At What Age Can a Learning Disability Be Found?

Question

I have an 8 yr old daughter( 1st grade ) with PDD-NOS ( Autism Spectrum ) its time for her IEP reevaluation. The district is refusing to look for a specific learning disability in my daughter. They claim its "too difficult at her age". This child shows no ability for abstract thinking in regard to math and is in the bottom of her class in terms of reading. When is it standard that a learning disability could be found?

To answer the question regarding IQ she is in the low average range however they think her IQ is higher but that because of the PDD they cant get to it. Ive also read reposts that kids on the spectrum don't do well with the standard IQ tests.

The reason I am suspecting a LD is the areas that she is having issues with are the same areas of my sons LD ( he also has PDD ) and the same areas as my own LD.

From what I'm told IQ's are supposed to be fairly stationary but with my children ( I have 5 total 3 on the spectrum )they go up everytime they are tested ...when I say up I mean by 10 and 15 points at a time. This seems to support the theory that the IQ tests are not truly obtaining their IQ's.

Regarding an advocate :) We have fought and won with this district illegally removing our sons IEP .. we fought all the way to federal court.... 6 weeks ago he got his IEP back. It was determined that he has multiple LD's on top of PDD. We are our own best advocate :)

Answer 1

8 years old is fine to test for a Specific Learning Disability. However, is your child's lack of progress due to the PDD? You can request the test & insist that they do it. However, do not be surprised if she is not found with a disability. In my experience with PDD children, their IQ's are low to low average & their learning evaluations will show that they are working at or above their potential.

However, I disagree with the school district in saying that its too difficult for her age. Its not at 8 years old...

Good Luck

Answer 2

I am a licensed specialist in school psychology in Texas. We diagnose learning disabilities by administering an IQ test and then achievement tests. If there is a 16 point or greater discrepancy between IQ and achievement in a particular area, we call that a learning disability. Typically, you can assume a learning disability if the student is functioning 2 or more grade levels below. Your eight year old daughter should realistically be in 3rd grade, but has a diagnosis of PDD. Basically, with that diagnosis, they are saying that developmentally she is behind. This can be in reading, writing, walking, talking, etc. Your daughter's IQ may be fluctuating as a results of the differing IQ tests she may be given. There are a multitude of IQ tests out there. Some are comprehensive, others solely nonverbal. And the comprehensive ones tap into various types of intelligences. IQ is stable over time, but the stability can only be seen if the person is given the same IQ test and it's not likely to do that as there may be a practice effect taking place. If your daughter's IQ is low, that 16 point discrepancy may not be obtained. My question is: Why can't your daughter's difficulties with math and reading be addressed in her IEP as a result of her diagnosis of PDD? She can still have goals and services to address these areas without the LD label. Since she is a student receiving special education services, she is able to access all services needed.

Answer 3

Hello, you need answers and answers fast. As a Spec. ED. Teacher, someone with a Master's Degree in Ed., but most importantly a father with a child with PDD-NOS I will try to help. The school district does not have the right to tell you that your daughter cannot be tested at any age, they just want to avoid paying out of pocket for the testing. The key to helping students along the Autism Spectrum is "EARLY INTERVENTION". It may be that you need to go to an outside source such as an independent psychologist get your child tested and then have the school reimburse you. There are Regional centers in California that will help. Wherever you are there may be something that is equivalent. Your child should be tested immediately. We noticed something in our child as early as six months and it has made a big difference in her academic progress. She is now 12 and has made great strides in abstract thinking, logical and critical thinking and has a high functioning vocabulary ( she was non-verbal). Don't give up, get an attorney, keep strongly advocating for your child and do not accept no for an answer. It could be that your child my not have a specific learning disability, but her abstract reason ability may need to be stimulated through alternative means. Her speech and language abilities may be affected. There is a program called FastForword through the Scientific Learning Corporation that is really good for this.
Check with the site www.LD-online.com

I hope this helps.

Answer 4

You may want to consider getting an advocate to go with you to the IEP. I haven't had to do this because we are pleased with our child's education and progress but I've heard that it helps to have an advocate present when a school district is being difficult and not giving value to your input. You have just as much a say in your child's educational decisions as they do but you knew that already. I know IEPs can be intimidating as it is usually 8-10 people one one side and you on the other. It may help you to have some additional support there. Best of Luck to you.

