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Language Based Learning Disability

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Your child’s smart but has unexpected struggles.  There is a subset of children who have language based learning disabilities which interfere with learning.  Language infiltrates all areas of life from our thinking to our talking. When a child has difficulty processing language, they often struggle in reading, spelling, writing, or with math word problems since these all require language.

Language Based Learning Disability

A language-based learning disability refers to a spectrum of difficulties related to the understanding and use of spoken and written language.  A language-based learning disability is often the root cause of a child’s academic struggles since weak language skills impede comprehension, oral and written communication.  It can also interfere with your child’s attention, memory, social skills, perseverance, and self-regulation. A child can have a general language-based learning disability or a specific type such as dyslexia or dysgraphia.

Warning Signs

Warning signs of a language-based learning disability in young children include: a history of a speech and language impairment (remediated or ongoing), poor phonics, slow choppy reading, poor reading comprehension, difficulty following multi-step verbal directions, difficulty putting thoughts into writing, forgetting small sight words, knowing what to say but difficulty getting it out, difficulty getting to the point when speaking, and poor test performance despite having studied.

Some students with language-based learning disabilities are diagnosed young while other children perform well in early elementary school and are diagnosed later when the demands of language in middle or high school increase.  In addition, adolescents with a language-based learning disability have difficulty managing the heavy reading load from multiple classes.

Instruction

Most individuals with a language-based learning disability need instruction that is specialized, explicit, structured, and multisensory, as well as ongoing, guided practice aimed at helping their specific areas of weakness.  School is often a struggle for kids with a language-based learning disability but once you get them through school, these smart kids inherit a world of opportunities.

If you need help with your child call as we test children ages 5.5 through college for language based learning disabilities, dyslexia, ADHD, depression, anxiety, and other processing disorders.  Call (561) 625 4125

Your Child is More Than a Label

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I coached a parent who expressed that some people view her child by the labels / diagnoses her child has rather than the the specific behaviors he displays.  I agreed that some people hear a label and don’t always understand your child’s uniqueness. Your child is more than a label of ADHD, learning disability, dyslexia, dysgraphia, autism, Asperger’s, speech delayed, ADD, or any other label given. When your child gets a diagnosis it results in a label that is used to qualify your child for accommodations or special services.  It helps provide a starting point for you to understand and learn more. That’s it.

Take the term learning disability. It’s broad. The label learning disability does not specifically indicate what challenges your child. If your child has a learning disability you address your child’s areas of weakness such as sounding out words, improving reading comprehension, getting thoughts into writing, or solving math problems.  A teacher who has a child with a learning disability in her class must know what the areas are that need worked on.  Often it’s helpful if you, the parent, provides information about your child’s specific weaknesses.  Then these areas can be emphasized.  Remember that while working on a child’s weaknesses is important, you don’t want to overlook your child’s natural interests and affinities. Those natural talents and gifts must be built upon as well.

How can you help others realize your child is more than a label? Advocate for your child.  If your child has autism explain to the teacher, therapists, and babysitter how autism manifests in your child.  Explain the behaviors your child displays.  Explain any communication difficulties.  Personalize your child so others don’t hear the label autism and rush to draw conclusions.  If your child with autism has an affinity for technology, explain that too.  Let the sitter know which apps he enjoys best. Tell the soccer coach what thighs of things may set your child off during practice and how to respond if your child starts to pace while hitting his head.

How You Can Help.

You can help others view your child as more than a label by complimenting your child in front of that person. If you walk your child with ADHD into school in the morning, say nice an loud, “You were such a good helper by putting your back pack on the back of your chair. That helps mommy and your teacher. You are so sweet.”  Children with labels often don’t receive enough public affirmation.  When you affirm your child in front of others, it plants seeds in the person’s mindset.  They start to see your child the way you do, as a loving and wonderful person and not as a label.

If your child has a label make sure you work with a tutor, therapist, coach, or professional who sees past your child’s label and can help with skills. For example, not all children with ADHD have huge meltdowns, suffer from low self esteem, or have friendship problems.  So if you work with a professional who insists on addressing these areas, it wastes valuable time.  You want to work on the specific challenges for your child while also nurturing strengths.

The mom I worked with needed help in getting her elementary age child with a learning disability started on tasks such as homework, picking up, getting reading in the morning, etc.  We specifically worked on how to get her child how to get going on his own.  We discussed things she had already done such as use a timer and yell. We decided the new approach she would take would be a positive approach to earn extra time on his favorite task, Minecraft.  When he was ready on time or started without more than one reminder he earned an extra 5 minutes of Minecraft time.  If he battled or did not comply he lost Minecraft time.

If you need help with your child contact us because we see beyond any label and recognize your child for the unique person he or she was created to be. (561) 625 4125

Learning Disability Testing and Treatment in West Palm Beach Florida‏

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Learning disability testing and treatment is available in West Palm Beach Florida‏ to help children with dyslexia, reading disorders, dysgraphia (writing learning disability) and memory difficulties.   Jim Forgan, Ph.D. and associates offers learning disability testing and treatment using a school neuropsychological approach to testing and multi sensory reading instruction using Orton-Gillingham based reading programs.  Dr. Forgan and his associates also use the Lindamood-Bell LiPs program to help children learn to read that have auditory discrimination issues.  These children often do not discriminate sounds such as the TH and F sounds and this interferes with reading. Children with learning disabilities requires specialized instruction to help them learn and, unfortunately, most public schools are not providing enough specialized reading instruction for children with learning disabilities but instead use inclusion.

