The early bird gets the worm : the benefits of early identification and testing for students with learning disabilities

This focus of this project is on the importance of diagnosing learning disabilities in elementary school aged children, so that children can get the help that they need. Addressing this issue is essential because a late diagnosis can negatively affect students’ educational paths, especially at a young age. Based on data from teacher interviews and scholarly resources, parents and teachers have a big impact on a student with learning difficulties path to diagnosis and the subsequent educational journey. These finding show that students, parents and teachers need resources to educate them on learning disabilities and the testing that surrounds it. Since data suggests that testing is a strenuous and tedious process, it is important to try other interventions first. For example, providing one on one tutoring for students with possible learning disabilities may help to help facilitate their learning concepts that they do not understand in the classroom. Although the testing process is tedious and frustrating, getting the student the help they need when they are having problems in their studies is essential to student success