Answer 5

Hello,
Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD), PDDNOS (Not Otherwise Specified), are names for neurobiological disorders at the "mild" end of the autistic spectrum, which affect language and social functioning, often with accompanying perceptual, cognitive, emotional and behavioral symptoms and sometimes motor problems. Autistic-like behaviors and language patterns are frequently evident. Your school system, under IDEA and its state counterparts, is required to fully evaluate any child who may need special education services ""in all areas related to the suspected disability, including, if appropriate, health, vision, hearing, social and emotional status, general intelligence, academic performance, communicative status, and motor abilities.
Once a parent put the request for testing in writing the school has 60 days(federal law but state law might be less)to complete the testing. If the school rejects your request get a notice from the school stating why and file a state complaint. The school can not reject request for testing. (well they can but they have to take you to due process and explain to the Hearing officer (judge) why)
If the parent does NOT agree with school results of the evaluaton they have the right to request an independent education evaluation at public expense.
Because of your child's disability, I would request a speech evaluation to identify weakness in pragmatic, expressive and receptive skills. I would also request an occuptional evaluation to identify weakness in muslc tone, writing and sensory intergration problems. It would hurt to get a Functional Behavior Assessment also.
For I.Q. test do not let the school do a verbal test. Instead request a non-verbal one like the CTONI-3 or U.N.I.T.(Universal Nonverbal Intelligence Test) These test do not require verbal skills to measure cognitive ability.

Answer 6

I agree with any age - as I'm still finding grown adults that can't read simple signs, use turn signals, and quite a few of them think they are special and need special treatment.

Learning Disability seems harsh. I believe as long as there is breath in you, you can learn. While some things may be more difficult than others, you can learn with desire! I hated history because I had a hearing problem and could never understand the teacher. Test always resulted in failures becaues of dates and names attached to them. Today however, I LOVE history as I get to ENJOY it. I'm not under the pressure of remember exact dates and who did exactally what. I get to enjoy learning about what they did, wore, built, did for livings, etc...

Maybe your daughter just needs to be taught differently. Expectations can usually lead to failure when some don't handle stress well. I don't know though because I don't know her or you. I just encourage you to keep an open mind and seek all possible answers instead of just an easy one. Whatever your case may be, good luck and wishing you the best.

Answer 7

The schools are suppose to follow a specific legal process in special ed, and do everything step by step.
First of all, they can not say they won't look for SLD. They are suppose to do a full re evaluation testing in ALL areas of suspected disabilities.
They can NOT decide that she won't qualify for SLD until they have done the evaluations that prove if she can qualify for it or not.There has to be written proof if she qualifies for this or not, (the evaluation) they can't just 'say' it.

What you do (and this is required by sped law) is to write to them and state you are requesting prior written notice for their refusal of looking for SLD (or whatever they told you, use their exact words).

When schools make decisions, they have to have legal reasons for their decisions. When you ask for this PWN, they will most likely change their minds and go ahead with what you want (SLD) because they will not put illegal reasons in writing.

Also, when they finish their eval, you can write and request an 'independent educational evaluation by public expense because you disagree with districts evaluation' (use these exact words).

This eval will be paid for by the school and you choose the dr YOU want to do the eval. This new eval will be used to determine what areas your child qualifies for and what help is truly needed. Most schools evals are biased and don't show the childs true problems.

Answer 8

They can be found to have a learning disability in any age but in contrast the most early age i have hared of to have been tested and confirmed to have it is at about only 5 years old. I think you need to get a new social worker because that is very weird that they will not check for this.

Answer 9

Thats just ridiculous! My 3 year old was found to have a learning disability in her IEP, in fact, she was found to be learning disabled at about 1 yr old. They can't refuse, you just need to tell them what needs to go in the IEP and if THEY refuse, they will get no funding. I can't understand why they wouldn't want to look for disability anyway since it would mean more money to them.

Answer 10

Some Autistic children have significant learning problems both from their Autism and generally low intellectual levels.
You do not mention the intellectual level of your daughter ..it must have been assessed during the diagnosis.
Does she fall into the normal intellectual band or does she have a very low score and her performance reflects this low score.
Low ability children and those with SpLD share many characteristics.