Teens and learning disabilities

The transition to high school from elementary school can be stressful for any youngster, but it's even more so for the young teen who's coping with a learning disability (LD). It's difficult for his parents, too. If your child's disability was diagnosed early and is being dealt with at his public school, you both might fear the effects of his entering the unfamiliar environment of high school with new teachers and different expectations. Discuss your concerns and questions with the professional staff at the current school or at the school board during his final year. Go with him to the orientation evening for new students at the local high school and check out the resources available. Find out how classes are adapted to respond to the needs of students with particular learning disabilities and what resources will be available for your teen.

A child's learning disability is usually identified in kindergarten and the primary grades, but some disabilities become more obvious in junior high and high school -- particularly in mathematics and problem solving which require the ability to remember and apply the memorized material. In high school, teens face an increased amount of written work, and the demand on their capacity to remember or memorize in several different subjects increases. Although problems may have first appeared when your child was in grades five and six, they might not have been as severe. Students with this disability have a history of poor handwriting, some difficulty learning to spell, and messy or incomplete notebooks. Or they may find science classes fascinating and have no trouble understanding scientific concepts, but they falter when faced with memorizing the vocabulary of biology or the formulas in chemistry. Difficulty learning a second language can also be an indication of a learning disability.

Look for help
If you are concerned that your teen may have a learning disability, check with your family doctor to rule out any physical health problems. She may also be familiar with the assessment process used within the local school boards. The assessment usually involves educators in the student's school, a counsellor from the school, and an educational psychologist with the board. If the school board has a waiting list of two or three months, your doctor might know whether the child development clinic at a nearby hospital or university conducts these assessments. Weigh the costs and time involved against time lost until your child's turn on the school board's waiting list.

The advantage of the formal assessment through the school or school board is that the identification of a learning disability usually entitles the student to special education help. Your teen's teachers and guidance counsellor and others in the school or board can provide the remedial and tutoring options needed. They can also suggest what coping and learning strategies might benefit your child. Some high schools accommodate learning disabled students by allowing students to tape-record classes, by offering extended time for completing tests or exams, and by providing different, less-crowded rooms for writing them.