Learning disorders are basically any severe or persistent difficulty a child has in meeting school demands, especially in the areas of reading, writing, and/or math. There are different definitions of learning disorders. For instance, the school has one set of criteria that they look at while the field of psychology might have another. And professionals within those fields may disagree with each other.
What is fairly commonly agreed on is that a learning disorder is occurring:
• When students are capable of learning
• But they are not learning as much or as quickly as we would expect given their intelligence or their skill in other areas
• The difficulty is on-going
• Basic "remedies" have not worked in solving the problem
• It can be much quicker to test privately
• A private practitioner might be able to spend more time discussing the concern with you, both before the evaluation and once the results are available
Ages — My tests cover Pre-K to early High School
Difficulty with reading. Can include difficulty with phonics or letter-sound associations, with sight word recognition, or with comprehension
These evaluations can range from fairly targeted to more general depending on how broad the issues are.
• An initial Consultation as to your concern(s) and a suggested plan for evaluation
• A background history including medical, academic, and social emotional factors and any previous testing that might be relevant
• Parent Rating Scales
• Teacher Rating Scales if possible
An IQ test such as the WISC-V, WPPSI-IV or RIAS-2 to estimate broad learning potential
• A Broad Academic Test such as the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement (WJ-IV) to assess general reading, math, and writing levels to look for patterns of strength and weakness
• More Targeted Academic Tests if more information is needed such as The Tests of Dyslexia to explore weaker areas in more depth
• Cognitive Processing Tests if more information is needed on abilities such as memory, speed, auditory vs visual learning, etc.
Email: aalaacs@msn.com (for general questions)
Text messages are welcome for quick questions with no private information. Email and text typically receive the fastest response, as I'm often in testing sessions during the day.
• My YouTube Channel: Gifted Questions
• Hillsborough County Gifted Program
• Pinellas County Gifted Program
• Pasco County Gifted Program
• Polk County Gifted Program
• Sarasota County Gifted Program
It is always a good idea to discuss the possibility of an evaluation with your child's school, either in a meeting or directly with your designated school psychologist. Even if they are not ready to test your child yet themselves, they can often start some strategies in the classroom right away that might help. They can also gather data that might be useful for a private practitioner to know.
Dyslexia
Difficulty with math. Can include difficulty understanding number relationships, remembering math facts, and solving math word problems.
Dyscalculia
Difficulty with writing. Can include difficulty forming letters, composing grammatical sentences, composing longer essays, or correctly meeting the demand prompts
Dysgraphia
I strongly prefer to gather all the background data, including checklists and rating scales, before I meet with you and your child for testing. Once that is available, I can usually schedule appointments for testing within 2 to 4 weeks.
You have the choice of meeting in my home in Brandon or in your home. At my home, I have access to all my test equipment at once so I can immediately access additional tests if needed. If we meet at your home, I may have to return on a different day if we decide we need more information than the standard battery provides.
Testing itself usually takes about 3 to 5 hours but can be longer if we choose to explore more issues in depth. We can do it on one day, with a break for lunch if needed, or we can split it into two days.
The report will include the background information, a description of your current concerns, your child's scores and an explanation of what they mean, and a list of recommendations for ways to help improve your child's performance.
Barring an unforeseen difficulty, if all the background information has already been gathered, I usually write the report right away. It typically takes me 1 to 2 hours to write the report after testing is done. I write the reports myself though I might use AI to generate a recommendation for a specific concern if I do not have a relevant one already in my list.
Some families stay in the area and go shopping or eat and come back for the feedback the same day. Others schedule a second appointment to return to hear the results later.
It ranges from $800 to $1200, depending on how many tests we do. If I come to you, there will be an additional travel fee for each day I travel.
As far as I am aware, most insurance companies do not cover testing for purely academic concerns such as a learning disorder. (I am not sure about HSAs.)
Some insurance companies might partially cover assessments for medical or health conditions such as ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, or traumatic brain injuries.
I do not take insurance or process insurance claims and I am not trained to handle medical billing codes. Please check with your provider for a list of professionals they cover if your child's assessment falls under the categories covered by your insurance.
Always check with your insurance provider for the most accurate information.
