Make a first test

How to make a first test or diagnose for a learning disability yourself?

What follows are steps and suggestions on how "to make a first diagnose yourself" when you suspect somebody has dyslexia.

  1. Inform yourself about learning disabilities. Start with the most common for example dyslexia and ADD. Do some critical thinking and check at least three different sources, five is better. This is certainly necessary for dyslexia because there is no unanimity about it causes.
  2. You don’t need to become an expert, just enough to make a first diagnose yourself.
  3. Concentrate on the signs/symptoms of the learning disabilities.
  4. Keep in mind we are all individuals, no two persons are a like. This is also true for a person with a learning disability, concerning their symptoms.
    1. Not everyone has all the symptoms.
    2. Most people have just a few.
    3. Not everyone has the same symptoms.
    4. The symptoms come in all degrees.
    5. Not everyone has a certain symptom in the same degree.
    6. Nor has somebody all its' symptoms in the same degree.
    7. Not all symptoms are as obvious.
    8. The higher the degree the obvious they are.
    9. Some symptoms can stay unnoticed if you have them in very low degree.
    10. Or when one becomes older they try to camouflage them. 
    11. For example: dyslexia has several symptoms, but not every dyslexic has them all, in fact, there are often only a few who are easily recognizable, and not everyone has them in the same degree.
  5. Concentrate on the early signs until the current age. Signs and symptoms of dyslexia.
  6. Go back as fare as you can, especially the early signs are the most honest (objective), later in live one try to camouflage them.
  7. Compare those symptoms with those you observe at your child or experience yourself.
  8. Try to be as object as you can.
  9. Not all symptoms are as obvious but some symptoms are clearly visible at an early age.
  10. Those findings are not a guarantee somebody has a learning disability but it can give you a hind and it's useful to follow the child closely.
  11. In addition, ask teachers, caretakers, or somebody who works with the child what their experiences are while working with the child, and if they spot some of the symptoms.
  12. Thrust your own judgment you know your child best, but don't deny.
  13. However keep in mind that not everyone develops on the same speed. It is not uncommon that a child can be a bit late in some areas of development and catch up later. More information on "Testing a young child".
  14. Some learning disabilities run in families. Check family history for members who are diagnosed with a learning disability or who experience symptoms of a certain learning disability.  For example dyslexia and ADD runs in families.
  15. When you recognizing a few pointers and it has been found in the family (diagnosed or not) there is a big change one has a certain learning disability. The more symptoms you find the more likely they have the learning disability.
  16. Keep in mind that it’s not uncommon to have more then one learning disability in one person. For example, dyslexia and ADD are often founded in one person.
  17. Maybe it looks a bit complicated by if you know the symptoms you will be surprised how easily you recognize them.
  18. How you can help your child and prevent frustration?
  19. Now you had made a first diagnose "What to do next?"