Dr. Perlstein received his Medical Degree from the University of Cincinnati and then completed his internship and residency in pediatrics at The New York Hospital, Cornell medical Center in New York City. After serving an additional year as Chief Pediatric Resident, he worked as a private practitioner and then was appointed Director of Ambulatory Pediatrics at St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx.
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.
Dyslexia is a difficult disorder to diagnose.
There are many factors the psychologist or other health professional
reviews to diagnose the disability. The testing determines the child's
functional reading level and compares it to reading potential, which is
evaluated by an intelligence test. All aspects of the reading process are
examined to pinpoint where the breakdown is occurring. The testing further
assesses how a child takes in and processes information and what the child does
with the information. The tests determine whether a child learns better by
hearing information (auditory), looking at information (visual), or doing
something (kinesthetic). They also assess whether a child performs better when
allowed to give information (output), by saying something (oral), or by doing
something with their hands (tactile-kinesthetic). The tests also evaluate how
all of these sensory systems (modalities) work in conjunction with each other.
The tests administered are standardized and
are considered highly reliable. The child should not feel as if
there is something wrong because testing is occurring. Many of
the tests use a game-type or puzzle format which can help make
the child feel more comfortable. Children should get a good night's
sleep prior to the testing and have a good breakfast. If the testing
is done in a school setting, the teacher can prepare the child
by talking about the person who will come and do special work
with the child. With young children, the psychologist may visit
the child's classroom before the testing so that the child is
familiar with him. Whether or not the testing is done at school,
the parent may want to talk to their child about a new person
coming to work with them. However, parents should not try to coach
the child concerning the testing. It is recommended that parents
not be present during the testing.
A standard battery of tests can include, but
is not limited to, the following:
Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Third
Edition (WISC-III)
Learning disabilities can cause an individual to have trouble learning and using skills such as reading, listening, writing, reading, speaking, reasoning, and performing mathematics. There is no cure for learning disabilities. Parents and teachers working together to properly diagnose learning disabilities can properly plan a course of education. For some, medication may be appropriate as complimentary treatment.
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