Understood Explains
Activity Overview
Episode publication activity over the past year
Episodes
IEPs: Getting emotional at IEP meetings
13 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
IEP meetings can get very emotional. It can be hard to sit in a room full of teachers and talk about your child’s needs. Sometimes, these meetings c...
IEPs: For younger kids and older kids
06 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re the parent of a young child, you may be wondering how special education can support kids during recess. If you have a teenager, you may be...
IEPs: English language learners and IEPs
30 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Many kids in the U.S. are learning English as an additional language. For some, it may be their second, third, or fourth language. Their English ski...
IEPs: Resolving IEP disputes
23 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
You and the school may not always agree on every detail in your child’s IEP. If you’re having trouble working things out, it’s good to know your...
IEPs: How IEPs can help with behavior challenges
16 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Does your child have trouble following the teacher’s rules? Are you getting a lot of calls from the principal? An IEP, or Individualized Educat...
IEPs: Setting IEP goals
09 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Setting IEP goals can feel tricky. They should be attainable, but not too hard or too easy — it’s a bit like Goldilocks and the Three Bears.Howeve...
IEPs: How to prepare for IEP meetings
02 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
So you have an IEP meeting coming up, or you’d like to prepare for future ones. This is an important time to ask questions and advocate for what you...
IEPs: Special education terms and your legal rights
25 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If your child qualifies for an IEP, it will come with many legal rights and protections. But with names like “FAPE” and “prior written notice,”...
IEPs: The 13 disability categories
18 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
There are 13 disability categories listed in a federal law called the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA. And to get an IEP, or Ind...
IEPs: How do kids qualify for IEPs?
11 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Kids don’t just get an IEP all of a sudden.Schools have an evaluation process to decide if a child qualifies for special education services. This in...
IEPs: Common IEP myths
04 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If someone says something that makes special education sound bad or negative, chances are it’s just not true. There are a lot of myths about IEPs,...
The difference between IEPs and 504 plans
28 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The terms IEP and 504 plan may come up a lot when you’re looking into special education for your child. These school supports do some of the same th...
Does my child need an IEP?
21 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If your child has been struggling in school, you might be wondering if they need special education. And once you start exploring special education, yo...
Introducing: Understood Explains IEPs
08 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Does your child need special education? How can you make the most of this school support? Listen to the trailer for Understood Explains IEPs, which co...
What I wish I’d known sooner about ADHD diagnosis
29 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This bonus episode of Understood Explains shares personal stories about getting diagnosed with ADHD as an adult. For example, hear from a woman who wa...
What if I don’t really have ADHD?
29 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Doubting your ADHD diagnosis? Do you still think you have ADHD even after your doctor said you don’t? Or maybe you got formally diagnosed but aren’...
How do I emotionally prepare for ADHD diagnosis?
29 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Relief. Anger. Grief. Getting diagnosed with ADHD can bring up a range of emotions. Host Dr. Roberto Olivardia explains what to look for and how to pr...
ADHD treatment without medication: What are my options?
29 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
There are many ways to treat ADHD without medication — or in addition to medication. Learn about a wide range of ADHD treatments, from therapy to fr...
ADHD medication: What do I need to know?
29 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How does ADHD medication work? Is it addictive? If you think you might have ADHD or were recently diagnosed, find out what you need to know about ADHD...
Is online ADHD diagnosis legit?
29 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The wait time may be shorter, but is online ADHD diagnosis accurate? And can it help you get ADHD treatment? In this episode of Understood Explains, l...
What happens in an ADHD test for adults?
29 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How do doctors test adults for ADHD? What kind of questions do they ask? How long does it take? Understood Explains host Dr. Roberto Olivardia breaks ...
Who can diagnose ADHD in adults?
29 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What type of doctor should you see for ADHD diagnosis — primary care provider? Psychologist? Psychiatrist? Is it worth waiting longer to see a spec...
Should I get tested for ADHD?
29 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Are you wondering if your ADHD symptoms are too mild to get tested? Or if there’s enough of a benefit to getting diagnosed with ADHD as an adult? Ho...
Introducing: Understood Explains, Season 2: ADHD diagnosis in adults
22 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Listen to the trailer for Season 2 of Understood Explains, which explores the ins and outs of adult ADHD diagnosis. Host Dr. Roberto Olivardia is a p...
Bonus episode: What I wish I’d known sooner about evaluations for special education
02 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Parents, teachers, and psychologists all have something they wish they’d known sooner about the evaluation process. This bonus episode offers tips f...
How to talk to kids about getting evaluated for special education
02 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
“Mom, why are you making me do this?” Learn what to say to your child about getting evaluated. Hear perspectives from a psychologist (host Dr. And...
Getting reevaluated for special education
02 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
How often do kids need to be reevaluated for special education? What are schools looking for when they reevaluate students? Learn the basics from host...
Private vs. school-based evaluations for special education
02 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What is a neuropsychologist? What can this specialist do that a school psychologist can’t? (The answer involves making diagnoses.) Listen as host Dr...
What happens after an evaluation for special education
02 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Adverse impact. Eligibility determination. IEPs. 504 plans. What are these things? And what do they have to do with how school evaluation teams decide...
Understanding the results of a special education evaluation
02 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The first time you look at your child’s evaluation report, you might be overwhelmed. What do all of those numbers mean? And are some numbers more im...
What to expect during a special education evaluation
02 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What happens during a school evaluation? And what role do families play? Host Dr. Andy Kahn and school psychologist Brittney Newcomer explain who’s ...
How to request an evaluation for special education
02 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
School evaluations are free — and you can ask for one at any time and for any reason. But the details you include when you ask can make a big diffe...
Your rights during the special education evaluation process
02 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What rights do families have in a school evaluation? This episode highlights five key ways that special education law protects your rights during the ...
How to decide if your child needs a special education evaluation
02 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
How do schools decide if a child needs an evaluation? And what role do families play? Host Dr. Andy Kahn explains common reasons to evaluate now — ...
What is a special education evaluation?
02 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Is your child struggling in school? Are you wondering what supports might help? This episode explains the basics of how schools evaluate kids for spec...
Introducing Understood Explains, Season 1: Evaluations for Special Education
12 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Listen to the trailer for Season 1 of Understood Explains, which covers the ins and outs of the process school districts use to evaluate kids for spec...