Do you think my daughter has a learning disability?

Question

My daughter is 9 1/2 and in 3rd grade (late birthday). She still doesn’t know her d's from her b's. The school and I have had her tested for ADHD and they say nothing in wrong with her, that she is just slower than others. Every time she brings homework home she has NO clue how to do it. I can not afford a private tutor or school. What should I do?

Answer 1

Try applying the information to her in a way that she can understand. Use real life situations in her work, that draw in her life to the problems.

Let's say she is having trouble with math. Multiplication, even. Try asking her a simple question like 3x10. If she can't figure it out, try explaining it this way.

"If you have three friends who each have 10 dollars, how much money do they have all together?"

I'm sure she will catch up, but encouragement and support is the best medicine.

Answer 2

It sounds like dyslexia. My 8 year old daughter is the same way with homework. I'm like "did you even go to school today?". I feel like she just doesn't pay attention. We have started adding 30 extra minutes of working on things that she doesn't understand. just keep doing them over and over...

Answer 3

Have your daughter's brain been examined using CT-Scan? It could be some problem with the brain. If there's no problem with the brain, maybe your daughter doesn't like to study, but her interest is more on practical things like dancing, ballet, etc. Hope it can help.

Answer 4

maybe she has dyslexia.

call your doctor's office and ask the nurse if the doctor can test for learning disablities (that way you don't waste an appointment going in, if he can't do much).

Answer 5

i would take her to a pedatric dr. if shes slow at catching on she very well have ADD/ADHD there is a reason she is remedal classes so was i and you got to be careful if she is on any antidepressants they put my friends kid on it and when we looked it up on the internet it said that that med. has caused alot of deaths in children always aalways look up your childs meds.online add-er-all was the med. my friends child was on you can look up... the dangers of......nameof childs med online or how many deaths it has caused if you know anyone else spread the word these poor kids are dieing because lack of knoledge about side affects and dangers of their childs meds.

Answer 6

maybe she has dyslexia symptoms

Answer 7

If she gets headaches, I would have her eyes tested.  Also, in the 3rd grade, it is still common to reverse b and d as well as E and 3.  Trouble reading and doing school work is not a sign of ADHD and I would not worry about that.  You may want to push the school to test for a learning disability.  Children who are of average intelligence with supportive families sometimes have problems learning because there brains see things differently.  Public schools in the States have special classes for these students.  

I would get her eyes tested, talk to her doctor, and maybe give her some more time to mature.  The big question here is, can she read, and if she can, is she at grade level? If she can not read, the school needs to get her additional help to teach her how too!

Answer 8

Yeah- I'd say dyslexia too. Are you sure it's not her hearing or her vision? I know in FL if your child is attending a D or F rated school (failing school) then you automatically quailifiy for a free scholarship to a private school. You could call private schools and see if they have any scholarships available to lower income families.In the meantime try starting with her Dr. He'll be able to refer you for further testing.

Answer 9

Sorry to hear that , You may want to have her checked out for Dyslexia ,I mean she might be seing the letters and numbers backwords!!!

Hope everything works out O.K.

Godspeed and Good Luck!!!

Answer 10

It sounds very much like your daughter has dyslexia.   It is common for children in kindergarten and even first grade to mix up their "b"s and "d"s.  But once they are in second grade, this should no longer be happening.

By law, your school district MUST provide testing if there is any kind of learning problem.  If the school itself is not being cooperative, you may want to talk to the superintendent of schools in your district.  You really need to be a strong advocate for your little girl in this situation.  If she has trouble learning because of this disability, she will NEVER feel successful in school, and it will get harder and harder as she progresses through the higher grades.  Please get her tested, so that the teachers can begin teaching her in an appropriate way for dyslexic children.

Answer 11

I have a granddaughter (i am raising her) and we are also going through the same thing. She is in the 4th grade. She also has trouble learning her math facts. The teacher in 3rd grade suspected dyslexia and we spent all year trying to get enough paperwork together to get her tested through the school. well it is the end of the 4th grade and she still is not been tested...I have stopped working and I am teaching her after school every day! I gave up on the school system...thye only concentrate on getting the students ready for the state tests. This is not fair to any child. In my experiences, teachers do not want to spend the extra time helping these children having difficulties learning, they have to get the class ready to pass state tests or they lose their funding through the state. I download extra help for my child off the internet and she is finally catching up!! Hang in there!!

Answer 12

It sounds like your child might have a learning difficulty (other than ADHD) - perhaps you could talk to the special education teacher at your school if you have one and ask her advice, or ask if there are any other learning difficulties that your daughter should be tested for.

Otherwise, your daughter could just be someone who will struggle at school. Her teacher should be able to adapt the curriculum to her needs - perhaps you could approach the teacher and ask her how the curriculum could be adapted to her individual needs.

It is really not your job to be your child's teacher. Homework should serve the purpose of practicing skills that the children already know. It must be really difficult to try to be teaching your child at home. I would also tell the teacher that her homework is just too hard, and tell the teacher that you really feel like you are teaching her. Hopefully the teacher will understand where you are coming from and will try to give your daughter more support.

Answer 13

here is some info about learning disabilities

What are Learning Disabilities?

Learning disability is a general term that describes specific kinds of learning problems. A learning disability can cause a person to have trouble learning and using certain skills. The skills most often affected are: reading, writing, listening, speaking, reasoning, and doing math.

Learning disabilities (LD) vary from person to person. One person with LD may not have the same kind of learning problems as another person with LD. Sara, in our example above, has trouble with reading and writing. Another person with LD may have problems with understanding math. Still another person may have trouble in each of these areas, as well as with understanding what people are saying.

Researchers think that learning disabilities are caused by differences in how a person's brain works and how it processes information. Children with learning disabilities are not "dumb" or "lazy." In fact, they usually have average or above average intelligence. Their brains just process information differently.

