Specific Learning Disorders (SLDs) are neurodevelopmental disorders characterised by persistent difficulties in reading (Dyslexia), written expression (Dysgraphia), and/or mathematics (Dyscalculia). Difficulties in these areas can cause problems across a range of subjects and if not identified and managed can also contribute to a higher risk of psychological distress, poorer mental health, difficulty with employment, and low self-esteem.
While there is no ‘cure’ for SLDs, various management strategies can be learnt to build upon individual strengths. By assessing your cognitive strengths and weaknesses, our assessment process will identify whether you or your child experience a specific learning disorder and recommend effective treatment avenues to support you to thrive. When symptoms are first recognised in adulthood, having an understanding of your SLD can reduce anxiety and poor self worth.
The Mind Clinic offers Specific Learning Disorder assessments for children, adolescents, and adults. These assessments run over 3-4 weeks and results are available 6-8 weeks after completion. Assessments typically occur in the following stages:
SPECIFIC LEARNING DISORDERS
Summary of Assessment Process
DYSLEXIA
Dyslexia is also known as ‘Specific Learning Disorder with Impairments in Reading’ and is the most common learning disorder and is equally likely to be diagnosed in males and females. If you or your child have Dyslexia learning to read will have been challenging due to difficulties with word reading accuracy, reading rate or fluency, and/or reading comprehension. This neurodevelopmental disorder does not impact or reflect your intelligence. Ideally, diagnosis is made in early childhood so that therapeutic learning assistance and academic allowances can be accessed.
What are the signs or symptoms of Dyslexia?
People with Dyslexia have difficulty creating a connection between letters on a page with the sound they make (phonology) and written language (orthography) and presents differently across the lifespan.
Young children with Dyslexia may demonstrate difficulties with:
• Speech delays
• Pronouncing words
• Rhyming or identifying starting sounds of words
• Writing their own name
• Pre-school level literacy tasks
• Acquiring alphabet knowledge
Primary school aged children may demonstrate difficulties with:
• Learning the relationship between letters and sounds
• Blending sounds
• Making frequent errors whilst reading
• Reading slowly or without expression (monotonous reading)
• Avoiding reading
• Appearing stressed when required to read
• Take a long time to complete reading or writing based tasks
• Reading below the level expected for age or grade
• Seeing similarities or differences between letters and words
• Summarising or expressing their understanding of what they have read
High school aged students and adults may demonstrate many similar difficulties to primary aged school children and may also have a weaker vocabulary and/or general language skills. Avoidance of reading, anxiety related to school, and low self-esteem are also common.
DYSGRAPHIA
Dysgraphia is also known as a Specific Learning Disorder with Impairments in Writing. If you or your child have Dysgraphia you are likely to experience difficulties with spelling, grammar, and punctuation, and/or clarity and organization of written expression. This neurodevelopmental disorder does not impact or reflect a person’s intelligence. While diagnosis is usually made in early school-aged children, symptoms may not be recognised until adulthood.
What are the signs or symptoms of Dysgraphia?
People with Dysgraphia often must work a lot harder and take more time to produce written work that is at the same level as their peers. People with this disorder may demonstrate the following difficulties:
• Spelling
• Using grammar and punctuation correctly
• Organising their writing (e.g., sentence and paragraphs)
• Poor pen/pencil grip
• Slow, effortful, and/or unclear handwriting
• Completing literacy tasks in a timely manner
Additionally, people with Dysgraphia often avoid tasks that require them to write, become anxious about school/work, and experience low self-esteem. Difficulties with writing are usually present in primary school, but can become more obvious as demands increase, such as in high school, university, or post-secondary employment.
DYSCALCULIA
Dyscalculia is also known as Specific Learning Disorder with Impairments in Mathematics. If you experience Dyscalculia you may have difficulties understanding and manipulating numbers and learning mathematical facts. This is due to experiencing difficulties with a sense of numbers, memorisation of mathematic facts, accurate or fluent calculation, and/or accurate mathematic reasoning. Like the other SLDs, Dyscalculia is a neurodevelopmental disorder and does not impact or reflect a person’s intelligence. Diagnosis is usually made in early school-aged children, although symptoms may not be recognised until adulthood.
What are the signs or symptoms of Dyscalculia
People with Dyscalculia may demonstrate difficulties with:
• Basic math skills (e.g., counting, sequencing, basic calculations)
• Recognising numbers or connecting numerical symbols (e.g., 5) with their words (e.g., five)
• Remembering maths facts (e.g., basic addition, subtraction, or multiplication)
• Maths related anxiety
• Completing multi-stepped calculations
• Estimation
• Counting without using visual aids (e.g., counting on fingers)
• Processing visual-spatial tasks like graphs and charts
• Remembering numbers in daily life (e.g., post codes or phone numbers)
• Using money (e.g., making change, counting bills or coins, estimating how much something will cost)