Pediatrics Group Offers Guidance for Supporting Children who Struggle in School

By Kelly Young

Edited by Susan Sadoughi, MD, and André Sofair, MD, MPH

The American Academy of Pediatrics has released guidance for pediatricians on how to support children who are struggling academically. Among the recommendations published in Pediatrics:

• Pediatricians should help prevent, identify, diagnose, and treat problems related to a child's academic progress. The document includes potential differential diagnoses of children who fail to progress academically (e.g., prenatal alcohol exposure, obstructive sleep apnea, hunger), as well as lists of screening tools appropriate for pediatric populations (e.g., Einstein Evaluation of School-Related Skills).

• Clinicians should be familiar with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the law requiring special education services be provided.

• Clinicians should establish relationships with professionals who can help in the diagnostic process, including subspecialists like neurologists, psychologists, and developmental-behavioral pediatricians; occupational, physical, and speech therapists; and school nurses.

• Pediatricians may take an active role in developing a child's Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 plan.