Each child is unique and will progress at their own rate. However, if you have any concerns about your child’s progress you may want to explore learning assessments and your child. A learning assessment is a useful procedure that can help to isolate the strengths and weakness areas for your child across different areas.
For example, intellectual functioning such as memory, vocabulary,problem-solvingg abilities and visual/spatial reasoning. These assessments may be used to identify symptoms of neurocognitive disorders that can impact a child’s learning. Disorders such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Specific Learning Disorder (previously Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, and Dyscalculia).
What are the signs your child may need a learning assessment?
Feedback from schoolteachers.
Difficulty with certain academic subjects
Avoiding going to school or has anxiety about attending school.
Avoiding homework tasks.
Homework causes child to become anxious or experience meltdowns.
Easily forgetting things they have previously learnt.
A history of learning disability in the family.
Feedback from schoolteachers
Feedback from schoolteachers that your child is struggling with school demands. It may be that your child is having difficulty keeping up with the pace of schoolwork when compared to their peers. Alternatively, they may be easily distracted in class or struggling to understand concepts that are typically understood by others their age.
Difficulty with certain academic subjects.
Difficulty with certain academic subjects. If your child is struggling with certain subjects at school, such as reading, writing, or mathematics, a learning assessment can help to isolate the reasons for this difficulty. This can inform us about developmental conditions that may be underlying, and we can make recommendations to enhance your child’s learning and living experience within the school setting and at home.
Avoiding school
Your child is avoiding going to school or has anxiety about attending school. Sometimes learning difficulties trigger mood difficulties and behavioural avoidance. A telling sign is whether your child specifically struggles with their mood on school days and struggles with attendance. Your child may be feeling frustrated and anxious due to their learning challenges, therefore, is trying to avoid school altogether.
Avoiding homework
Your child is avoiding homework tasks such as completing school readers or maths worksheets? Learning difficulties can negatively impact children’s self esteem to the extent that they avoid tasks that may highlight their challenges.
Meltdowns and anxiety
If your child does engage with their homework they may become anxious or experience meltdowns such as crying, running away, or throwing learning items.
Forgetting things
Your child easily forgets things they have previously learnt such as words they are exposed to often (sight words).
Family history
Reading and spelling challenges tend to run in families. If your child is experiencing any of the above, and there is a history of learning disability in the family (e.g., dyslexia) it may be appropriate undergo a learning assessment. Discovering the underlying difficulties and treating them accordingly.
Why learning assessments?
Boutique Psychology offers a variety of different assessments including intelligence tests, achievements tests, behavioural assessments, and neuropsychological tests to help identify the causes of learning difficulties experienced by your child.
Diagnosing learning difficulties can provide your child with recommendations to make appropriate adjustments in the classroom. This can allow them to receive the assistance they need to learn in whatever way works for them.
Earlier interventions provide better outcomes for the child and their learning. Interventions could help your child rebuild their self esteem and feel capable to build their skills in the classroom.