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Learning Issues

Issues with learning can cause a child to fall behind in school or negatively impact a child's confidence and academic performance among many other things. The following list of questions for learning difficulties can help you determine when it’s time to seek a professional diagnosis.


Does your child or loved one…


  1. Fall behind in a specific subject at school and struggle to learn new concepts despite your efforts to help at home?
  2. Skip lines, reverse letters, struggle to sound out words, or revert to guessing instead of decoding words when reading?
  3. Have to re-read information multiple times in order to comprehend the material?
  4. Verbalize ideas yet struggles to put those ideas into writing?
  5. Demonstrate poor spelling or grammar or have trouble constructing sentences when compared to the typical skill level of their grade level?
  6. Fall behind in math classes, have trouble learning new concepts, struggle to apply learned concepts, solve basic math in their head, or have trouble with math word problems?
  7. Become anxious, upset, sad, or nervous about completing assignments related to a specific class (i.e., when asked to read or solve math problems)?
  8. Have teachers who express concern with your child’s progress in school?
  9. Have family members who were diagnosed or suspected to have dyslexia or pervasive math problems?
  10. Fall behind in their classes, receive low grades, or perform poorly on MAP testing?
  11. Exhibit any behavioral concerns associated with certain academics, such as arguing, refusing to participate, procrastinating, or tantrums?


If you answered yes to two or more of these questions on learning difficulties, consider scheduling a neuropsychological evaluation. Call us at (847) 469-7537 to learn more.

 

Learning difficulties can occur both in and out of the physical classroom in a variety of subjects including issues with reading, writing, and mathematics. A child who is experiencing learning difficulties at school may struggle to decode words, may have difficulties with phonological processing, may need to re-read information, can have trouble comprehending information, and appear behind compared to peers. Writing difficulties can involve spelling issues, difficulties generating content, having an idea in their heads but difficulties with putting it on paper, trouble constructing sentences, poor/illegible handwriting, or difficulties with grammar. A child may be falling behind in their classes, complain about doing homework or taking tests, may demonstrate an aversion or anxiety about a specific subject, may have low grades despite trying hard, and may act out, become distracted, or refuse to complete tasks.


A neuropsychological evaluation can aid in pinpointing the mechanism causing the academic difficulties, such as dyslexia, for the child, teenager, or even adult. Identification and intervention of these learning problems can improve the child’s future academic and eventual occupational performance. Once identified, doctors, parents, and teachers can discuss an individualized classroom education plan to provide specific accommodations at school to maximize the child’s ability to benefit from education and demonstrate his/her skill set.


Neuropsychology, and a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation, will help explain and determine if an underlying condition, or perhaps multiple underlying conditions, exists. In some circumstances, the learning difficulties may be better explained by other conditions. Understanding the patient’s strengths and weaknesses can help identify the reason for these issues and aid in creating a customized treatment plan to improve or manage the patient’s cognitive complaints. Early diagnosis and treatment can make a big difference in outcome. Our fellowship-trained doctors will be able to pinpoint the underlying cause for these issues.


Check out these pages to learn more: ADD - Pediatrics, ADHD - Pediatrics, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Concussion, Dyslexia, Epilepsy, Genetic Syndromes, Intellectual Disability, Learning Disorders, and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Brain Fog Issues

By websitebuilder • 07 Jul, 2021
Issues with brain fogginess can look like a difficulty concentrating or staying sharp among other things. The following list of brain fog test questions can help you determine when it’s time to seek a professional diagnosis for cognitive issues. Have you ever experienced any of the following brain fog symptoms: Mental sluggishness Problems concentrating Forgetfulness Finding yourself not as sharp as you once were Problems with recalling names Having words on the tip of your tongue but unable to produce them Changes in your ability to multitask  If you have experienced two or more of these symptoms , consider scheduling a neuropsychological evaluation. Call us at (847)-469-7537 to learn more.

Head Injury Issues

By websitebuilder • 07 Jul, 2021
Head injuries can cause serious and lasting cognitive problems. The following questions can help you determine when it’s time to seek a professional diagnosis for head injuries. Concussion Test: Have you ever experienced any hit to the head or any sudden movement of the head (e.g., whiplash)? Following the head injury, did you experience any of the following: Headaches Migraines Confusion Nausea Brain Fog Dizziness

Social Issues

By websitebuilder • 07 Jul, 2021
Issues with socialization can cause one to struggle understanding social issues or to experience negative feelings towards social situations among other things. The following list of questions about social issues can help you determine when it’s time to seek a professional diagnosis for social problems. Does your child… Struggle to social cues such as facial expressions or body language? Find it difficult to understand jokes? Sarcasm? Tend to be shy or timid and neglect to speak when spoken to? Actively avoid certain places or activities? Fear that something bad will happen to themselves or others? Have problems spending the night away from home? Experience fear or anxiety if they have to perform/speak in front of others? Have habits or behaviors that seem ritualistic that they must do over and over (e.g., line up things, wash hands over and over)? Form strong attachments to everyday items or objects so much so that it can be hard to part with or let go of them? Neglect to play with other children? Have emotional reactions when they have to change activities or if their routine is disrupted? Misperceive situations or take too many things to heart (e.g., wears their heart on their sleeve)?

Behavioral Issues

By websitebuilder • 07 Jul, 2021
Behavioral issues can manifest as acting out or a resistance to authority among other symptoms. The following questions about behavioral issues can help determine when it’s time to seek a professional diagnosis for behavior problems. Does your child or loved one… Have an explosive or violent temper? Have verbal or physical outbursts? Oftentimes "lose control” or exhibit destructive behavior? Taken things from people that don’t belong to them? Lie to get things their way or things they want? Find him or herself easily annoyed by others? Complain that they are not treated fairly? Frequently argue with adults or people in charge? Throw temper tantrums? Ever become uncooperative or stubborn and struggle to follow rules? Act out and cause problems at school or at activities outside of the home? Refuse to do what is asked of them when it comes to schoolwork or chores? Ever become moody?

Attention Issues

By websitebuilder • 07 Jul, 2021
Issues with attention can manifest as experiencing difficulty staying on task, focusing, and managing one's time among many other things. The following questions about attention issues can help you determine when it’s time to seek a professional diagnosis. Do you or a loved one… Have difficulties paying attention or concentrating? Avoid starting new important tasks? Sometimes begin a task but never end up completing it? Find it difficult to tune into the conversation you are having when there are others happening around you? Have the impulse to jump or interject into a conversation as soon as a thought strikes you? Make careless mistakes because a task is boring, repetitive, or difficult? Ever feel restless or find yourself fidgeting? Have a hard time retaining information? Need to take breaks regularly? Sometimes forget something you were just told? Struggle concentrating when speaking with others? Frequently misplace items or have difficulty finding them? Easily become distracted by other motion or movement in the room? Find yourself typically distracted? Have difficulties managing your time? Find yourself drifting off even when you are trying to pay attention?
Executive Function Issues

Executive Function Issues

By websitebuilder • 27 May, 2021
Do you have trouble starting tasks? Feel overwhelmed with large projects? Feel disorganized? Struggle with time management? Often find yourself late to appointments and events? Have difficulty multitasking?
Learning Difficulties

Learning Issues

By websitebuilder • 27 May, 2021
The following list of questions for learning difficulties can help you determine when it’s time to seek a professional diagnosis. Does your child or loved one fall behind in school and struggle to learn?
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