Specific Learning Disorder Assessments

We conduct assessments for all areas of learning disorders.

We have availability for early 2025.

Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

As many as 2-3 children in every classroom experience Specific Learning Disorders (SLDs) which can continue into adulthood. While it’s normal for people to have a bit of difficulty in tasks involving reading, writing or maths, for some this difficulty can be greater and the result of an underlying condition that needs to be addressed.

There are three specific learning disorders: Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, and Dyscalculia. Children and adults may experience one or a combination of these, despite having adequate cognitive abilities.

While SLDs are present from birth, they might not become evident until there is an increase in academic pressure, such as entering Year 1, High School, University, or even the work force.

Types of Specific Learning Disorders

Dyslexia is a specific learning difficulty that affects an individual's ability to read, write, and spell, despite adequate intelligence and educational opportunities.
Symptoms of Dyslexia vary depending on the person and their age, but include the following:
- Difficulty reading out loud
- Slow or effortful reading
- Difficulty with reading comprehension
- Confusing similar looking words e.g., “bad” and “bed”
People with dyslexia also often have difficulties outside of reading, such as trouble with memorising numbers, organisation, and may display some speech delays.
Dyscalculia is a specific learning difficulty that affects the ability to understand and manipulate numbers and mathematical concepts, despite adequate cognitive skills and educational opportunities.
Symptoms may include:
- Difficulty understanding numbers and their meaning
- Difficulties with addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division
- Relying on finger-counting even after peers have moved ahead.
Everyday tasks may also be affected, such as difficulty telling the time, handling money, time management, and increased anxiety around tasks that involve numbers and mental maths.
Dysgraphia is a learning disability characterised by difficulty in handwriting, affecting a person's ability to write legibly and expressively.
Symptoms of Dysgraphia may include:
- DIfficulties with spelling and handwriting
- Incorrect capitalisation
- Mixing writing styles
- Using incorrect words or leaving out words in sentences
- Slow or effortful writing.

Learning Assessment Process

At Blue Waves, we have extensive experience in Learning assessments and identification of Specific Learning Disorders.

Initial Interview

All learning assessments begin with an interview to discuss concerns, schooling history, developmental and family history, and make a plan for the assessment process.

Following the interview, you may be asked to provide some documents such as school reports or previous diagnoses.

Learning assessments consist of two main assessments:

Cognitive (IQ) assessment to identify cognitive strengths and weaknesses (i.e., WISC-V or WAIS-IV)
2. Achievement testing to assess academic progress.

Assessments will likely occur over 2 sessions around one week apart.

Assessments

Report & Feedback

About 3-4 weeks following the last assessment, a report will be completed and a feedback session will occur. In this session the findings and recommendations will be discussed.

FAQs about SLD Assessments

The general fee for an assessment of Specific Learning Disorders is $1980, which consists of the intake interview, assessments, and the feedback session where the report and recommendations are discussed.
A non-refundable deposit of $200 is required to book in the Initial Interview. Following this, the Assessment Session(s) would be arranged and 50% of the total fee is to be paid prior to the first assessment. The remainder of the fee is then payable prior to the feedback session.
For more information about fees and the payment schedule, please feel free to email admin@bluewavesperth.com
No, you do not need a referral for learning assessments or an SLD diagnosis. Simply fill out the form below or follow this link to contact us and book your first appointment.
Alternatively, if you have any questions that you would like to discuss with our psychologist, please feel free to book in a free 15-minute consultation call below or email us at admin@bluewavesperth.com
The main assessments used will only be completed face-to-face. If required, we are happy to complete the intake interview and the feedback session via telehealth.
If the criteria is met for a specific learning disorder, a formal diagnosis would be provided.
Regardless of receiving a diagnosis or not, comprehensive recommendations will be provided for interventions and supports as needed.
You will not need to provide anything for the Initial Interview.
After your first appointment, you may be asked to bring copies of documents such as school reports, previous assessments, and anything deemed necessary for an accurate assessment.
To make sure that you can speak openly about any concerns, your child would not be present at the Intake Interview or the Feedback Session.
If requested, our psychologist can have a follow-up feedback session with your child. However, it is important to consider the implications of this.
The assessments must be one on one with the client, a support person is not able to be present for this.
We will do all we can to build rapport and familiarity with the environment prior to the assessment session in order to reduce any anxiety.
To book in an appointment, fill in the form at the bottom of the page or follow this link.
If you have any questions, feel free to email them to admin@bluewavesperth.com or book in a free 15-minute consultation call below.
A non-refundable deposit of $200 is required to book in the Initial Interview.
For the assessment sessions, 50% of the total fee is required to be paid in order to book in the appointment(s). These sessions are typically longer and require at least 48 hours notice for cancellation. If less than 48 hours notice is given (including no-shows), a cancellation fee of $200 will be incurred.
The remainder of the total fee is then to be paid to book in the feedback session and receive the results and recommendations.