Specific Learning Disorder Evaluations

Understanding How Children Learn

At Kaizen Educational Group, we provide comprehensive evaluations for children and adolescents experiencing challenges in reading, writing, mathematics, and other academic areas. Many bright, capable students work significantly harder than their peers yet continue to struggle with academic skills despite receiving instruction, intervention, and support. A comprehensive evaluation can help identify the factors contributing to these difficulties and determine whether a Specific Learning Disorder (SLD) may be present.

Specific Learning Disorders affect how individuals acquire and use academic skills. These challenges are neurologically based and are not caused by lack of effort, motivation, intelligence, or opportunity. Through a thorough assessment process, our goal is to identify each child's unique pattern of strengths and needs, provide diagnostic clarity, and develop practical recommendations to support academic success.

Our evaluations are designed to answer important questions such as:

  • Why is my child struggling with reading, writing, or math?

  • Does my child have dyslexia, dysgraphia, or dyscalculia?

  • What supports or accommodations may be helpful at school?

  • What interventions are most appropriate?

  • How can we help my child become more confident and successful?

Whether concerns involve reading fluency, written expression, spelling, math problem solving, or overall academic performance, our team is committed to helping families gain answers and a clear path forward.

Who May Benefit from a Specific Learning Disorder Evaluation?

A comprehensive learning disability evaluation may be beneficial for children or adolescents who:

  • Struggle to learn foundational reading skills

  • Read slowly, inaccurately, or with limited comprehension

  • Have significant difficulty with spelling

  • Avoid reading or writing tasks

  • Experience frustration or anxiety related to schoolwork

  • Have difficulty organizing ideas in writing

  • Produce written work that does not reflect their knowledge

  • Struggle to memorize math facts

  • Have difficulty understanding math concepts or solving multi-step problems

  • Demonstrate inconsistent academic performance

  • Require significantly more time to complete academic tasks than peers

  • Continue to struggle despite intervention or tutoring

  • Have a family history of dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, or learning disabilities

What We Assess

Our evaluations examine multiple aspects of learning in order to understand why academic difficulties are occurring and how best to support a child's growth.

Reading Skills (Dyslexia)

Reading assessments examine a child's ability to:

  • Recognize and decode words

  • Apply phonics skills

  • Read accurately and fluently

  • Understand what they read

  • Process speech sounds (phonological processing)

  • Rapidly retrieve and name information

  • Recognize and manipulate sounds within words

Dyslexia is a Specific Learning Disorder that primarily affects reading accuracy, reading fluency, spelling, and word recognition. Children with dyslexia often possess strong intelligence, creativity, and problem-solving abilities but may struggle to develop efficient reading skills without targeted intervention.

Written Expression Skills (Dysgraphia)

Written expression assessments examine a child's ability to:

  • Generate and organize ideas

  • Construct sentences and paragraphs

  • Apply grammar and punctuation rules

  • Spell words accurately

  • Express knowledge through writing

  • Produce written work efficiently

Dysgraphia refers to difficulties in written expression that may affect spelling, written organization, sentence structure, grammar, and overall written communication. Some students may also experience challenges related to handwriting, written fluency, or translating ideas into written form.

Mathematics Skills (Dyscalculia)

Mathematics assessments examine a child's ability to:

  • Understand mathematical concepts

  • Learn and recall math facts

  • Complete calculations accurately

  • Solve word problems

  • Understand numerical relationships

  • Apply mathematical reasoning skills

Dyscalculia is a Specific Learning Disorder that impacts the development of mathematical skills. Children with dyscalculia may struggle to develop number sense, understand math concepts, retain math facts, or efficiently solve mathematical problems despite strong effort and instruction.

Cognitive Functioning

Understanding how a child learns requires examining cognitive processes that support academic performance. Depending on the referral concern, assessment may include:

  • Verbal reasoning

  • Visual-spatial reasoning

  • Working memory

  • Processing speed

  • Fluid reasoning

  • Attention and concentration

  • Executive functioning skills

Academic Achievement

Academic achievement testing provides detailed information regarding current performance across reading, writing, and mathematics and helps identify specific patterns of strengths and weaknesses.

What Is Included in the Evaluation?

Our comprehensive evaluation process may include:

Parent Interview

We begin with a detailed discussion regarding developmental history, educational experiences, previous interventions, strengths, and current concerns.

Record Review

School records, intervention data, report cards, standardized testing results, and previous evaluations are reviewed to better understand academic performance over time.

Cognitive Assessment

Assessment of cognitive abilities helps identify learning strengths and weaknesses that may influence academic performance.

Academic Achievement Testing

Comprehensive academic testing measures reading, writing, spelling, and mathematics skills.

Supplemental Assessment

Depending on the child's needs, additional measures may assess:

  • Phonological processing

  • Rapid naming

  • Orthographic processing

  • Executive functioning

  • Attention

  • Language skills

  • Memory skills

Teacher and Parent Input

Information gathered from caregivers and educators provides valuable insight regarding the child's functioning across settings.

What Families Receive

A Comprehensive Written Report

Families receive a detailed report that integrates all assessment findings into a clear explanation of how the child learns and why academic challenges may be occurring.

Diagnostic Clarification

When appropriate, the evaluation helps determine whether criteria are met for:

  • Specific Learning Disorder with Impairment in Reading (Dyslexia)

  • Specific Learning Disorder with Impairment in Written Expression (Dysgraphia)

  • Specific Learning Disorder with Impairment in Mathematics (Dyscalculia)

A Detailed Strengths Profile

Our evaluations emphasize identifying strengths, interests, talents, and learning assets that can be leveraged to support growth.

Individualized Recommendations

Recommendations may address:

  • Specialized reading interventions

  • Writing supports

  • Mathematics intervention programs

  • School accommodations

  • Assistive technology

  • Executive functioning supports

  • Testing accommodations

  • Home-based strategies

Educational Planning Support

Findings and recommendations can help inform intervention planning, educational decision making, Section 504 plans, and special education eligibility discussions.