School wants to test my child for learning disabilities
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You’ve just received that call or email from your child’s teacher suggesting they might benefit from educational testing. Your heart skips a beat as you wonder what this means for your bright, capable child who somehow struggles more than they should. While part of you feels relieved that someone else has noticed the challenges you’ve been seeing at home, another part worries about what the testing might reveal and whether your child will be labeled or limited by the results. The uncertainty about what comes next and how to best support your child through this process can feel overwhelming.
Understanding the Testing Process and Your Rights as a Parent
When the school recommends testing for your child, it’s natural to feel a mix of emotions – relief that someone else has noticed your child’s struggles, concern about what the testing might reveal, and uncertainty about what comes next. The good news is that school-based evaluations are designed to help identify specific areas where your child needs support, and you have important rights throughout this process.
The formal evaluation process typically takes 60 school days from the time you give written consent. During this period, specialists will assess various areas including academic skills, cognitive processing skills, and sometimes behavioral observations. The team might include a school psychologist, special education teacher, and other specialists depending on your child’s specific needs.
Your rights as a parent include:
– Receiving a clear explanation of what will be tested and why
– Giving or withholding consent for the evaluation
– Participating in the evaluation team meeting where results are discussed
– Requesting an independent evaluation if you disagree with the school’s findings
– Having access to all evaluation reports and documentation
Reframing “Learning Disabilities” as Skill Development Opportunities
Here’s something crucial to understand: what schools call “learning disabilities” are actually differences in how your child’s brain processes information. These processing differences can be strengthened and improved through targeted training. When we think of challenges as permanent disabilities, we limit our child’s potential. When we view them as skills that need development, we open doors to real improvement.
Research in neuroplasticity shows us that the brain can form new neural pathways throughout life. This means that skills like auditory processing, visual processing, and attention can all be strengthened with the right approach. The expectations we set have a profound impact on outcomes – children who are told they can develop these skills perform better than those told they have a fixed condition.
Consider that many children who appear “bright but can’t perform” often have underlying processing skill gaps rather than learning disabilities. These gaps in areas like auditory discrimination or visual memory can make academic tasks much more difficult, but they’re absolutely trainable skills.
Author Quote"
When we think of challenges as permanent disabilities, we limit our child’s potential. When we view them as skills that need development, we open doors to real improvement.
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What Testing Actually Measures and How to Interpret Results
School evaluations measure your child’s current skill levels in various areas, not their fixed potential. Understanding this distinction is vital because test scores represent where your child is today, not where they’ll always be. The assessment looks at areas like reading comprehension, math calculation, written expression, and underlying processing skills.
Processing skills are the foundation of academic learning. If your child struggles with auditory memory, they might have difficulty following multi-step directions or remembering what they just heard. Challenges with visual tracking can make reading fluency difficult. Poor auditory figure-ground discrimination can make it hard to focus on the teacher’s voice in a noisy classroom.
When you receive the evaluation results, ask specific questions:
– Which processing skills show the greatest needs?
– How do these processing challenges affect academic performance?
– What evidence-based interventions target these specific skills?
– How will progress be measured over time?
Remember, these test results are your child’s starting point, not their ceiling. With targeted skill development, significant improvement is possible.
Key Takeaways:
1
Testing measures current skills, not potential: School evaluations show where your child is today, not where they'll always be
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Processing skills can be strengthened: What appear as "disabilities" are often trainable brain skills that improve with targeted practice
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Parents have important rights: You can participate fully in the process and advocate for skill-building approaches over accommodations alone
Taking Action: Next Steps After Testing
Once testing is complete, you’ll participate in an eligibility meeting where the team determines if your child qualifies for special education services. If they do qualify, you’ll work together to develop either an IEP (Individualized Education Program) or a 504 plan. This is where your advocacy becomes crucial – push for goals that focus on building skills rather than just providing accommodations.
While accommodations like extra time or preferential seating can be helpful, they don’t address the underlying processing skill gaps. The most effective approach combines appropriate accommodations with intensive skill development. Programs like the Brain Bloom System focus on strengthening the foundational cognitive skills that support all learning.
For children with auditory processing challenges, The Attentive Ear Auditory Processing Program can make a significant difference. This program specifically targets the underlying auditory skills that affect classroom learning, reading comprehension, and following directions. Similarly, children with reading struggles often benefit from systematic programs that build both decoding skills and reading fluency.
For parents seeking to help their child develop stronger focus skills, our “Focus Foundations” resource provides evidence-based strategies and exercises. Download the Focus Foundations guide.
As a parent, you’re the most important advocate for your child’s progress. Stay involved in monitoring their improvement, ask for regular progress reports, and remember that meaningful change takes time and consistent effort. Most importantly, maintain high expectations while providing the support your child needs to develop these crucial skills. The goal isn’t just accommodation – it’s helping your child build the processing skills they need for lifelong success.
Author Quote"
The most effective approach combines appropriate accommodations with intensive skill development.
"
Educational testing can be a turning point – not because it labels your child, but because it identifies which specific brain skills need strengthening. The challenge isn’t the testing itself, but ensuring your child receives skill-building interventions rather than being limited by accommodations alone. You are your child’s first teacher and strongest advocate, and with the right tools, you can help develop the processing skills that create lasting academic success. The Learning Success All Access Program gives you research-backed methods to strengthen auditory processing, visual processing, focus, and cognitive skills at home. Don’t let your child’s potential be defined by current test scores – start building these crucial brain skills with a free trial today.
