Written by: Sandy Russo
When your child is struggling to read, spell, and write it can be a worrying and confusing time for parents and caregivers. Difficulties, and how they present, will differ from child to child. Sometimes their difficulties are very evident early on; delayed speaking; not understanding verbal instructions; finding it hard to rhyme; to repeat a sentence; to hear sounds in words; to recognise letters, and not being able to read once they start school. OR, your child may have good language skills, and seem to be able to read after the first read of a book and it is not until much later that you realise there is a problem for them when they are reading.
If this is the case, what should you do once you notice your child is finding learning difficult?
Where to start?
Once you start to notice your child is struggling, approach the childcare centre staff, or the teacher at kindergarten or school and share your concerns. Ask questions about how your child is doing. If they have also noticed your child struggling, now is the time to explore what the centre can provide to help. Sometimes you may be brushed off and told your child will catch up later, if this is the case and you are still concerned, don’t just keep waiting for your child to miraculously catch up, early intervention is proven to be very important when a child presents with a delay or learning difficulty.
Early Identification and Diagnosis
Some professionals involved in the early identification of learning difficulties include:
- Pediatricians: – pediatricians with an interest in learning difficulties will be able to identify the risk factors for learning disabilities, ADHD, Autism and other childhood conditions. They will recognise the early warning signs and apply the appropriate diagnostic tools for a multifactorial assessment. You will need a referral from your doctor.
- Speech Pathologists: – with an interest in literacy can provide early and thorough screening and assessment of language and literacy and communication. Often you will find a speech pathologist through word of mouth or through your school. Speech Pathology Australia also has a search tool that may assist. You don’t need a referral.
- Psychologist: – learning disorders such as dyslexia, dysgraphia and dyscalculia are diagnosed by a psychologist. Not all children experiencing learning problems will necessarily go on to be diagnosed with a learning disorder, but the assessment will point out strengths and weaknesses in the students learning profile. You need to check a student’s vison and hearing and had 6 months of quality intervention before having a psychometric educational assessment. A psychologist can also help with anxiety and depression. Often you will find a psychologist through word of mouth or your school. Australia Psychological Society also has a search tool that may assist. You don’t need a referral.
- Special Education Teacher and Specialist Tutors: – Some schools provide quality intervention as a part of a tier 2 and 3 program within their school. Even when a student is receiving these interventions a specialist tutor with experience working with students struggling to read, write and do maths may be needed to help your child succeed academically. They will be trained and experienced literacy specialists who have extensive knowledge in delivering intervention programs for people living with dyslexia and other learning difficulties. Here is a list of experienced dyslexia and maths tutors in South Australia. There are other organisations such as the SPELD in your state that may also be able to provide services in tutoring.
- Occupational Therapists: – conduct fine motor and/or visual processing screening in the early years. They can diagnose motor-based disorders that impact on learning such as developmental coordination disorder (dyspraxia). You don’t need a referral.
- Paediatric optometrist or ophthalmologist: – It is important to rule out that your child’s difficulties in reading are not due to an eye condition and have the eye condition treated if there is e.g., glasses or behavioural optometry. You will need to have ruled out and treated any eye condition(s) to have a dyslexia diagnosis. It is important to note that behavioural optometry and Irlen lenses will not cure dyslexia.
- Audiologist: – Audiologists can identify hearing difficulties and help children with deafness, hearing loss, and speech or communication problems. You will need to rule out that there are no hearing issues before having a diagnosis for dyslexia.
Next Steps Screening Tool
AUSPELD has a free screening tool for literacy or numeracy-related learning difficulties. It is designed to assist with determining whether the individual would benefit from targeted intervention and/or formal assessment, and what steps should be taken next to best support them. The information shared with you at the end of the screen will not diagnose a learning difficulty, but it will guide you to the possible next steps.
For more information
Understanding Learning Difficulties free parent guide: – https://uldforparents.com/
CodeRead FAQ and information: – https://codereadnetwork.org/help-is-here/
Understood: – An informative website on learning disabilities written for parents
IDA Dyslexia Handbook – What Every Family Should Know: – https://dyslexiaida.org/ida-dyslexia-handbook/
Dyslexia and the Brain: – Guinevere Eden: Video 10mins https://www.understood.org/en/articles/video-dyslexia-and-the-brain
Organisations that can help
CodeRead: – A not for profit that provides free information and advocate for people with dyslexia https://codereadnetwork.org/
AUSPELD: – https://auspeld.org.au/ The parent body of SPELD Organisations.
SPELD NSW: https://www.speldnsw.org.au/
DSF Perth: https://dsf.net.au/
SPELD QLD: https://www.speld.org.au/
SPELD SA: https://www.speldsa.org.au/
SPELD VIC: https://www.speldvic.org.au/
Learning Difficulties Australia (LDA): https://www.ldaustralia.org/about/
Square Pegs TAS: – https://www.squarepegstas.org/
International Dyslexia Association (IDA): – https://dyslexiaida.org/
Dear Dyslexic: – https://www.deardyslexic.com/