Help - advice & recommendation, please, on testing for learning disabilities
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Anonymous
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Hi, My son is in 4th grade and has been struggling for a long time with issues I have come to suspect might be learning disabilities (dyslexia, dysgraphia, visual processing, and probably ADHD/executive functioning). It has been an uphill battle to get anyone else to see this, including teachers and DH. We've argued so much.
Well, finally DH has agreed we should do private testing, at least for some of the above. Fantastic -- but I'm desperate to know who we should go with. I'm afraid that if we don't get someone good, who will be thorough and pick up on these issues where teachers have not (DS is not below grade level but is miserable and struggling) -- I'm afraid that this is my one shot to help him, and get his teachers and my DH on board. So please, can you more experienced parents out there offer names of good providers (Fairfax County or nearby)? Any other advice? I'm in knots of stress over this. |
Anonymous
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Hi OP - I have a 4th grader with ADHD/Inattentive type. Exec functioning, expressive and receptive language delay. No Dyslexia or dysgraphia. I am so shocked that you've been having a tough time getting teachers and DH on board. Your son must be so miserable just trying to keep it together without any accomodations. Poor guy!
My DS was DX'd in kindergarten. We had a thorough neuro-psych eval done. it was tough on him as he was a little guy. 3 days. a few hours per day. I don't feel comfortable referring you to the person we went to as I did not care for him. I can tell you however that I have read great things about Stixrud. Also, Kennedy Krieger and Children's. There are a ton of people out there that will chime in to your post Im sure - who will be able to give you more names. As for advise - stay on top of this issue. Be the squeaky wheel at home and at school. Don't let the teachers get away with anything. Once you have the results of your neuro psych eval, set up a meeting to get your DS on and IEP or at the very least a 504. Find a tutor who specializes in LD kids, and keep that number handy and there's a pretty dard good chance you'll need it. |
Anonymous
| Schools (and some neuro-psych's) routinely miss and under-diagnose bright kids who have learning disabilities. I would trust any of the psychologists listed on asdec.org. I believe Dr. Anthony Henley has offices in Reston. ASDEC is also a good resource for finding well-trained tutors. |
Anonymous
This is true, and this is what happened in our case.  I wish I hadn't trusted the opinions of teachers who based them on the fact that his work was fine.
More advice: do we just test for dyslexia, or other things as well (dysgraphia, ADD?). |
Anonymous
| Get everything evaluated so you get a complete picture. Any of the ASDEC listings will do a complete eval. Stixrud and Kennedy Krieger are also highly-regarded. |
Anonymous
| Stixrud has several psychologists who specialize in gifted kids. If you call you can find out more about them. |
Anonymous
| Thank you to everyone who has given advice. I am printing this out and am so happy to have some guidance. Really appreciate your taking time to help. |
Anonymous
| Dr. Virginia Smith in Vienna. She is a school and clinical psychologist. Evaluations are thorough with spot on recommendations. |
Anonymous
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You are definitely doing the right thing. I have a son in the 7th grade, and I really wish I hadn't let the teachers reassure me that everything was fine. Dysgraphia won't cure itself. You'll end up with a kid like mine, who gets A+ on multiple choice tests but can not spell even basic words. And the schools are moving away from all the techniques that used to give these kids some help. I suspect you'll need to get tutoring, as the schools don't use the methods that work with these kids.
ASDEC is a good source. |