Your child is struggling, you already know that. So, why bother
with all this testing? Differential diagnosis, or teasing out all of
the factors, is complicated. Often, there is more than one thing going
on in a complex learning profile.
For example, the dysfluent reader may be distractible, not dyslexic. A
child who really has a memory/recall problem may look like they
are “not trying hard enough.”
The child who
appears restless and slow in completing written seatwork/homework may
have a bona fide processing speed problem or dysgraphia. A
student with a learning disability may appear inattentive and
off-task, but is actually
struggling with keeping up and is lost in the classroom
lecture. Notes/assignments may not be accurately written down
from the board, not because of boredom or forgetfulness, but because of visual-spatial or motor processing speed issues.
Early identification is very important. Often, a
“wait-and-see” approach results in a downward spiral of
demoralization, frustration, and lost time for both the student and
parent. Children frequently begin to form false conclusions about
their capabilities and they truly suffer needlessly. The relationship between
parent and child also can suffer. Neuropsychological Assessment is an
investment in your child’s educational and emotional well-being.
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