Parents often struggle with what to do when they learn their child has received a special needs diagnosis. To help parents improve the quality of life for their children with autism, dyslexia, ADHD and other learning disabilities, we've assembled these helpful tips!
1. Make an appointment with your child's teacher. A simple phone call, email, or even a note may work wonders.
Jot down a list of detailed questions to gather information about your child's academic weaknesses and ask about any social or emotional problems and the teacher's observations of any physical clues that there may be a problem. Ask the teacher if she feels your child could benefit from an independent education program or any special needs classes.
2. Make an appointment with your pediatrician. Be sure to request a longer-than-usual appointment.
You will want plenty of time to talk in detail about your concerns, to gather feedback from the doctor and to get referrals for specialists.
3. Make an appointment for a cognitive skills assessment. Unlike tutoring, which focuses on specific subject matter, cognitive skills training, also known as brain training, addresses the root cause of learning struggles -- weak cognitive skills.
For example, with ADHD, the weakest skill is usually attention. Similarly, with autism spectrum disorder, weaknesses in processing speed, short-term memory and logic and reasoning are common.
4. Evaluate your current efforts. Make a quick list of how your family spends its time on work, school, sports, extracurricular activities, church, homework and entertainment. Look for patterns that could be improved.
5. Get some real support through networking. It is important to find a balance between emotional support and solution sharing.
If you can't find a group that seems proactive in seeking improvement, form your own!
Parents should know it is natural to feel stuck when they are overwhelmed by a diagnosis. Take the initiative to find out which direction might prove most helpful in treating the root cause, addressing the symptoms or improving the quality of life for your child. Don't delay; get started today!
