Recognizing the Hidden Disabilities

Disabilities are usually easy to “see” in students because they are overt either in their presentation or their impact. For example, the child who is a wheelchair user due to a chronic medical condition, or the student with speech and language deficits that result in articulation issues are easy to see by the adults that work with them. Typically, these students are given accommodations at home and school, or more direct, intensive support to help them academically and socially.
What about the disabilities you can’t see? High Functioning Autism, ADHD-Inattentive Type, Anxiety, these are just a few of the disabilities that are often referred to as “hidden” because there are not necessarily any physical manifestations that can be seen by adults. Students who manage these types of disabilities often do well academically and socially during the first few years of elementary school. Or if there is an issue, it is usually explained away by parents and teachers as something the child “will grow out of.” The problem is that without early detection and intervention, these students suffer greatly in fourth grade and beyond. The reason is because in fourth grade most children make a big academic and social developmental leap. They are asked to be more organized, become critical thinkers, and develop more complex social relationships. Now these “hidden” disabilities start to become more apparent and the student begins to suffer academically and/or socially. Parents and schools have to react to a big problem that could have been identified and managed earlier had it not been disregarded as something that will be “grown out of.”
I want to encourage parents to go with their intuition about their child’s development. If you think there is something going on, act on it in the moment. I have seen too many kids over the past few years that have big problems which could have been dealt with when they were little problems. Being proactive puts the power in the hands of the parent, and will result in a better adjusted child who does not have to suffer from those “hidden’ disabilities.
If you have concerns about your child’s academic, social or behavioral success, please contact the Dynamic Interventions Team at 661-257-1254.