my 7 year old girl

[MissiHill]

She is having trouble in school learning ,reading and speaking clearly. she throws fits like crazy over everything. she can do math with little error but writing and reading and speaking not so good. I feel she may be bipolor because it does run in my family but i cant be sure. i don't want to take her to the dr until i have a general idea of what it could be. and advice?

[MissiHill]

first off I'm glad she is not alone in this. They have not tested her for anything that is what I am pushing for. I have a meeting with her teacher tonight so hopefully we get something done for her. i just don't want her to fall behind. I want to find her the help i never had.

[specialmom]

As a mother of a child with a developmental delay, I can tell you that public school systems, even affluent, good ones like ours do not readily evaluate kids.  IEP's are set aside for children that have academic issues or a health need whereas many more things are covered under a 504 plan  My son does not have an IEP but a 504.  He didn't have a plan until 4th grade even though he had the same issues throughout the years prior.  But he was able to do his school work and that was one of the main criteria for an IEP.  

I think she can request through her school district to have her child evaluated and should do this.  But I've found help within the school to be often subpar to the professional help you get in private therapies.  I'd consider school help to be supplementation to that.  So, I do agree that a school evaluation is helpful----  I think it is more essential that she speak to her child's pediatrician and perhaps have a referral to a developmental specialist or neurologist and perhaps psychologist to look for a root cause to her issues.  

luck to the poster

[mariemissy]

I am a special education teacher and I would suggest you do two things right away.
1.  Request an educational evaluation to determine if she meets your states criteria to be on an IEP for speech/language/and learning services. Given your description, I'm surprised her teacher hasn't suggested an evaluation.  
2.  TAKE her to see your pediatrician, and heed his/her advice.  Keep a medical history as you go through this.  Once the child is out of school, she will still be your daughter, and the difficulties won't stop once she graduates.  Having the medical history will help her to get services she might continue to need when she is an adult.  

[specialmom]

Hi.  This doesn't sound like symptomology of bipolar dear.  It sounds like she may have either a developmental issue such as sensory integration disorder OR a learning disorder/processing disorder.  My son has sensory integration disorder.  He has trouble with regulation and can throw a fit easily (or used to when he was younger, he's got a better handle on control now), he had trouble with new physical movements, articulation in speech, processing various things, social skills issues.  BUT, a super high IQ.  Gets math and tests in the 99th percentile on states tests in our state for math.  Have a neurological issue does not mean a child has a problem with intelligence.  Or having a learning disability also doesn't mean a child doesn't have a high IQ. At 7, is the school working with her?  Have they tested for dyslexia?  

But I wouldn't look to bipolar. these things you mention really don't have anything to do with that psychiatric diagnosis.  good luck