Learning Disabilities Assessments

Learning disabilities are a broad term for the substantial variations in thinking and learning that may be caused by brain differences. Children with learning disabilities often do not notice that they process information differently from their peers since they have always lived with the condition. This often leaves them feeling less intelligent than their peers, academically inadequate and ashamed of their struggles. Getting a diagnosis, and the life changing academic support that follows can help your child feel understood by teachers and peers, thereby improving confidence, academic engagement and self-worth. A learning disability (LD) assessment involves the gathering of relevant information about an individual’s areas of strengths and challenges to determine whether a learning disability is present.

What to Expect

A learning disabilities assessment is required to determine if a child qualifies for special education services. The assessment is conducted by a registered psychologist, who will evaluate the child’s awareness of and access to sound structure, their ability to recall sounds, syllables and words, the speed at which they can name objects, numbers, and letters, the scope of their reading and writing comprehension, their understanding how letters relate to sounds, as well as their pronunciation and writing skills.

Kinds of Learning Disabilities

Learning Disabilities (LD) are conditions that affect a person's ability to receive, process and express information. LD refers to a wide range of difficulties including dyslexia, dyscalculia and dysgraphia.

Dyslexia

Dyslexia is a learning disorder that makes it difficult to read, write and spell. If left untreated, dyslexia can cause problems for education and academic performance throughout the child’s life. Early intervention is crucial to improving reading skills and preventing future challenges within school and life.

Signs & Symptoms of Dyslexia 

  • Delayed talking and possible stuttering
  • Difficulty learning new words
  • Adding, omitting or flipping letters and numbers
  • Difficulty with reading and comprehension
  • Problems with rhyming and word play
  • A hard time remembering or naming letters, colors, numbers and objects.

Dyscalculia

Dyscalculia is a learning disability that is characterized by extreme deficiencies in the ability to process and understand mathematical concepts. This means students can have trouble with basic mental math, counting, solving complex equations (multiplication, fractions, division), reading the clock, counting money, and following directions.

Signs & Symptoms of Dyscalculia

  • Inability or slow in doing basic calculations.
  • Extreme difficulty performing mental calculations
  • Very hard time counting backwards
  • A poor sense of numbers and estimates
  • Anxiety when having to do math
  • Difficulty reconciling the word and the number (one and 1)

Dysgraphia

Dysgraphia is a language-based learning disorder that affects a person’s ability to write. It may cause problems with spelling, punctuation and writing mechanics like spacing, reasoning and organization. People with dysgraphia have difficulty writing on their own or copying down information.

Signs & Symptoms of Dysgraphia

  • Struggling with forming letter shapes
  • Difficult staying within the lines
  • Trouble with sentence structure, punctuation and grammar when writing.
  • Difficulty organizing or articulating thoughts on paper
  • Difficulty manoeuvring the pencil or gripping it too tightly.

Learning Disabilities Assessment Providers

Shaheena Kassam

Shaheena Kassam

Registered Psychologist
$200 per hour
Shaheena offers assessments and counselling for children, youths, and their families to help them with anxiety, depression, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other behavioural or social challenges.

Get Matched To The Right Therapist

Not sure who can help you? You can either fill out the form to be matched to a therapist that specializes in your unique situation or give us a call at (403) 588-7639.

Get Started

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