Parent and Family Coaching: A Learning Differences Diagnosis

As Albert Einstein said, “The only thing that interferes with my learning is my education.”

What are learning differences and how are they different from learning disabilities?

Commentary of the state of public education aside, “learning differences” is a broad term for individual challenges relating to processing new information. David Flink, founder of Eye to Eye, a mentoring community for those who learn differently, says one in five American students struggle with new reading, writing, speaking, and/or math concepts.

A learning disability is different from a learning difference; specifically, a learning disability is a specific diagnosis of:

• Dyslexia

• Dysgraphia

• Dyscalculia

• Auditory and/or Language Processing Disorder

• Nonverbal learning disabilities

• Visual Perception/Visual Motor Deficit

“I think it’s okay that we use broad terminology — but that it then connects to experiences,” Flink said. “Let’s not be afraid of the words. So whether you choose ‘learning disability’ or ‘learning difference,’ and one is more of a social construction and one is literally a term that we use for legal recourse at schools, it’s really easiest to understand this as brains are just hardwired in different ways. One in five people in America have a hardwiring that makes it difficult for them to do things like read and to work with numbers.”

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If you suspect learning accommodations like scribe assistance or extra exam time might be needed for your child, or if it’s been recommended to “have your child tested,” what does it all mean and what comes next? If your child’s school has a “response to intervention” process in place, and your child has arrived at Tier 3, assistance is needed beyond trying to move your child’s seat in the classroom to a quieter spot, or introducing a fidget toy for circle time.

First things first, the way one learns should not be intermingled with one’s intelligence or aptitude for success. So take a deep breath. Call your coach! The word “neurodivergent” just needs better branding. When I told a “friend” my child’s school recommended a formal educational evaluation for my youngest, said friend looked on me with pity and replied, “ohhhhh that’s ok.”

It is ok. In fact, taking a proactive approach to setting my child up to succeed is more than ok, Judgey. Next.

The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 made it illegal to discriminate on the basis of disability. Section 504 of this Act addresses equal access to education. If response to intervention has uncovered learning challenges, ask your child’s school if they have a resource to develop an individual education plan (IEP) for your child. Most likely the school will refer you on to a medical professional, as, you know, that law/Act is legit, and (most) no one likes a lawsuit.

The next stop is likely an appointment with your pediatrician for a referral to a developmental psychiatrist or similarly accredited professional. A medical report will be generated, including a diagnosis, and recommend an IEP, if needed, by drawing upon a variety of sources. First, a child developmental history form and caregiver language acquisition summary (your learning journey, first language, etc.) will need to be completed. Depending on your child’s developmental stage, you may be referred also to an audiologist or neurologist so your diagnostician can paint as detailed a medical picture as possible. Per the Learning Disabilities Association of America, “medical information must include hearing, vision, or motor difficulties that could be contributing to the acquisition of academic skills.” More resources can be found HERE

Other parts of the evaluation? Your child will be administered a test, or series of tests, often timed. Adaptive behavior will be observed, likely in-person with your child. Classroom or day-to-day teachers may be interviewed. These inputs, and sometimes others, should result in an report about your child’s strengths, and areas of opportunity, as he or is succeeds in a typical classroom environment.

Formulating a diagnosis can be timely, costly, and disruptive to your family schedule, so work with your coach on how to best support your child’s education journey within a framework that will set your family up to succeed.

An individual education plan or 504 Accommodations summary might recommend the following tools in support of a learning disability:

• Electronic spellers

• Speech input and output for computers

• Talking calculators

• Audiobooks

• Large-print books, captioned TV programs

Every family has it’s journey. Often times parents feel like they have failed a child with genetics or some other lack, without benefit to themselves, their children, or helping the situation. With knowledge comes power, and the fact you have gotten this far “learning more,” says you actually do want to help your situation.

I love the quote, “worry doesn’t equal love.” But positive momentum, showing your children how to be resilient, and practicing adaptability are all ways you can show up. And showing up absolutely shows love.

My biggest ask of my readers on this topic is to work on your communications skills. De-weaponize words like “learning differences” or “neurodivergent.” Do your homework. Coaching can help.