Testing for Learning Disabilities in Adults

There are many factors that go into determining if an adult has a specific learning disability. The definition of what makes a learning disability has changed somewhat over the years, but the fundamental principle has remained the same. An individual has a learning disability when they have average to above average ability but are struggling in one or more academic areas.

When we look at learning disabilities today, we start by determining how an individual processes and learns.  We look at areas of processing:

  1. Verbal Abilities

  2. Reasoning Abilities

  3. Long-Term Memory

  4. Short-Term Memory

  5. Auditory Processing

  6. Visual Processing

  7. Processing Speed

Each of these areas play a vital role in a person’s ability to learn, retain, and apply new information.

We then determine where an individual falls within the following categories:

  • Basic Reading Skills

  • Reading Comprehension

  • Math Calculations

  • Math Reasoning

  • Written Expression

  • Oral Expression

  • Listening Comprehension

For anyone to exhibit a specific learning disability, one of two things must happen:

1) The person must exhibit an academic deficit that can be linked to a processing deficit in one of the areas assessed.
For example low reading comprehension skills can be linked to weak verbal abilities.

or

2) The person must exhibit a significant discrepancy between their overall ability level and one or more academic areas.
This means that there is something (learning disability) that is keeping them from working to their potential in that particular area.

In addition, we will use the assessment information to make relevant recommendations for both work and home. Call today for more information about how we assess and diagnose learning disabilities in adults.

eDiagnostic Learning has been assessing children and adults since 2004.  

Call today to see how we can help!