Different types of Special Educational Needs

Do you worry about your child’s development? Maybe you know that your child has special educational needs. Or perhaps you work with children and want to know more about special educational needs?

If you’re confused by the terms, here is a quick guide for you:

• Special educational needs (SEN): learning difficulties, developmental or physical disabilities or mental health problems can mean that a child may need extra or different help to other children of the same age.
• Disability: children may be born with or develop a physical impairment, sensory impairment or problems with learning and understanding. Because of the way that the world works,they may be seen as disabled.
• Additional needs: a disability or learning difficulty requiring extra support

Different types of Special Educational Needs

Poor or delayed speech is one of the most common signs that parents pick up on. If you are concerned about your pre-schooler’s language, have a word with your health visitor. The Need2Know book, Special Educational Needs – A Parent’s Guide can help guide you to get the right kind of help for your child.

Poor co-ordination, struggling with talking, having a short attention span or appearing socially immature are also signs of a child that could have special educational needs or need additional help.

Other Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

Autistic Spectrum Disorder

If your child has problems understanding other people’s feelings and expressing their own, they may be on the autistic spectrum. There are different levels of impairment, so some children can have limited speech while others have good language skills.

Seeing and Hearing Difficulties

It is vital to get your child’s eyes and ears checked or they may struggle unnecessarily.

Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLDs)

These including dyslexia, dysgraphia and dyscalculia, and how they link to dyspraxia.

Help for you

It can be bewildering when your child has special educational needs. There are plenty of different professionals out there, but who can help with your particular problem?

• How do you know who is the right person to call?
• What is the quickest way to get a referral?
• How do you get through the system?

A good place to start is by reading as much as you can about special educational needs so you are armed with knowledge. They say knowledge is power and if you have an understanding as to what special educational needs your child might have, it can help you make sure you get the right help from the right person.

Living with Children with Special Educational Needs

Anything that can help make day-to-day life easier is great when you are living with a child that has special educational needs. Finding contacts for charities and organisations, and discovering what you are entitled to in the way of local authority (LA) resources and how to access them can be a godsend. Emotional support is also important. 

Practical tips to handle behaviour difficulties from experts who are working with children with special needs will also help. Many parents of children with special needs deal with disturbed sleep long after they expected sleep problems to be over.

Sleep deprivation impacts on the whole family, and for the child who is getting poor sleep every night it makes it harder to concentrate and learn. Getting it right at school can be a battle.

Special Needs Education

From the early years, before your child starts school, there is additional help for children with special educational needs. For the low down on special needs teaching, special schools and educating your child in the mainstream state system take a look at Special Educational Needs – A Parent’s Guide.

Extract taken from Special Educational Needs - A Parent's Guide. For more information on special eductional needs and what it means, take a look at the book - available now in eBook, printed book and large print formats. Buy the printed version, and get the eBook free!