Assessment for Learning Disabilities Including Dyslexia

Does your child struggle with reading, spelling or writing? Do they mix up letters or jumble their sentences?

If so, they may suffer from a learning disability, such as dyslexia.

A learning disability can severely undermine your child's learning and enjoyment of school, leading to low self-esteem, anxiety or even depression.

If you suspect that your child suffers from any type of learning disability it is important to accurately identify the underlying problems and put in place effective intervention programs and strategies as early as possible in their education.

Expert psychological assessment by a qualified Educational Psychologist is the first step towards helping your child reach their full potential.

How assessment will help your child

Assessment provides an overall profile of your child's learning preferences and helps to plan tailored, individual learning programs.

The information will help you to make informed decisions about your child's specific needs. And their teachers will also receive advice and recommendations for the classroom.

For a learning disability to be diagnosed, your child must display an average or above-average IQ and be significantly below average on one or several parts of an achievement test -- usually in spelling, reading or maths.

Assessment for learning disabilities includes:

1. A standard cognitive test (WISC-IV, WAIS-IV or WPPSI-III)
2. A standardised achievement test (WIAT-II)
3. Various sub-tests from other relevant assessment tools

The combined results from these tests provide many useful insights that cannot be obtained a single test.

Cognitive testing will pinpoint any learning difficulties you child may have such as:

• Processing speed
• Auditory processing
• Verbal learning issues
• Non-verbal learning issues

Achievement testing will assess processing skills in key areas such as:

• Reading
• Writing
• Spelling
• Mathematics
• Oral language

Assessment tools used:

• WISC-IV Australian (ages: 6 years to 16 years 11 months).

OR

• WPPSI-III Australian (ages: 2 years 6 months to 7 years 3 months).

OR

• WAIS-IV Australian (ages: 16 years to 90 years).

AND

• WIAT-II Australian (ages: 4 years and over).

AND various sub-tests from the following assessments:

• Woodcock Johnson III Diagnostic Reading Battery (ages: 2 years and over)
• Auditory Processing Skills - Third Edition (ages: 4 to 18 years)
• Rey Complex Figure Test and Recognition Trial (ages: 6 years and over)

Assessment time: 2 sessions x 1 to 1.5 hours

Cost: $950.00
Note: A deposit of $200 is required at the time of booking.

Services included:

• Assessment (2 sessions x 1 to 1.5 hours)
• Comprehensive report with specific recommendations
• Feedback session with parents (20-30 minutes)

Medicare rebates

Please note that Medicare rebates are not available for psychological assessment. You may be able to claim a rebate for a "long consultation" from your private health insurance provider. Please check this directly with your provider.