To diagnose a learning disorder or a learning disability, professionals follow a structured evaluation roadmap that brings together multiple methods of assessment. A psychological assessment may include standardized tests, achievement testing, and a clinical interview to measure cognitive ability, academic skills, and overall intellectual ability. During a full evaluation, qualified professionals also consider motor skills, speech and language, and social emotional development to ensure a well-rounded understanding of the individual’s needs.

A thorough evaluation often begins with an initial consultation, where background details such as family history and medical records are reviewed. Clinicians then conduct targeted measures like neuropsychological evaluation, personality assessment, and behavioral assessment to gather information about the individual’s learning profile. This may also include testing in word recognition, written expression, math facts, processing speed, and working memory.

The comprehensive evaluation process produces a detailed comprehensive report that highlights test results, identifies strengths, and clarifies learning problems or specific learning disorder patterns. A dedicated feedback session helps parents understand the findings and outlines next steps, such as connecting with the child’s school, school district, or other school services to determine eligibility for supports and accommodations.

These evaluation services not only provide an accurate diagnosis but also guide additional support such as tutoring, therapy, or referrals for medical care.

Getting your child evaluated is the first step. By working with experts who offer psychological testing, families can avoid years of frustration and instead take the first step toward unlocking their child’s potential, ensuring their child’s learning needs are met in both academic and everyday life. At Forest Psychological, we can offer you a private evaluation.

The seven commonly recognized learning difficulties include dyslexia (reading difficulties), dysgraphia (writing difficulties), dyscalculia (math difficulties), auditory processing disorder, visual processing disorder, nonverbal learning disability, and language processing disorder. However, only the first four—dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, and language processing disorder—are formally classified in the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders).

The remaining three—auditory processing disorder, visual processing disorder, and nonverbal learning disability—are not official DSM diagnoses, but they can still significantly impact learning. A clinician can assess and identify these difficulties, even though they do not receive a formal diagnosis.

Learning disability evaluations help clarify these challenges, allowing students, including those in college, to access appropriate academic accommodations and support tailored to their specific needs.

In the United States, ADHD is not classified as a specific learning disability, but it can contribute to significant learning challenges that interfere with academic performance and everyday functioning. Unlike a specific learning disorder such as dyslexia, ADHD is characterized by difficulties with attention, memory, and processing speed, which may affect a child’s ability to keep up with assignments, recall math facts, or demonstrate strong written expression.

When a child is evaluated for ADHD, the evaluation often includes behavioral assessment, clinical diagnostic interviews, and a review of family history and medical records. Clinicians may also administer formal tests, neuropsychological tests, or norm-referenced tests to rule out overlapping learning problems, learning difficulties and other conditions that might affect performance. This thorough approach ensures an accurate diagnosis and helps determine whether the student qualifies for school services or accommodations through their school district. There's nothing linear about a learning disability or learning issue, many things will come togther during diagnosis and treatment.

While ADHD alone does not fall under the legal category of a learning disability, many children and many adults with ADHD still benefit from supports such as extra time on exams, tutoring, counseling, and extra support within the classroom. These strategies allow students to build on their child’s strengths, address social emotional needs, and ultimately improve their overall academic skills and child’s learning outcomes.

A learning disability is typically diagnosed when a person’s achievement testing scores are significantly lower than expected for their age and intellectual ability. Generally, a discrepancy of two standard deviations between cognitive ability and academic performance in areas like reading, writing, or math is used as a marker in disability evaluations, especially for a learning disability. These evaluation services help determine eligibility for academic accommodations, particularly for children, teen, and college students who need additional support.