Learning disability testing in West Palm Beach Florida‏

Learning disability testing is done with Dr. Jim Forgan who is a private practice school psychologist and specializes in learning disorders and testing for dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, and other issues. Dr. Forgan uses a multi step approach to determining if a child has a learning disability. The first step is to meet with the parents to hear their most important concerns and determine the main questions they want to get answer to the evaluation process. The next step is for the child to come in and begin the testing process which is typically done two, two hour sessions. The next step is for Dr. Forgan to talk with your child’s teacher on the telephone about what the teacher observes in the classroom. Of course, this is done only if parents give permission to contact the teacher. This helps Dr. Forgan look at the big picture of what parents see, what the teacher sees, all the child’s work, and Dr. Forgan’s clinical judgment. He then synthesizes the information to answer the parents most important questions and he writes a written report with specific recommendations. The next step is for parents to come back in without their child and they sit down with Dr. Forgan to go over the results and determine the best course of action as well as review Dr. Forgan’s specific recommendations.

If learning to read was a primary parental concern, Dr. Forgan identifies the best reading curriculum to help the child learn to read in the most efficient and effective way. This saves parents time and money because they don’t go doing a hit and miss approach but rather have a specific approach which, in the long run, is more effective.

Learning disability treatment in Jupiter Florida‏

Dr. Forgan and his team provides support to parents in their Jupiter office which is conveniently located close to I-95.  Parents often ask if learning disability testing is covered by insurance but Dr. Forgan is not on any insurance plans and most insurance companies will say that learning disability testing is educational and not medical so they don’t cover it.  Learning disability testing is more affordable than you may think so use the contact form above or call Dr. Forgan’s office for specific costs.  One-to-one specialized learning disability tutoring is provided at an hourly rate of $70/hr and is the best way to make fast progress.

Understanding Your Struggling Child

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As a parent it’s difficulty to watch your child’s daily school struggles.  Does your child hold it together in school and then fall apart as soon as she gets home?  Is he mentally exhausted after a day of school?  Completing homework may be a nightly battle and more time is spent arguing about starting homework than it would take to finish the homework if he’d just get started.   Your intuition tells you something is going on with your child’s learning.  You’ve asked yourself, “What could it be?”   Is it dyslexia?  Could it be ADHD or ADD? My child seems smart so is it a learning disability?    

If you truly want to understand your child I recommend getting him or her tested.  For example, would you repair your car without running diagnostic testing?  No.  First you’d check under the hood to see what is problematic.  Would you take medicine for chest pain without testing?  The answer is probably, “No.”  So why would you invest thousands of dollars in tutoring or brain training before testing your child to see what’s really occurring?  You wouldn’t give a kid glasses without testing her vision, right?

Perhaps you are thinking your child is lazy when he really has a processing problem.  Having your child tested provides insight into what’s going on with his or her learning.  A group of tests tailored to your child’s needs provides results that can yield understanding. This will allow you to target the right type of tutoring so you don’t waste valuable time on things that won’t work.

My advice to you is don’t take a wait and see approach.  Time it too valuable as there are only seven months of school remaining and FCAT is coming soon.  Historically, school districts move slow when supporting kids that struggle. 

Be proactive.  The results of my evaluation will identify strengths and weaknesses.  It is accepted by all schools.  This documentation can speed up the help your child receives in school. 

A reasonable investment in your child’s future will save you from wasting your money on hit and miss search for help.  Real answers await you.  Trust your intuition and don’t wait for your child to fail before getting help.  Your child will thank you. 

Get started today by filling out the contact form above or call the number at the top of the page.  Honest answers await you.

Dyslexia Testing in Jupiter- Palm Beach

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Are you searching for a certified dyslexia testing specialist to test your child?  You’ve found the right source as Dr. Jim Forgan is a certified dyslexia testing specialist and licensed school psychologist.  This means his testing is accepted by all Florida public and private schools, colleges, and universities.

Dyslexia is a language disorder that is neurological in origin and often hereditary.  According to the National Institute of Health, approximately 15-20% of school age children have dyslexia.  This means in a class of 25 children as many as 5 children could have dyslexia.  It is the number one type of learning disability served in public schools.  Children with dyslexia have difficulty with reading and spelling.  Unfortunately, most teachers and reading specialist have not been trained in the most effective methods that children with dyslexia need in order to be successful readers and spellers.  If you think your child is dyslexic, get him or her evaluated as soon as possible so you can begin the most effective remediation program.  According to dyslexia expert Susan Barton, programs that don’t work well for children with dyslexia include: Hooked on Phonics, the Phonics Game, Reading Recovery, Accelerated Reader, Reading Recovery, and most commercial learning chains.

What Works for Teaching Kids With Dyslexia?

Scientific, independent, replicated reading research supports the reading programs based on Orton-Gillingham sequence and methodology.  Dr. Sam Orton and Anna Gillingham developed a unique method and sequence to significantly improve the reading and spelling skills of children and adults with dyslexia during the 1930’s.  Orton-Gillingham programs are “best practices” when teaching reading to students with dyslexia.  An Orton Gillingham based reading system is simultaneously multisensory, systematic, and cumulative with direct and explicit instruction in phonics.  This type of program shows how reading and spelling are related and provide intense practice for a child with dyslexia.

One-on-one tutoring using Orton-Gillingham methodology is the gold standard for dyslexic reading instruction.  The benefits of this type of tutoring are supported by research.  Consider the evaluation and tutoring the best investment you can make for the future success of your child.  Their self-esteem will rise along with their academics.  For a list of local tutors using Orton-Gillingham methods, call me.

I am a certified dyslexia testing specialist located in Jupiter, Florida (West Palm Beach area for anyone reading this out of town) and I can test your child for dyslexia.  Dyslexia testing is a four hour process that is completed in two, two hour sessions. It can be done in one day. Use my contact form or call me so I can help you determine if your child has dyslexia and how to help him or her overcome it.  I can also help you find a dyslexia tutor or dyslexia school in the West Palm Beach area.