I am a Certified School Psychologist. I have evaluated about 1,000 students for various educational disabilities. Without a doubt the most frequent of which has been Learning Disabilities. If you are looking for an unbiased, unpolitical, accurate, factual account of what a Learning Disability is, and what you can do about it, then this article is for you!

In this article I will answer the following frequently asked questions :

1) What is dyslexia?

2) How do I know if my child has a Learning Disability in reading?

3) I think my child has a Learning Disability, what should I do next?

4) If my child does have a Learning Disability, what should I expect from the school?

QUESTION #1 : What is dyslexia?

One of the common misconceptions about "dyslexia" is that it refers to a person reading words backwards. While this does happen with some students, dyslexia is actually a reference to a much broader problem known as a Reading Disability.

QUESTION #2 : How do I know if my child has a Learning Disability in reading?

This question can only be answered by a school psychologist and determined by the special education committee (of which the parent is a member). However, there are certain signs to look for. These signs are not proof of a Learning Disability, but may give you an idea of what to look for.

Kindergarten - Does your child struggle with letters and letter sounds?

1st - 2nd grade - Does your child struggle with sounding out words, or with phonics rules?

3rd grade and beyond - Does your child struggle with reading fluently?

As you probably noticed, I have left out math and writing issues. I have done this for a reason. Because over 95% of students with Learning Disabilities struggle mainly with reading. Writing issues are also very common but I believe these are secondary to the reading issue.

QUESTION #3 : What should I do next?

Forget what you heard from other parents, your physician or any one else who told you about what you should do, and take the advice of someone who actually knows! If you think your child has a Learning Disability, the first step is to approach your school counselor, building principal or building psychologist and request a "CST" meeting. CST, or Child Support Team is a group of professionals at the school such as your child's teacher, the principal, reading specialists, psychologist, counselor and other professionals who come together, and use their combined knowledge to brainstrorm interventions to help your child become more successful in school. If these interventions are not successful after 6-8 weeks, then it may be time to talk about doing testing with the psychologist!

While laws and criteria for qualifying for this disability differ slightly from state to state and in different school districts, in general they are looking for the same thing. The standard evaluation for a Learning Disability involves many types of evaluation procedures, although the two most important include an achievement test (reading, writing, mathematics) and IQ testing. A comparison is made between the IQ score and achievement scores to determine if there is a significant discrepancy between the two. In addition, the psychologist will also look at available data in some cases to determine if the student is progressing at a normal rate, or if they are failing to make progress in spite of educational interventions. Once the psychologist has completed the evaluation, they will make recommendations as to the child's educational placement.

QUESTION #4 : What should I expect to happen if my child qualifies for special education as a student with a Learning Disability?

If your child qualifies they will receive an "IEP" (Individualized Education Plan). This means they will have goals specifically written for them that the special education teacher will attempt to meet.

In general in Elementary schools, your child will be taken into a smaller classroom for a portion of the day (usually 60 minutes) to be given extra instruction in the area they struggle in (usually reading). At the High School and Middle School level, they will be given a special classroom they can attend to get help with classes they are struggling in.

SOME TIPS FOR PARENTS

- Attend ALL meetings, ask a LOT of questions.

- Don't be afraid to speak up if you don't agree, YOU are a member of the team!

- Spend a LOT of time with your child at home working on their reading skills. Don't expect the teachers to do all the work.

- Focus on the basics! Letters, letter sounds, phonics, and lots of reading!

- Teach your children vocabulary EVERY DAY!

- Get rid of video games, music and television! Your children don't need them! They are a waste of time!

- Feed them healthy foods only. Junk food hurts their academic performance!