Learning Differences Evaluation

Dyslexia, Dysgraphia & Dyscalculia

Looking beyond academic performance to understand how your child learns.

Learning differences can affect reading, writing, spelling, mathematics, or written expression despite appropriate instruction, strong effort, and average or above-average intelligence. Many students work incredibly hard to keep up with their peers, making learning differences difficult to recognize until academic demands increase.

A learning differences evaluation examines both academic skills and the underlying cognitive processes that support learning. By looking beyond grades and classroom performance, the evaluation helps determine whether a specific learning disability, such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, or dyscalculia, best explains the pattern of strengths and challenges. Just as importantly, it identifies the individual’s learning profile so recommendations can build upon strengths while supporting areas of need.

Areas Commonly Assessed

Every evaluation is individualized. The specific measures selected depend on the referral questions, age, developmental level, and concerns being addressed.

📚 Academic Achievement
Comprehensive assessment of reading, writing, mathematics, and oral language to identify academic strengths, areas of difficulty, and patterns consistent with specific learning disorders such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia.

🔤 Phonological & Orthographic Processing
Evaluates the underlying language processes that support reading and spelling, including sound awareness, sound-symbol relationships, rapid retrieval of language, and recognition of written word patterns. Weaknesses in these areas are commonly associated with dyslexia and other reading-related learning differences.

🗣️ Auditory Memory
Assesses the ability to learn, retain, and recall spoken information. Strong auditory memory supports following directions, vocabulary development, reading comprehension, classroom learning, and acquiring new information.

🧠 Intellectual Functioning
Measures reasoning, problem-solving, and overall thinking abilities to provide important context for understanding an individual’s learning profile, strengths, and academic performance.

👁️ Visual Memory
Evaluates the ability to learn, retain, and recall visual information. Visual memory contributes to recognizing words and spelling patterns, remembering what has been seen, and supporting mathematics through recall of visual patterns, number relationships, and spatial organization.

✍️ Visual-Motor Integration
Evaluates how efficiently visual information and fine motor skills work together. These skills support handwriting, written expression, copying, organization on paper, and many classroom tasks.

🚀 Processing Speed
Measures how efficiently an individual processes and responds to simple information. Processing speed can influence reading fluency, written work, classroom efficiency, note-taking, and test completion.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is a learning differences evaluation different from a comprehensive psychological evaluation?

A learning differences evaluation focuses specifically on reading, writing, mathematics, oral language, and the cognitive processes that support learning. A comprehensive psychological evaluation looks more broadly at multiple areas of functioning, including attention, executive functioning, memory, emotional functioning, behavior, and learning. During your consultation, we’ll discuss your concerns and determine which evaluation best fits your child’s needs.

What is the difference between dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia?

These are all specific learning disabilities (also called specific learning disorders), but they affect different aspects of learning. Dyslexia primarily affects reading and spelling, dysgraphia affects handwriting and written expression, and dyscalculia affects mathematics. An evaluation helps identify an individual’s unique learning profile so recommendations can be targeted to their specific strengths and needs.

Do learning differences affect intelligence?

No. Learning differences and intellectual ability are separate. Many individuals with learning differences have average or above-average cognitive abilities. An evaluation helps identify both strengths and the learning processes that may benefit from additional support.

At what age should a learning differences evaluation be completed?

Learning differences are typically evaluated after a child has received formal instruction in reading, writing, or mathematics. The appropriate timing depends on the referral questions, educational history, and developmental level, which we can discuss during your consultation.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If you’re looking for a deeper understanding of your child’s strengths, challenges, and learning profile, I’d be happy to help. The first step is a complimentary 15-minute consultation where we can discuss your concerns and determine whether a comprehensive evaluation is the right fit.

Schedule a Complimentary Consultation