Many parents are hesitant to have their child “labeled” with a diagnosis, whether it’s autism, dyslexia, ADHD, or a learning disability. They fear what repercussions come with being deemed as having special needs. However, an official diagnosis can actually be very beneficial and open doors to a wide range of services, therapies, and accommodations. It’s important to try to look past any “labels” and instead focus on doing what is best for your child and helping them access the resources they need to thrive.
Getting an official diagnosis can be your first step toward supporting your child’s development and well-being, and PediaPlex can help you to get there. Here are just a few of the benefits that come with having a documented need:
Access to Therapies: Oftentimes insurance will not cover therapy (or as much) if the child does not have a diagnosis that warrants it. With an official diagnosis, you may be able to receive financial help or insurance coverage for services such as ABA Therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, counseling, and more. It can also help to put you in touch with more effective resources to get your child the help they could benefit from.
Access to Accommodations: The same is true for accommodations, whether they be at work, school, or in the community. When a child is diagnosed with a learning disability, autism, or another condition, they can receive access to accommodations tailored to their specific needs. They may have preferential seating, more time to take tests, built in breaks, or more structured notes or instruction. They could have push-in support in the classroom to help them better interact with peers and engage with lessons. These resources are often not available unless they have a documented need for them.
Improved Understanding: Realizing that your child does have special needs can help you as a parent to improve your relationship with them. You can learn more effective ways of interacting, supporting their development, communicating, and building connections. Their communication, behavior, challenges, and strengths can become less of a mystery because you have a better idea of what is behind them.
Improved Support: Once you understand the challenges that your child is facing, you can be more proactive in getting them the support and services they need to be successful. Perhaps they could benefit from feeding therapy, sensory regulation treatment, or social skills training. With an official diagnosis, you can work with therapists to get them into these types of programs and others to see what works best for their needs.
PediaPlex offers a wide range of services all in one convenient location so that children can receive more comprehensive care and support. In addition, there are professionals available to evaluate and diagnose a variety of conditions and help parents determine what the next steps are. At PediaPlex, children receive the therapies and services they need to make the most of each day and thrive in different environments.
Are you concerned about your child’s development? Contact PediaPlex to learn more about available evaluations and services.
