Presented is an informal speech addressed to parents of exceptional children. Discussed is the fact that terminology for slow learners and learning disabilities has changed through the past 20 years and that many labels may be more harmful to the child than the actual disability. In an attempt to be reassuring, it is stated that in many cases speech, motor, and cognitive difficulties clear up in the development process if merely left to work themselves out at the child's own pace. Several individual cases are described. (JM)