Parents often struggle
with what to do when they learn their child has received a special needs
diagnosis. Kim Bellini, director
of The Woodlands LearningRx, said that parents often fall into a trap of
not doing anything. Its not that parents are uncaring, she said. Its just they dont know what to do.
To help parents improve the quality of life for their children with autism, dyslexia, ADHD and other learning disabilities, Bellini has created the following list that can help:
1. Make an appointment with your childs teacher. Bellini says a simple phone call, email, or even a note may work wonders.
Jot down a list of detailed questions to gather information about your childs academic weaknesses and ask about any social or emotional problems and the teachers observations of any physical clues that there may be a problem, she said. Ask the teacher if she feels your child could benefit from an independent education program or any special needs classes.
2. Make an appointment with your pediatrician. Be sure to request a longer-than-usual appointment, Bellini suggests.
You will want plenty of time to talk in detail about your concerns, to gather feedback from the doctor and to get referrals for specialists, she added.
3. Make an appointment for a cognitive skills assessment. Unlike tutoring, which focuses on specific subject matter, cognitive skills training, also known as brain training, addresses the root cause of learning struggles -- weak cognitive skills.
For example, with ADHD, the weakest skill is usually attention. Similarly, with autism spectrum disorder, weaknesses in processing speed, short-term memory and logic and reasoning are common.
4. Evaluate your current efforts. Make a quick list of how your family spends its time on work, school, sports, extracurricular activities, church, homework and entertainment. Look for patterns that could be improved.
5. Get some real support through networking. Bellini said it is important to find a balance between emotional support and solution sharing.
If you cant find a group that seems proactive in seeking improvement, form your own, she said.
Bellini said that parents should know it is natural to feel stuck when they are overwhelmed by a diagnosis.
Take the initiative to find out which direction might prove most helpful in treating the root cause, addressing the symptoms or improving the quality of life for your child, she said. And, dont delay; get started today.
Helping children reach their full potential is one of the chief goals of The Woodlands LearningRx, a brain-training center that offers unique programs to transform a students ability to learn at a core level. The center is located at 4840 West Panther Creek, Suite 205. For more information, call 832- 482-3082 or visit
