Diagnosing Dyscalculia and ADHD Diagnosis in Schools

It can be a long, gradual frustrating process in order to diagnose a SpLD depending on what spLD it is and the difficulties that the individual has as well as the knowledge and skills of the assessor. Each school will have its own set of procedures and policies for assessing and putting in intervention processes but they would be expected to follow the following statutory legislation guidelines entitled The Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Code of Practice. The school would be looking to identify the individual as early as possible so that they can provide them with the correct SEN help and support and have sufficient time to monitor them afterwards to see if the interventions put in place are achieving what they set out to achieve and whether or not they require increased support. If these procedures do not result in sufficient progress then an initial screening process (the first step to getting help) will take place to determine whether or not a full assessment will have to be carried out.

A full assessment (which will give a more complete picture of the various learning issues and problems the individual may have) requires a series of special tests (probably 2-4 hours) which need to be carried out by an educational psychologist or by a spLD assessor or educational psychologist after the individual's teacher, the school SENCO have discussed their educational issues and reviewed any interventions already put in place with their parents/carers. It is likely to involve a mixture of discussion and a series of diagnostic assessments (writing, reading, spelling, numeracy, cognitive functioning, logic thinking, verbal reasoning, memory and strategically) as well as an observation of speaking and reading which are aimed at identifying specific areas of difficulty and the impact it is having on the individual's learning.

The assessment will also identify areas of strengths and weaknesses that they have intellectually, cognitively and strategically and a medical exam, including a neurological exam in order to eliminate emotional disorders, intellectual and developmental disabilities as well as brain diseases and other possible causes of the individual's difficulties. Family history and the individual's school progress will also be discussed. The assessor will give some verbal feedback during the assessment and then will write up their assessment and conclusion within 10 working days. After the full assessment, the parents/carers will receive a report detailing what can be done to help and support the individual's difficulties whilst also explaining what strengths the individual has. If further interventions and strategies put in place fail to make the progress expected of them then the individual obviously needs much more support than the school is able to give. When this situation arises the parents/carers can request an Education and Health Care Plan needs assessment. If the individual is aged between 16 to 25 they can request an EHCP themselves. This will be a document which sets out the education, health and social care needs that the child has and the help and support that will be necessary to look after those needs. It will be circulated to everyone teaching the individual so that everyone is clear about what they need and that they can achieve the best outcomes. The EHCP will be reviewed every year. Some National Charities may help the individual to fund a private assessment as well as a range of private providers can also carry out private assessments if required. Some colleges and universities may have some discretionary funding to help with fees for an assessment.

Diagnosing Dyscalculia

The diagnosis involved the person giving detailed information about their background and then taking part in a series of maths-based tested which will be administered and observed by a qualified assessor. The diagnosis relies on the assessor being able to rule out other potential reasons for the individual's difficulty e.g just anxiety about doing maths. The accessor will interpret the tests and then suggest strategies that can be put in place to help the individual.

ADHD

Parents who are concerned about their child's behaviour will initially talk to their GP as well as the individual's teacher's to see if they identified the same problems. As the GP is not knowledgeable enough in that area to diagnose the condition the individual will have to be referred to a specialist for a formal diagnosis. They will have needed to have experienced persistent problems such as difficulty paying attention, hyperactivity and impulsive behaviour. Treatment would include medication (Ritalin/Adderall), nutritious meals, play and regular exercise and sleep. As well as improving memory, psychology coaching and Cognitive, behavioural therapy.

Dyspraxia Diagnosis in Children and Teenagers

Any unusual difficulties being experienced by an individual will have to be firstly discussed with the GP, the teaching staff and the school SENCO. As the GP is not knowledgeable enough the individual will have to be referred to an occupational therapist who will carry out a holistic assessment and a psychologist will carry out a cognitive profile. They will identify weaknesses and strengths and will use strategies to improve the individual's performance at home and in education.

Adults

If an adult has an undiagnosed condition they will usually have to pay for their own assessment if they cannot get it funded by for example a university or college. They may want some written evidence for a job or because of problems a work or in their daily life or to continue their education (university/FE college) or they may just want to know why they have struggled for years and have a better understanding of themselves. There is no single assessment that can cover everything because the symptoms experienced by the individual will vary a lot especially from person to person so it is difficult to be absolutely 100% certain about an adult having a specific learning disability.

The process usually begins with an initial interview with the individual followed by a variety of holistic tests (literacy, numeracy and cognitive) and measures which will be used to identify the particular problems and difficulties that each person experiences and to establish what their intellectual abilities are so that they can provide some individualised support for them. The assessments will also include an evaluation of the individual's social skills and emotional behaviours. Only qualified professionals can carry them out then select, administer and interpret them.

As there is no cure for SLDs the adult may be looking to become more independent or wanting to find a job (because they will face extra obstacles and need some support) or they may want to develop meaningful relationships with friends as well as being able to complete their work to an acceptable standard.

There is no single test that can diagnose dyslexia. For an adult with Dyslexia (who are all different), they would have to undergo a clinically based interview and be initially screened and then undergo other short tests that can be used to identify whether or not they dyslexic difficulties. They are not a diagnosis and no screening test is 100% reliable. They can also be screened for Dyslexia online and it would cost about £20-£50.00. The benefits of screening tools is that it is something that the individual can do on their own without the need for a professional assessment. A screening report can help the individual to realize what strengths and weaknesses they may have and it may also be useful; to show an employer evidence that the individual has a difficulty so that they know what adjustments need to be made.

An adult with Dyspraxia will have to undertake a series of holistic tests with an occupational therapist and a psychologist which would consist of graphic speed, visual motor integration, alongside evidence of gross and fine motor coordination difficulties underlying difficulties in cognitive processing and written composition. When weaknesses and strengths have been identified strategies will be used in order to improve the individual's performance either at home/education, and at work. Diagnosing Dyscalculia is not quite as straightforward as Dyslexia. After discussing the individual's background it is just a case of being able to take part in maths based tests with a qualified assessor who will identify whether or not the individual has difficulties and managing it by putting some support in place. There are some online tests which an adult can complete which can also be helpful.

ADHD Diagnosis in Adults

Diagnosing ADHD in adults isn't as straightforward as it is for children. It is not usual for an adult to be given a diagnosis of ADHD unless they have been experiencing the symptoms since they have been a child. The GP will want to check that the symptoms have affected the individual negatively throughout their life. The diagnosis for adults should only be made by a qualified specialist who has been appropriately trained and the specialist should have a discussion with the individual about their behaviour and symptoms with collateral evidence from someone who knows the individual well and a full developmental and psychiatric history and assessments of the person's mental state.