Learning Disability Testing: How It Can Change Your Child’s Academic Path?

An Undetected Struggle 

Learning disabilities affect millions of children in the United States, derailing the most important parts of education. Unfortunately, many of these struggles go unidentified until their impact is more severe. Children with disabilities may end up working twice as hard as their peers in school, while actively receiving lower grades and gaining little understanding of core topics. Naturally, they will begin to fall behind and may stay on a downward academic trajectory unless disability intervention is provided. In these situations, a child will commonly begin to develop feelings of confusion, frustration, and shame. The belief that they are simply “not smart enough” can set in. However, the answer to this issue lies in learning more information, starting with testing. 

What is A Learning Disability?

A learning disability is a neurological difference in how the brain processes certain types of information. It is absolutely not a reflection of a person’s intelligence. Learning disabilities create problems with processing, storing, and communicating specific information, not overall cognitive ability. Furthermore, a learning disability is not laziness, not a lack of effort, not a failure in parenting, and not something that a child will grow out of. Common learning disabilities include: 

• Dyslexia: the most common learning disability, affecting how the brain processes written and spoken language. A child with dyslexia may reverse letters, struggle to decode words, or read very slowly and with great effort despite good verbal skills.
• Dyscalculia: difficulty understanding numbers, number sense, and mathematical concepts. These children may struggle to tell time, count change, or recall basic math facts even after extensive practice.
• Dysgraphia: affects writing ability and fine motor coordination. Handwriting may be illegible, ideas may be strong verbally but nearly impossible to get onto paper, and the physical act of writing may be exhausting.
• Auditory Processing Disorder: The child’s hearing is perfectly fine, but their brain has trouble making sense of what it hears. Following verbal instructions in a noisy classroom can be particularly challenging.

The most crucial fact to remember is that none of these disabilities is a limitation on a child’s potential. They are only a description of how their unique brain functions. 

What Parents and Teachers Should Watch For

Children spend the majority of their days either at school with their teachers or at home with their parents. If something is amiss in their lives, they are typically the first to notice. When looking for signs of learning disabilities, one should look for both academic and behavioral red flags. 

Possible Academic Signs of Disability:

• Persistent difficulty with reading, writing, or math that does not improve with extra instruction/tutoring
• Trouble sounding out words or poor phonemic awareness in early readers
• Labored, slow reading with frequent errors or loss of place on the page
• Difficulty recalling information that was just taught, even minutes later
• Avoidance of reading aloud or reluctance to attempt written assignments
• Inconsistency (child seems to “get it” one day and completely forgets the next)

Possible Behavioral Signs of Disability:  

• Meltdowns or extreme resistance surrounding homework time
• Complaints of stomachaches or headaches on school days (a classic sign of school-related anxiety)
• Statements like “I’m stupid,” “I hate school,” or “I can’t do anything right.”
• Acting out or being disruptive in class as a way of avoiding academic tasks
• Withdrawal from friends, loss of interest in activities they once enjoyed

When considering how these signals relate to your child, understand that patterns are key. Every child has hard days and singular incidents. The repetition and consistency of these struggles is what should notify a trusted adult that there is more going on under the surface. This is also why communication between teachers and parents can be immensely helpful in identifying possible learning disabilities. 

Difficulties of Going Undiagnosed 

When a person with learning disabilities goes undiagnosed, their life in and out of school is greatly impacted. Academic data helps show the full effects of a lack of diagnosis. Students with learning disabilities graduate high school at a rate of 68%, compared to 81% for students without disabilities. Individuals with disabilities are three times more likely to drop out entirely. About one in three students will repeat at least one grade during their schooling. These numbers represent significant turning points in a child or adolescent’s life. These effects continue to ripple out towards college opportunities, career options, earning potential, and long-term independence. Unfortunately, academic difficulties are only a portion of the issues that come with being undiagnosed.

