Parents, grandparents, and teachers can be helpful in identifying learning disabilities if they notice unusual or abnormal problems that occur in a child's behavior. I had one child who developed a tic in his face that the parents thought was related to his favorite grandparent's death. I referred the boy to an excellent child psychologist and in testing she found quite a severe learning disability. Another child started refusing to go to school and he, too, was found to have a significant learning disability.
Children with autism or some other disability, as spina bifida or Duchenne muscular dystrophy, can have an accompanying learning disability. It is important to note that a teacher may ask that a child be tested by a school psychologist because of his or her concern about the child's learning ability. Unfortunately, some schools use individuals for testing who are not qualified educational psychologists. I can remember arguing with a school principal about a child who I was sure had a learning disability. When I used grant money to have the child tested by an excellent child psychologist, the learning disability was identified and we were able to get the child some special help. Some principals don't want to use school funds for adequate testing and also some parents do not want a child identified as having a learning disability. Brilliant people who have achieved remarkable things have had some difficultly with reading or writing. However with special help they can learn to handle their problems and achieve great things. I have a friend who is the world's expert in her particular field, but she said she didn't know she was smart until a special teacher helped her and she got needed help. Each of us has areas in which we excel and others in which we don't. Parents and teachers can change a child's life if they detect a learning disability that can be helped with the a learning specialist.
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