Q: I’m an older parent of a very active 8-year-old boy. My wife is concerned that he may have a learning disability or attention problem. I think his behavior is normal and that he’ll grow out of it. How can we tell if his behavior and learning difficulties are out of the ordinary or normal for his age?
A: Many people mistake their child’s behavior or learning challenges as normal growing pains. I agree that many children exhibit some behavior or learning challenges at different stages of their lives, however the difference between the average child and a child with difficulties is one of degree. For example, sometimes children have trouble learning new things, but a child with a learning disability will have bigger challenges. Remembering that every child is different is important. A common misconception is that every child with ADHD or a learning disability is the same or exhibits the same target behaviors. This isn’t true. One child may be extremely extroverted while another may be socially inhibited. One child may have clear learning problems early on and another may not experience problems until seventh or eighth grade. Recognizing the various symptoms of learning and attention problems is important. Work with professionals to accurately diagnose problems, while gaining techniques and strategies to help your child be successful.
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