How is the condition diagnosed?

The parents or a teacher often notice the problem first. Diagnosis of the cause starts with a medical history and physical exam. This may be all that is needed to make the diagnosis in some cases. In other cases, further testing may be needed.

For example, a formal hearing test may be done if hearing loss is suspected. One such test is called brain stem evoked-response audiometry, or BAER. A formal test of language or a test of intelligence, also called an IQ test, may be advised if these are suspected causes. Examples of language tests include the Early Language Milestone Scale and the Clinical Linguistic Assessment Measurement test. A cranial CT scan may be ordered if nervous system damage is suspected. Psychological tests, such as a Rorschach inkblot test, may be ordered if an emotional disturbance is suspected.