Ep. 105 - Is It a Learning Disability, a Skill Gap, or Something Else? How to Tell the Difference // Dr. Amy Moore & Sandy Zamalis

Your child is struggling, and you don't know if it's a content gap, a skill gap, or something deeper. Should you change curriculum? Hire a tutor? Get a diagnosis? In this episode, homeschool expert and 20-year education veteran Christy-Faith sits down with Dr. Amy Moore (cognitive psychologist and ADHD mom) and Sandy Zamalis (cognitive skills specialist and former homeschool mom) from LearningRx to give you a clear framework for figuring out what's really going on—and what to do next. If you've ever said, “I don't understand why you don't remember this—I taught this to you last week,” this episode is for you. 🎁 Free Resource: The New Homeschooler Roadmap Everything you need to start homeschooling — 8 steps, mapped out, ready to follow. 👉 christy-faith.com/the-new-homeschooler-roadmap In this episode, you'll learn: How to tell if your child has a content gap, a skill gap, or a true learning disability When to change curriculum vs. when to call in a professional Should you get a diagnosis? The real pros, cons, and costs Which specialist to see first when your child is struggling (and which ones to skip) Sudden behavior change vs. lifelong struggle: how to tell if it's medical (like PANDAS) or developmental Why learning styles are a myth—and what working memory, automaticity, and prior knowledge actually predict Why “they'll catch up eventually” is bad advice, based on research with 5,000+ struggling readers What cognitive skills training is and why neuropsychologists keep recommending it Sponsors: BJU Press Homeschool ✔ Flexible curriculum to fit your family's needs ✔ Biblical worldview and critical thinking built in ✔ Hands-on learning for every grade level 👉 Visit bjupresshomeschool.com/christy CTC Math ✔ Get 50% off my favorite online math program ✔ Adaptive lessons so kids build confidence at their own pace ✔ Teaching, grading, and testing — all done for you! 👉 Visit CTC Math Lovevery Reading Skill Set ✔ 98% of kids improved their reading scores in 6 weeks ✔ Follows the science of reading with fun, game-based learning 👉 Visit lovevery.com/christyfaith — use code CHRISTY10 for 10% off Summit Healthshare ✔ Save 40–60% vs. traditional health insurance ✔ See any doctor — no networks, no permission slips ✔ Free labs, office visits, prescriptions on select plans 👉 Visit summithealthshare.com Resources mentioned: LearningRx — Cognitive skills training centers nationwide: learningrx.com The Brainy Moms Podcast (Dr. Amy Moore & Sandy Zamalis): learningrx.com/brainy-moms-podcast The Christy-Faith List — Find homeschool-friendly providers: christy-faiths-list.com Thrive Homeschool Community: christy-faith.com/thrive About our guests: Dr. Amy Moore is a cognitive psychologist, the Director of Psychology and Research for LearningRx, and co-host of the Brainy Moms podcast. She has a master's in early childhood education, a PhD in cognitive psychology, and is an ADHD mom who has ADHD herself. 👉 amymoorephd.com Sandy Zamalis is a cognitive skills specialist and owner of two LearningRx centers. She is a former homeschool mom who homeschooled from preschool through high school and is part of LearningRx's Homeschool Partnership Program. 👉 thebrainymoms.com Connect with Christy-Faith: Instagram: @christy_faith_homeschool TikTok: @christy_faith Website: christy-faith.com Book: Homeschool Rising 🎧 Love the show? Follow, subscribe, and leave a review wherever you listen — it helps more homeschool families find us!