At the very start of the evaluation process the first factor to consider is a child’s physical health. Has their vision and hearing been tested? If the child has a prescription for glasses, or a hearing aid, are these being worn consistently during work time, and are the prescriptions up to date? If the child takes medication regularly, what are the side effects? Have these been considered, and discussed with a doctor? Sleep- is the child getting their recommended amount of sleep on a nightly basis? Could a sleep disorder be impacting their behavior, and/or ability to learn? Eating- Is the child getting the nutrients they need in order to support their concentration, energy levels, etc.?
These are all questions to consider when you are ready to take the next step, and have your child evaluated for a learning disability. Having their glasses/hearing aids up to date is imperative to begin the process. A recent physical can also assist with ruling out all of these physical factors that might be interfering with your child’s learning. Think of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs-without the physiological being met, no higher tier functions will be possible.