The psychological toll of going undiagnosed is just as serious. When a child spends years struggling without an explanation or support, they think that they have failed. By the time many of these children reach middle or high school, they have built an identity around the belief that they are incapable. Constant academic stress without understanding is a clear pathway to anxiety and depression. Without a diagnosis, a child develops questionable coping strategies. They learn to mask the struggle, avoid the work, or minimize how much it matters. None of which actually addresses what is happening or helps to remedy it. 

What Does the Testing Process Look Like?

The goal of disability testing is to understand how the child’s brain works. There are no right or wrong answers on this test! A skilled evaluator will work hard to make the child feel comfortable, curious, and safe throughout the process.

• Intake and gathering background: the evaluator meets with parents to collect a detailed history. Information such as developmental milestones, medical history, family background, and current concerns is discussed. Teachers may be asked to complete rating scales or behavior checklists as well.
• Record review: school records, report cards, prior evaluations, and teacher notes are all reviewed to build a full picture of the child’s academic history.
• Standardized testing: This is the core of the evaluation. A variety of validated assessments are used to measure cognitive ability, reading, writing, math, memory, attention, language processing, and fine motor skills. The tests are designed to be engaging and age-appropriate.

Once the testing is complete, parents receive a written report that explains the findings. This report identifies any diagnoses and describes the child’s unique cognitive profile. Most importantly, the report provides recommendations for both school accommodations and home strategies. 

School Testing vs. Private Evaluation

Many parents are surprised to learn that they have more than one option when having their child evaluated. Understanding the difference between the two can help families make the best decision for their situation. 

School-based testing:

Any parent can formally request an evaluation from their child’s school in writing, and under federal law, the school is required to respond within a specific timeframe.  The school will either conduct the evaluation or respond with why they don’t believe an evaluation is necessary. This is a great starting point for families who are wondering whether their child may have a learning disability. However, it is important to note that this test’s purpose is to determine whether a child qualifies for special education services under the school’s criteria. 

Private evaluation:

A private evaluation, conducted by a licensed psychologist, is another path to understand a child’s learning and whether they have a disability.  Licensed psychologists explore what a child struggles with, why they struggle, and how their specific cognitive functions shape the way they learn, process, and retain information. The resulting report carries significant weight when advocating for accommodations at school, and it can also assist tutoring approaches, therapeutic support, and parenting strategies at home. 

How A Diagnosis Can Change Everything 

The most powerful thing a diagnosis does is shift perspective. Suddenly, years of frustration and struggle have an explanation that changes everything. The child is not lazy. They are not unmotivated. They have been working incredibly hard within a system that did not have the tools to help them excel. A formal diagnosis opens the door to accommodations that can genuinely transform a child’s academic experience. It also empowers parents by giving them the knowledge of how their child’s brain works. They can more confidently advocate for their child when they understand what they need. A diagnosis is not a limit on what a child can do; it is a starting point from which progress can finally begin.

Get A Learning Disability Test from A Child Therapist in Englewood, Littleton, Denver, Greenwood Village, and Across the State

If your child has been struggling in school and you are not sure why, testing can be the first step toward real answers. Our team is here to help you understand how your child learns and what they need to thrive. Reach out today to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward changing your child’s academic path. You can start your therapy journey with Mountain Vista Psychology by following these simple steps:

• Contact us today to schedule a consultation
• Meet with a caring therapist
• Start receiving the support you deserve!

Other Services Offered by Mountain Vista Psychology

Learning disability testing is just one of the many services our team offers across Littleton, Englewood, Hampden, and Greenwood Village, as well as online. For children who have received a learning disability diagnosis, we offer a range of supportive services to help them thrive, including child counseling, teen counseling, and family therapy. We also provide ADHD therapy for children, teens, and adults, as well as ADHD testing for those who may need further evaluation. Additional services include autism testing, adult counseling, grief counseling, and therapeutic yoga. For those interested in brain-based approaches, we also offer neurofeedback therapy, including targeted neurofeedback for ADHD, anxiety, concussion and TBI recovery, and sports or performance enhancement. Services are available both in-person and online. Read through the Mountain Vista blog for more helpful information and resources.