Learning Difficulties: The Role of Professionals in Special Education

Let’s take a look of the role played by professionals whose work is related to educating your special child. There are psychologists, psychiatrists, speech therapists, occupational therapists and learning therapists. These professionals usually work together in helping a special child achieve his or her fullest potential. Know which professionals will help with the development of your child, specifically. Do not just go to a particular professional because someone else does.

A child psychologist is someone parents will consult for intellectual or learning related assessments for their child. Their job is to carry out diagnostic tests that aim to gauge a child’s level of intelligence, their cognitive or learning abilities. They can counsel children with behavioural problems. They can counsel parents on how to handle their children too.

Child psychiatrists deal with areas that are more related to medical side of your child’s well being. They control medication dosages and are able to identify if a child has any special needs to begin with. These doctors can also counsel children with behavioural or emotional deviances. These professionals can also advice parents on how to handle emotional and behavioural difficulties. If parents need counselling services, then, psychiatrists can arrange these sessions too.

Speech therapists deal with spoken language. If your child has articulation problems, or any other speech related problem, then, these are the professionals who deal with it. They teach child how to talk and communicate effectively and monitor their speech development. They are able to teach a child how to articulate and pronounce words when speaking. Speech therapists also provide exercises, which can be practiced at home or at sessions.

Occupational therapists and physiotherapists deal with the physical development of the child. If your child has problems learning to walk or coordination difficulties, these are the professionals who take care of such problems. They help the child develop his physical side of child’s life by providing suitable exercises for the child. This will help enhance coordination and the development of gross and fine motor skills in order for the child to achieve his highest potential especially in daily living.

For advice on nutrition and diet, there are dieticians available to give you advice. They will identify any allergies your child may have, by running specific allergy tests. Some children with a certain special need may not benefit from certain types of food. It is important for parents to look into this area, as nutrition is a vital part of your child’s overall development.

The learning therapists look after special children’s academic development. They draw up academic programmes based on reports provided by psychologists or psychiatrists. Suitable academic programmes are vital for intellectual development of these children. These professionals know various methods of teaching. They are in a position to decide which course of learning is best suited to a given child, based on assessments from the other professionals.

They study different techniques of teaching and are able to implement these most appropriately. Some methods may work well for certain types of difficulties while others for different problems. Learning Therapists are trained to observe and to closely monitor the academic development of children.

Now, as parents it is your right to be given access to your child’s reports. Read these reports and ask questions should you require further clarification. After all, the child is yours and you must know about your child’s development. Not one of the above can claim to help your child achieve his fullest potential in all areas development, single-handedly – physical, intellectual, academic, speech, social and emotional areas. They must work together- each professional complimenting the other’s work.