How to Get Help for Learning Challenges: What Parents Need to Know First
You’ve noticed your child is bright, but something’s not clicking with their reading, writing, or maths. You’re juggling meltdowns after school, homework battles, and that sinking feeling of “what am I missing?” The questions keep swirling: Where do I go for help? Do I need a diagnosis? Should I take them to the doctor? What reading program actually works?
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you’re not alone. Here’s a clear roadmap to help you figure out the next steps and find the support your child needs.
Start at School: Your First Port of Call
The best first step when you’re worried about your child’s learning is to talk with their teacher and, if possible, the school principal. Teachers often notice patterns in the classroom that you might not see at home, and your insights from home are just as valuable in building a full picture of what’s going on.
Recognising the Signs
Learning challenges can show up in lots of different ways—some are obvious, others more subtle. Here are some things to keep an eye on:
Academic and behavioural changes:
Drop in grades or sudden struggles with homework
Teachers raising concerns about focus or concentration
Withdrawing from friends, family, or activities they used to enjoy
Sudden irritability, mood swings, or meltdowns after school
Refusing to read or complete homework, leading to battles at home
Physical signs:
Changes in sleep patterns—sleeping too much or too little
Frequent unexplained headaches or stomach aches
Noticeable weight changes or new eating habits
Even unexplained injuries, sometimes linked to self-harm
Subtle warning signs:
Perfectionism: Anxiety over tiny mistakes, refusing anything less than perfect, or working to exhaustion
Using humour as defence: The “class clown” act that hides academic struggles
Task paralysis: Sitting frozen in front of a blank page, unable to start
Technology changes: Becoming secretive with devices, staying online late, or sudden shifts in social media use
Self-neglect: Always helping others while ignoring their own needs
Physical stress responses: Frequent “sick days,” constant tiredness, or nervous habits like nail-biting, hair-twirling, or skin-picking
The most concerning red flags include:
Negative self-talk: “I always mess up” or “Nothing ever goes right”
Self-putdowns disguised as jokes
Casual mentions of “not being around”
Saying everything feels like “forever” or “never”
Struggling to recall yesterday or imagine next week
Losing enthusiasm for everything, not just one thing
Extreme sensitivity to even gentle feedback
If you’re noticing several of these patterns, it’s important to take them seriously and raise them with the school.
Timing Your Approach
It’s usually fair to give the school a term or two to put support in place and see how it works. But if your child is refusing school, showing big anxiety around learning, or slipping further behind, don’t wait—those situations call for quicker action.
Do You Need a Medical Diagnosis?
Lots of parents wonder if they should go straight to the doctor. While doctors don’t usually diagnose dyslexia or dyscalculia, they can rule out things like hearing or vision issues that might affect learning.
For learning differences themselves, assessments usually happen through schools or specialist educational assessors rather than through medical professionals.
Sometimes the signs are subtle, which makes it hard to know what’s “normal” and what’s not. The key is to trust your gut—if you’re seeing ongoing struggles, especially with anxiety around schoolwork or any of the red flags above, it’s worth asking questions and exploring support options.
Working with Your School’s SENCO
The next step is often working with the school’s SENCO (Special Educational Needs Coordinator). Their job is to connect families with extra support and assessment options, and this can be where real help begins.
But if you feel like you’re not getting the answers or support your child needs through the school, looking into an external assessment can give you useful insights and strategies.
Understanding External Assessment Options
SPELD Services
Some families go through SPELD (Specific Learning Difficulties). You usually need to join their organisation first, and assessments cost around $700. The reports are detailed and full of information, which many families appreciate.
The challenge is that some parents find the reports overwhelming, and teachers don’t always have time to turn them into everyday classroom strategies. The quality is excellent, but it’s not always easy to put into practice.
Alternative Assessment Approaches
If the SENCO pathway doesn’t provide the support you need, other assessment options exist. Some practitioners offer assessments starting from about $250, depending on whether you want a full written report or more of a practical action plan.
Not all assessors can give an official dyslexia diagnosis—that usually needs a psychologist—but many focus directly on your child’s learning patterns. They can identify what your child knows, where they’re struggling, and what’s getting in the way of their confidence. These assessments usually cover reading, writing, spelling, maths, and self-regulation, then give you practical next steps that families and teachers can use straight away.
Real-World Results
The right support can be life-changing. One family told me about their child who cried daily because reading felt impossible. Once the assessment identified the gaps and gave them strategies that matched how their brain worked, the fear lifted. Within weeks, the child was reading fluently, confidence grew, and their teacher could see the progress.
Finding Effective Reading Programs
Parents often ask which reading programs actually work. It can feel overwhelming, especially since every school seems to use something different.
What matters most is finding an approach that matches how your child’s brain learns. For example, the Davis approach takes children through clear, structured steps that help make sense of words on the page. It gives them tools beyond just sounding out, memorising rules, or rote learning—which don’t work for everyone.
For many children, discovering the right method is the very first time reading feels possible—and that’s when confidence starts to bloom.
Your Path Forward
If you’re wondering where to begin, here’s your roadmap:
Start with communication: Speak with your child’s teacher and the school SENCO
If you need more support: Explore external assessments and specialist help
Focus on fit: Choose strategies and programs that work with how your child’s brain learns
Trust the process: With the right support, struggles with embarrassment and feelings of “not being good enough” don’t have to continue
The most important thing to remember is that learning challenges don’t reflect your child’s intelligence or potential. With the right understanding, support, and strategies tailored to their way of learning, every child can succeed and build confidence.
If you’re recognising these patterns in your child and you’re ready to explore the next steps, booking an initial consultation with a learning specialist can give you clarity and a clear plan forward. That understanding doesn’t just improve academic outcomes—it can transform your child’s whole relationship with learning.
