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)