems are not well characterized or treated. We hope that by perusing this website, you will get some ideas of what you might do, or who you might see.