Consultancy

The Learning Options Consultancy Service

When learning difficulties are detected in children, parents are often referred to a professional therapist who will diagnose the underlying cause and then advise a course of action. Sometimes, parents are given the written results of an assessment which indicates a difficulty, but treatment may not be advised. Depending on the individual’s ability to seek out appropriate support groups, to search for information and at the same time to deal with family life in general, many parents experience a challenging journey. They are also forced to learn a new language involving abstract terminology: what does a diagnosis of dyspraxia or developmental delay mean exactly? How can I recognise the common signs; in what ways might it affect my child’s learning and how do I go about fixing it?

Parents find themselves overwhelmed with choice. Who to see? Where to start? How much to pay? The reality is that all children are different and what may work for one child may not work for another. Some children may respond and improve after one type of therapy is attempted, but others may require the use of a number of alternatives.

The consultants at Learning Options Centre can suggest approaches to queries such as:

“My child has been diagnosed with ADD. Before I agree to medication, what other avenues could I explore?”

“My child should be starting school next year. She was delayed in her language development. I am not sure whether to keep her at pre-school for another year or to send her to school. How do I know she is ready?”

“Do you do assessments? We have recently moved here from Canada. We would like to get a picture of our son’s levels in reading, spelling, writing and maths.”

“I am really worried about my son. He has always struggled at school but now he seems to be giving up and he makes no effort to read or do his homework. My husband thinks he is lazy. Can you suggest anything?”

We draw from the collective experience of the teachers and therapists at the Centre and offer a number of suggestions from which parents can make informed choices about their sons and daughters. A consultation can:

offer an understanding response to the difficulties parents are facing
provide non-psychological assessments
refer to a number of relevant professionals
advocate on behalf of you and your child
evaluate the student’s abilities / interests and help arrange for any necessary testing
provide information and practical advice
help parents plan and implement strategies to help their child

A questionnaire is sent out to the parent before the appointment and consultations last 80 minutes.
We have information concerning the methods employed and the approaches taken by the following professionals and therapists:

Nutritionists and Dieticians
Chiropractors
Osteopaths, Neuro-developmental Therapists
Occupational Therapists
Paediatric Physiotherapists
Cranial-Sacral Therapists
Kinesiologists
Developmental Optometrists
Irlen Lens Specialists
Speech Language Pathologists
Music Therapists
Sound Therapists
Neurotherapists
Auditory Integration Training
Applied Behavioural Analysis
Psychologists and Counsellors
Dentists