If your child is diagnosed with hyperlexia, the first thing to do is find a speech and language pathologist who has worked with other hyperlexic children. (The AHA can help you find a pathologist near you.) In addition to the intensive speech therapy, you will need to teach your child appropriate social skills. The AHA recommends doing this by having your child interact with socially-appropriate behaving children on a regular basis.

The aforementioned learning disabilities and any others are frustrating for the children who have them. A child with a learning disability may stop trying to learn, have trouble making friends, may act belligerent or withdrawn, may get into fights, may play with younger children who make them feel more comfortable, may not be able to interpret tone of voice or facial expressions, and may act out inappropriately. As a parent, you may experience denial, guilt, blame, frustration, anger and despair. But there is hope.

The Learning Disabilities Association says ?œearly intervention with a child who is behind in social, cognitive, fine motor, gross motor, and/or language development can make a world of difference.??The Association encourages to contact the school district and your primary physician if you see any signs of what could be a learning disability in your child. Many disabilities seem hidden and are hard to spot, so getting professional testing and screening is important.

There is no cure for LD; they are life long. Diana Moore of the Schwab Foundation for Learning says to be knowledge and skeptical of quick fixes. Parents need to do all they can?”offer love, support, attention and understanding as their child acquires the skills necessary to adapt to life?™s challenges. Moore says, ?œKeep up one?™s research to know your child?™s strengths, challenges and learning style and to be able to ask hard questions of any remedial program or provider.??Parents need to work with the school system and stay abreast of any school evaluations. (If need be, take your child?™s clinician with you when you talk to the school. Doing this will ensure you are all following the same plan for your son or daughter?™s education.) By law, schools have to provide an adequate learning environment for your child?™s disabilities. For more information on this contact the Pennsylvania Department of Education or your school superintendent?™s office or school psychologist. As Dr. Levine writes on his organization?™s web site, ?œWhile parent/teacher collaboration can be extremely beneficial, the key to a successful management plan includes helping each student understand his profile of strengths, areas in need of improvement and affinities.??/P>

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