Diagnosis And Assessment

How To Diagnose Specific Learning Disability

Parents who suspect a problem should take action. If left untreated, a Specific Learning Disability can stop a child from mastering the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic, damage self esteem and self confidence and have negative long-term effects. Psycho-educational assessment is the only reliable means of diagnosis. Parents who suspect a problem should:

1. Contact the child's school, which may agree that a problem exists.


2. Have the child's hearing and sight tested to ensure that there are no acuity problems.


3. Arrange for a psycho-educational assessment with a qualified psychologist. This should describe the nature and extent of the problem and offer specific advice on remediation. Before attending for assessment, make a list of the child's earlier and current problems and take it along. A teacher's report is always very helpful in this process. School-going children may be tested free by the Department of Education and Science's Psychological Service, the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS), where such a service exists. School Principals will have information on this.

Alternatively, parents can arrange to have an assessment done outside of school, privately.

The Dyslexia Association of Ireland arranges psycho-educational assessments at its Dublin Office. A fee of €400 is usually charged for this service. Please contact us for further information, or if you would like to place someone on our assessment waiting list.

There are also many independent private educational psychologists, throughout the country. A list of registered psychologists can be obtained from the Psychological Society of Ireland's website at www.psihq.ie, by emailing the Society at info@psihq.ie or by writing to the Society at CX House, 2A Corn Exchange Place, Poolbeg St., Dublin 2.

NOTE: Tax relief on the assessment fee of a dependent child is allowable via the MED1 Form. Visit the revenue website www.revenue.ie and see the section on tax relief for health expenses for further information. You can download a MED1 form from the revenue website or get one from your local tax office.

Preparing A Child To Have An Assessment

Having an assessment with a psychologist should be a pleasant event in a child's life. Some common-sense points to help ensure a good assessment experience are listed below.

• Choose your psychologist carefully to ensure that s/he is familiar with specific learning difficulty.
• Find out as much as you can about the assessment procedure in advance, the more informed you are the more relaxed you will be and this will be beneficial to the child.
• Be as honest and frank as you can.
• Tell the child why you are visiting a psychologist, i.e. because the child is having some difficulty with reading, writing, spelling, maths, etc.
• Present it in the most positive way you can - as something you have arranged specially so that you can help.
• Explain what the psychologist will do, i.e. she will talk to the child about school, ask questions, do certain tasks like jigsaws, finding missing parts, do some reading and spelling.
• Explain that this is not an exam. The child cannot fail. The psychologist will only be interested in finding out how the child thinks and learns.
• Tell your child where you are going, at what time and how long it will take.
• Try to ensure that the child is well rested.
• Bring a nutritious snack if necessary.
• If possible, build in a little treat afterwards.
• After the assessment the psychologist will probably give you some brief feedback. Using your own good judgement, tell the child, as simply as possible, what the psychologist said, always stressing the most positive things. If you are anxious or upset about what you have been told, wait until you are feeling more positive before saying very much to your child.

Preparing A Child To Have An Assessment Through The School System
If you child is being assessed by a psychologist from the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS), you will be assigned a specific person and the assessment will take place in the child's school. Therefore, some of the points above will not be relevant.