“Problems with learning are often due to a range of factors that may include poor attention, behavior problems, problems with executive functioning or learning difficulties.”
Learning
Problems with learning are often due to a range of factors that may include including poor attention, behavior problems, problems with executive functioning or learning difficulties. The purpose of an assessment is to determine the cause of the academic problems so that proper services, interventions and treatments can be put in place.
Specific Learning Difficulties, or Learning Disorders are diagnosed using a range of assessments and information gathering. Learning difficulties may affect how a child understands, remembers, processes and assimilates information.
Assessment and Report
A comprehensive assessment report ensures that children receive appropriate intervention and support. Whether a diagnosis is given or not, reports always include recommendations for support and intervention.
We provide a comprehensive list of relevant strategies and interventions in our reports. These may include recommendations for the classroom and home environment, and referral to other professionals who specialise in education interventions.
Dyslexia
When a child has reading difficulties, problems are frequently described as a child having to read and re-read text multiple times, forgetting what they have read, reading very slowly and guessing at words based on context. Sound phonological awareness is essential for the decoding process – sounding out the words. When phonological awareness is impaired, children often rely on compensatory strategies, such as guessing at words. This results in poor comprehension of text, particularly as complexity increases in later primary and secondary school. Written expression problems are sometimes present and may include significant problems with written expression and/or problems with handwriting ability and/or endurance (Dysgraphia).
Possible features of problems with reading (Dyslexia)
Difference between the pupil’s ability and actual acheivement.
Family history of learning difficulties.
Difficulties with spelling
Confusion over left and right.
Writing letters or numbers backwards.
Difficulties with mathematics.
Difficulties with organisation.
Difficulty following 2 or 3 step instructions.
Dyscalculia
When a child has significant problems with their maths ability, areas of difficulty usually relate to problems with learning and retaining the numbers and the quantities they represent, and learning and retaining mathematical calculation symbols and their associated functions (e.g. plus, minus, multiply, divide).
Possible features of problems with mathematics (Dyscalculia)
Difficulty learning to recognise and write numbers.
Difficulty learning to count.
Difficulties with understanding basic mathematical symbols and concepts (addition, subtraction, division and mutiplication).
Works very slowly when doing maths calculations.
Dysgraphia
Handwriting difficulty can lead to frustration, in that creative ideas cannot be adequately expressed and work may fail to be completed within expected time frames, particularly in time pressured situations. Dysgraphia is characterised by significantly poor handwriting ability and/or problems with handwriting endurance. Generating sufficient content for written expression tasks may also be affected.
Executive Functioning Difficulties
Executive functioning encompasses a set of cognitive abilities that allow a person to control and regulate their behaviour. This includes the ability to initiate and inhibit actions, to plan, monitor and change behavior as needed, and the ability to organise.
Executive functioning difficulties are often present in children with learning difficulties and ADHD.
Features of executive functioning include being able to:
Make plans
Keep track of time.
Keep track of more than one thing at once.
Evaluate ideas, reflect on work.
Make corrections while thinking, reading and writing.
Finish work on time.
Seek more information when required.
Communicate details in an organised, sequential manner.
“ The purpose of an assessment is to determine the cause of the academic problems so that proper services, interventions and treatments can be put in place.”