Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, and Dysgraphia Testing In White Bear Lake, MN

Not Knowing If Your Child Has Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, or Dysgraphia Can be Confusing

Parents may feel helpless watching their child struggle in school. Your child might be giving up before they even try and avoid reading, writing, or math tasks at all costs. Your child might be internalizing negative thoughts and think they are not smart or not good enough. Their teachers might think they they are unmotivated or not living up to their potential. You may have tried a long list of suggestions, interventions, and incentives, but nothing seems to help and you are at a loss for what to do next.

Words are a stRuggle

DYSLEXIA

It’s hard for your child to focus on reading when they can’t hear the sounds the letters are making. Maybe it has always been a struggle for them to read at school and they avoid reading at all costs. It would be great to know for sure if they have dyslexia so they can get the help they have always needed. 

Numbers are Difficult

DYSCALCULIA

Your child may be very aware of how often numbers are used outside of a math lesson in school. Estimating the time it takes to get somewhere or complete a task, playing common board games, and following recipes may require a lot of mental energy and leaves them feeling exhausted. Discovering if dyscalculia is present would provide clarity, validation, and a road map to effective supports. 

Writing is A Challenge

DYSGRAPHIA

Getting words on a page is tough when nothing comes to mind. Your child may constantly guess at the spelling of words or not understand the many rules of grammar and punctuation. Identifying a writing disorder is the first step toward implementing accommodations and interventions that lead to successful writing.

Imagine Having ANswers That Help You Know What To Do Next

With an accurate dyslexia, dyscalculia, or dysgraphia diagnosis, you and your child will have a deeper understanding of how they learn and process information. They can begin to receive appropriate accommodations and targeted interventions that will enable them to start experiencing success at school and develop a more positive and authentic view of themselves.

Want to Learn More?

Interested in learning more about dyslexia, what it is, and how it is diagnosed? Check out my blog post DYSLEXIA FACT AND FICTION.

HOW IT WORKS

What Happens During Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, and Dysgraphia Testing?

Step 1: Intake (1 to 2 hours)

We will meet virtually so I can learn background information and current concerns. There is nothing you need to do to prepare for the intake, just come as you are! I will use the information from the intake session to develop an individualized testing plan.

Step 2: Testing (3 to 5 hours)

An in-person testing appointment will occur about 1 week after the intake. Your child will engage in a variety of tasks to help me learn more specific information about them. The testing appointment is sometimes broken into multiple days.

Step 3: Feedback (1 to 2 hours)

The feedback appointment occurs about 2 weeks after the testing appointment. You will have a copy of the evaluation report and I will go over the results of the testing, including any potential diagnosis, discuss specific recommendations and next steps, and answer any questions you have. You will leave this appointment with clarity and confidence about what do to next.

FAQs About Dyslexia Testing and other learning disorders

  • Undiagnosed learning disorders, such as dyslexia, can have severe consequences that not only impact academic performance, but can also have a negative impact socially, behaviorally, and on overall mental health. Those with undiagnosed learning disorders may be stigmatized as lazy when it comes to their education, and without proper support and accommodations, these students will likely struggle in many areas in school. The truth is most people with a learning disorder have exceptional strengths in areas such as creativity, thinking outside the box, empathy, and understanding complex concepts in high interest areas. A neuopsychological evaluation can identify if dyslexia or other learning disorders are present and highlight your child’s specific learning profile to target interventions and supports.

  • Dyslexia is a specific reading disorder that results in disfluent and inaccurate word reading, difficulty decoding words, and poor spelling ability. These reading difficulties arise due to neurological deficits that impact phonological awareness, or being able to hear the different sounds that make up a word. Contrary to common belief, dyslexia is not related to vision or seeing letters or words backward. Reading disorders separate from dyslexia may also be present that impact reading fluency or reading comprehension.

  • Dyscalculia refers to a disorder that impacts math calculation and quantitative reasoning. Those with dyscalculia may have difficulty memorizing math facts, sequencing information, performing math computations, remembering math steps and operations, and understanding quantitative concepts. Math disorders separate from dyscalculia that impact math reasoning may also be present.

  • Learning disorder in written expression is an impairment in written language and being able to transfer thoughts to writing. Those with a learning disorder in written expression can have difficulty with spelling, punctuation, and grammar. They may omit words, have difficulty knowing what to write, or have difficulty writing with an organized structure. Historically, dysgraphia is a term used to describe difficulties in handwriting, often due to weaknesses in fine motor coordination. More recently, the term dysgraphia is being used more broadly to include the impairments of written expression described above.

  • All evaluations considering specific learning disorders such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, and impairment in written expression vary and are tailored to each individual, but typically include standardized academic achievement testing, intellectual and cognitive testing, interviews, observations, and a review of educational, medical and clinical records. Many factors other than a specific learning disorder can also contribute to learning difficulties and poor academic performance. These may include environmental considerations, cognitive factors not related to a learning disorder, social, emotional, or behavioral concerns, or other psychological disorders. A comprehensive evaluation is needed to determine the underlying factors contributing to learning concerns.

  • When the evaluation is complete, the results will be compiled into a comprehensive written report documenting the results of the testing, diagnostic impressions, and a summary of recommendations to support functioning at home, school, and the community. Dr. Hall will go through every page of the report during the feedback session, where he will summarize key findings and answer any questions you have about the results or recommendations. The report will offer insights into your child’s learning profile, cognitive functioning, and behaviors that are a valuable resource to help schools implement appropriate and effective supports for your child in the classroom. These supports can include educational interventions, RTI, MTSS, accommodations, modifications, 504 plans, and special education. Navigating the school system can be complex and Dr. Hall will clearly explain right path for your child based on their specific needs.