The definition of "learning disability" just below comes from the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The IDEA is the federal law that guides how schools provide special education and related services to children with disabilities. The special help that Sara is receiving is an example of special education.

There is no "cure" for learning disabilities. They are life-long. However, children with LD can be high achievers and can be taught ways to get around the learning disability. With the right help, children with LD can and do learn successfully.

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IDEA's Definition of "Learning Disability"

Our nation's special education law, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, defines a specific learning disability as . . .

". . . a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, that may manifest itself in an imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or do mathematical calculations, including conditions such as perceptual disabilities, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, and developmental aphasia."

However, learning disabilities do not include, "…learning problems that are primarily the result of visual, hearing, or motor disabilities, of mental retardation, of emotional disturbance, or of environmental, cultural, or economic disadvantage." 34 Code of Federal Regulations §300.7(c)(10)

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How Common are Learning Disabilities?

Very common! As many as 1 out of every 5 people in the United States has a learning disability. Almost 3 million children (ages 6 through 21) have some form of a learning disability and receive special education in school. In fact, over half of all children who receive special education have a learning disability (Twenty-fourth Annual Report to Congress, U.S. Department of Education, 2002).

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What are the Signs of a Learning Disability?

There is no one sign that shows a person has a learning disability. Experts look for a noticeable difference between how well a child does in school and how well he or she could do, given his or her intelligence or ability. There are also certain clues that may mean a child has a learning disability. We've listed a few below. Most relate to elementary school tasks, because learning disabilities tend to be identified in elementary school. A child probably won't show all of these signs, or even most of them. However, if a child shows a number of these problems, then parents and the teacher should consider the possibility that the child has a learning disability.

When a child has a learning disability, he or she:

may have trouble learning the alphabet, rhyming words, or connecting letters to their sounds;

may make many mistakes when reading aloud, and repeat and pause often;

may not understand what he or she reads;

may have real trouble with spelling;

may have very messy handwriting or hold a pencil awkwardly;

may struggle to express ideas in writing;

may learn language late and have a limited vocabulary;

may have trouble remembering the sounds that letters make or hearing slight differences between words;

may have trouble understanding jokes, comic strips, and sarcasm;

may have trouble following directions;

may mispronounce words or use a wrong word that sounds similar;

may have trouble organizing what he or she wants to say or not be able to think of the word he or she needs for writing or conversation;

may not follow the social rules of conversation, such as taking turns, and may stand too close to the listener;

may confuse math symbols and misread numbers;

may not be able to retell a story in order (what happened first, second, third); or

may not know where to begin a task or how to go on from there.

If a child has unexpected problems learning to read, write, listen, speak, or do math, then teachers and parents may want to investigate more. The same is true if the child is struggling to do any one of these skills. The child may need to be evaluated to see if he or she has a learning disability.

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What About School?

Learning disabilities tend to be diagnosed when children reach school age. This is because school focuses on the very things that may be difficult for the child — reading, writing, math, listening, speaking, reasoning. Teachers and parents notice that the child is not learning as expected. The school may ask to evaluate the child to see what is causing the problem. Parents can also ask for their child to be evaluated.

With hard work and the proper help, children with LD can learn more easily and successfully. For school-aged children (including preschoolers), special education and related services are important sources of help. School staff work with the child's parents to develop an Individualized Education Program, or IEP. This document describes the child's unique needs. It also describes the special education services that will be provided to meet those needs. These services are provided at no cost to the child or family.

Supports or changes in the classroom (sometimes called accommodations) help most students with LD. Some common accommodations are listed below in "Tips for Teachers". Assistive technology can also help many students work around their learning disabilities. Assistive technology can range from "low-tech" equipment such as tape recorders to "high-tech" tools such as reading machines (which read books aloud) and voice recognition systems (which allow the student to "write" by talking to the computer).

It's important to remember that a child may need help at home as well as in school. The resources listed below will help families and teachers learn more about the many ways to help children with learning disabilities.

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Tips for Parents

Learn about LD. The more you know, the more you can help yourself and your child. See the list of resources and organizations at the end of this publication.

Praise your child when he or she does well. Children with LD are often very good at a variety of things. Find out what your child really enjoys doing, such as dancing, playing soccer, or working with computers. Give your child plenty of opportunities to pursue his or her strengths and talents.

Find out the ways your child learns best. Does he or she learn by hands-on practice, looking, or listening? Help your child learn through his or her areas of strength.

Let your child help with household chores. These can build self-confidence and concrete skills. Keep instructions simple, break down tasks into smaller steps, and reward your child's efforts with praise.

Make homework a priority. Read more about how to help your child be a success at homework. (See resource list at the end.)

Pay attention to your child's mental health (and your own!). Be open to counseling, which can help your child deal with frustration, feel better about himself or herself, and learn more about social skills.

Talk to other parents whose children have learning disabilities. Parents can share practical advice and emotional support. Call NICHCY (1.800.695.0285) and ask how to find parent groups near you. Also let us put you in touch with the parent training and information (PTI) center in your state.

Meet with school personnel and help develop an educational plan to address your child's needs. Plan what accommodations your child needs, and don't forget to talk about assistive technology!

Establish a positive working relationship with your child's teacher. Through regular communication, exchange information about your child's progress at home and at school.

Answer 14

There should be tutors or a teacher willing to tutor at the school. Or you could meet her teacher after school and go over the material with her. That way you know whats going on too and she'll get extra one on one help. Some kids dont learn well in groups. Your daughter may need some extra time with her teacher alone to grasp the material. That way she can ask questions and wont go home confused. Also if you know the material you can help her at home. Make it a routine to sit down with her after dinner to look over homework and talk about her day at school. Good luck