Early Signs Your Child Might Need an Evaluation
How to Recognize Learning, Behavior, and Developmental Red Flags in Young Children
As a parent, you know your child best. You may notice something feels “off” long before a teacher or pediatrician raises concerns. Trusting your instincts is powerful—and early evaluation can open the door to the support your child needs to thrive.
Whether your child is in preschool or elementary school, here are early signs your child might need an evaluation for learning differences, developmental delays, or behavioral challenges.
🧠 1. Difficulty Communicating or Expressing Needs
If your child struggles to form sentences, follow simple directions, or engage in age-appropriate conversations, it could be more than just a speech delay.
💡 Ask Yourself:
Is my child often frustrated because they can’t explain what they want?
🎓 2. Trouble Focusing or Sitting Still
Many young children are naturally energetic. But if your child can’t sit through story time, follow routines, or frequently disrupts class, it may signal ADHD or executive functioning challenges.
💡 Ask Yourself:
Does my child’s attention span seem shorter than their peers?
✍🏾 3. Struggles With Learning Basic Skills
Missing early academic milestones—like recognizing letters, counting, or rhyming—could indicate a learning disability such as dyslexia or dyscalculia.
💡 Ask Yourself:
Is my child falling behind despite consistent teaching and practice?
👧🏽 4. Social or Emotional Challenges
Does your child avoid other children, have intense tantrums, or become overly anxious in new settings? These may be signs of sensory processing issues, autism spectrum disorder, or anxiety.
💡 Ask Yourself:
Does my child struggle to connect with others or handle change?
🧩 5. You’ve Been Told to “Wait and See”
If your gut tells you something isn’t right, don’t ignore it. You don’t need to wait for a school to notice concerns—you can initiate the evaluation process yourself.
💬 What Happens During an Evaluation?
At EmpowerED Advocates, our evaluations include:
- Observations at home or school
- Developmental or academic screenings
- A strengths-based report with clear next steps
- Recommendations for IEPs, 504s, or interventions
We support children ages 0–12 in Washington, DC and Northern Virginia.
✅ Early Support Changes Everything
Early evaluations can lead to early intervention—and early intervention is proven to improve academic and social outcomes.
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Schedule an Evaluation Today
You don’t have to figure it out alone. We’re here to help.
