Where do you start when trying to pinpoint a LD?

<p>My youngest daughter works very hard on her academics. She is a HS junior and some subjects are easier than others. However, READING is so tough. It is the comprehension that she really struggles. It is the little mistakes in Math that gets her. Spanish and history are really tough. She asks so many questions. However, she does not want to be tested. She does not want this crutch but struggles so much that it brings her frustration level way up and tears. She will self soothe and continue working. She takes advanced classes and senior year looking to take AP. Her GPA unweighted is 3.5. Don't know about act or sat since we're waiting on scores. How can I help her or should I? I am concerned about the level of reading in college. Anyone, please give me your opinions. ADD, Dixlexia, OCD? Thanks in advance. </p>

<p>Why on earth does she not want to be tested for LDs? What does “testing” mean to her? </p>

<p>I agree that reading in college is more intense not the vocabulary but the amount given at one time.
We have an academic support liaison at our school, you may want to seek this person out.
My daughter sounded like your daughter when she was a freshman. After going through hoops, with a decrease in confidence and many tears we finally had testing.<br>
She has never had poor grades so that leads every one to the conclusion that all is well. The diagnostic testing revealed: phonenic dyslexia, thus causing the trouble with comprehension, because of the length of time it takes for her to read.
I have been told over and over, that kids with high IQ often go undiagnosed, until college when they hit a wall, because the amount reading is insurmountable at that level. Without accomodation ie: audio books; extended time for long reading classes.
Good luck.</p>

<p>A learning difference can show up any time, as sometimes with very bright kids, they can overcome it until the workload gets to the point where it gets harder to. One reason to do this soon is because of the timing of standardized tests. If her reading speed is slow, she may need extra time. If her scores are low because she is no able to finish on time, then that doesn’t reflect what she can do. However, getting accommodations on the ACT/SAT requires professional documentation of the condition, and that she gets extra time in school. She may not want this, but it could help her. </p>

<p>Thanks ya’ll so very much. She does not want to be tested because she does not want the stigma. @Hoosier96 I agree. I have asked in middle school and they believe because she has good grades and is in advanced classes that everything is o.k. I tried to explain that she works much too hard and is very diligent to no avail. @Pennylane2011. Thank you for your input. Her comprehension has always been a bit skew. I taught her to read at 4 years of age. She can read and it sounds beautiful. However, difficult text and history and math overwhelms her. I will pursue this with her. I cannot thank ya’ll enough. xo</p>

<p>Some kids hear “learning disability” and think “short bus”. I found with my kids it was helpful to emphasize that the testing was to look for their particular strengths, not just their weaknesses. You may want to refer to it as something like “learning style” testing, not because it will trick her into thinking the testing is something it’s not (it won’t), but because it’s a way of reframing the process, i.e. that you’re looking for a more complete picture of how she learns, not looking for deficits in her abilities.</p>

<p>Many kids with very high IQs but also learning disabilities end up with the kind of grades your daughter has because they’re smart enough to work around their disabilities. Google “twice exceptional” for more information.</p>

<p>@Sue22 Thank you very much. I just got off the phone with the head counselor at school. I asked if my daughter could be tested at the school. The counselor advised that my daughter has great grades and test proficient to advance. She said it would be difficult to convince the school officials that she needs to be tested. However, as I explained to the counselor, she works very hard and is extremely diligent in her work. As you have explained she has found a way to work around it. I am going to look up the information you suggested. I am not going to give up this time. Thanks</p>

<p>You should consider having her tested privately while she is still in high school. The results could allow her to have extra time and other necessary accommodations in college if she turns out to have learning differences.</p>

<p>Regarding your D’s concern re: privacy, independent testing may indeed be worthwhile. Be forewarned that because your D is doing well in school, it’s likely that you’ll have to pay out of pocket (we had to, even with a transcript of Cs & Ds). </p>

<p>We found the testing to be well worthwhile – we learned much, specific actionable steps were offered, and the diagnosis allowed us to obtain time and a half for our son on the SAT and ACT, and will be instrumental in obtaining accommodations at college.</p>

<p>@expatCanuck Who do I look to do the testing? Whom does one contact re: testing? </p>

<p>In large cities, I’d expect that appropriate services could be located through a reputable teaching hospital. We have the benefit of living near Boston, and worked through the Learning and Emotional Assessment Program (LEAP) at the Mass General (which is associated with Harvard). I’m old school, and prefer this approach. It may be that you’ll be able to get your health plan to cover some of the cost – you’ll have to inquire. </p>

<p>That said, many skilled, capable and reputable independent practitioners exists. With either approach, exercise due diligence.</p>

<p>With either approach, costs vary, and ‘comparison shopping’ is warranted.</p>

<p>As a start, I’d suggest Googling
<cityname> learning assessment
or
<cityname> neuropsych assessment</cityname></cityname></p>

<p>If you choose to pursue an assessment, I’d recommend finding a practitioner who’s had experience providing evaluations used to support an Independent Educational Plan (IEP), 504 accommodations, and college accommodations. Additionally, should your D have any specific colleges in mind, it would be worthwhile to contact the Office of Disability Support Services.
The typical name and, yeah, it sucks - great way to stigmatize a student.
Ask if any specific testing is required to obtain accommodations (such as extended testing time, a separate room for tests, a keyboard … ).</p>

<p>@mum4college - My DH has ADD but doesn’t take meds. He has found ways to cope with it over the years. However it can be difficult for him. My middle DS fell apart when he started 9th grade. He just could not focus enough in high school. We had him go through all the testing and he has ADD and is on medication. He did not want to be tested,says the medicine doesn’t help. I think he doesn’t like the label however he does take the medicine and I know it is working. My oldest did well in high school although he always seemed like the absentminded professor type. Recently he came to me and told me that he had been having trouble focusing and getting homework done for years and now that he was in college it was becoming increasing difficult for him. The doctor started him on meds and the first day he took it he knew within a couple hours that it was working. The relief on his face was apparent and he said he was now able to focus on his homework and get it done in a reasonable amount of time. Your daughter may have ADD and just be coping with it like my oldest did. However the work load will go up in college. I would have her tested. If she has ADD at least you will know. Then if she wants to try meds she can. If not there are other things you can do to try and help her. </p>

<p>We found testing to be very helpful for us and our daughter, to help pinpoint her strengths and weaknesses. Turned out both were more extreme than we realized!<br>
The first time we wanted to test her, I called a local school for kids with learning disabilities and asked them for a referral. I figured they had read a lot of reports and knew who wrote ones that were useful. They sent us to a psychologist who did a great job. When we moved to another state and wanted to retest, we got a referral from a psychologist who works with kids and adolescents. She referred us to another psychologist who only does testing, and again did a great job.</p>