Adult Learning Disability Assessments

A learning disability is a long-term developmental condition that affects how a person understands, processes or communicates information. It can impact upon memory, verbal ability. Reasoning skills, problem solving, and processing time, all of which cause difficulties with coping with everyday life and a need for support from others.    Learning disabilities are not only about intelligence. It is also about how this translates to everyday life and the support someone needs.

1. Initial Consultation We begin with a conversation about a person's  day-to-day experiences, challenges and background. I’ll listen carefully to understand what’s led someone to see me  here and what the person and their supporters hope to gain. This appointment would almost always involve the person with a suspected learning disability and their supporter e.g. family member. The person themselves must consent to the assessment.  1. Clinical Interview I take a detailed history of the person's  educational, developmental and professional experiences, including school performance, coping strategies and how they managed certain tasks over time. This helps build a full picture of a person's   profile. I will ask about early life including developmental milestones and school experiences 1. Standardised Assessments The person will  complete a series of tasks that assess core learning-related skills that are part of an IQ assessment. These include: • Memory • Vocabulary  • Visual problem solving  • Arithmetic  1. Adaptive skills A standardised questionnaire will be completed with the person or their supporter to assess abilities in various different areas of daily life. This is important, because IQ alone doesn’t mean having a learning disability. It is sometimes possible to have a lower IQ but function well enough in everyday life. It is also possible to have a high IQ and struggle with everyday life for other reasons e.g. autism,(https://www.pathnorthwest.co.uk/services/autism-assessment) mental health.  1. Feedback and Report I also ensure that your difficulties are explored in context. I also consider other possible explanations such as lack of educational opportunity, language barriers or co-occurring conditions like anxiety or trauma that may mimic learning challenges.   Once your assessment is complete, I’ll provide: • A detailed, accessible diagnostic report • A 1:1 feedback session to talk through through the findings • Recommendations that are practical, achievable and tailored to the person's goals The aim is not just to diagnose but to help someone understand how their profile affects them in everyday life and how to move forward with the right tools and adaptations. ​

Understanding someone has  a learning disability can be incredibly validating. It can also open doors to support that may never have been available before. Here’s what happens next: ​ 1. A Diagnostic Report You Can Use   The  report will outline someone’s  learning and daily functioning  profile in detail and can be used for making sure someone is on the learning disability register with their GP. Amongst other things this entitles someone to a regular annual health check, as we know that people with learning disabilities tend to have poorer health and worse experiences in accessing healthcare.   Getting access to local learning disability health or social care services. I have worked in such services for 22 years, and am experienced in using the assessments that are required in such services.  ​ It is very likely that if an assessment I complete suggests presence of a learning disability, that this would result in you having access to such services providing you have needs that can be met by those services.  ​ • Everyone involved has a better understanding of how to make adaptations and give the right support.    2. Post-Assessment Guidance I won’t just provide a report and leave someone to interpret it. I’ll  talk through the  results, explain how they relate to  experiences and discuss the most useful next steps.   3. Therapeutic Support (if helpful) Sometimes a diagnosis comes with a flood of emotions, including relief, grief or frustration. I offer adapted therapy options including ACT and EMDR if appropriate to help someone process and integrate the diagnosis into  identity and self-understanding.   4. Signposting If someone would benefit from additional support, I can direct them to relevant services . My goal is to make sure someone leaves the process not only with answers but with direction and support that is genuinely helpful.

This assessment is ideal for: • Adults who struggled in school eg did not pass by exams, needed extra support   • Adults who have a history of struggling to cope with everyday life  • Adults who have always relied on others to cope with tasks  • Adults who may need the support of local NHS services eg learning disability services

Someone may benefit from an adult learning disability assessment if they  have any of the following: • Difficulty reading fluently or understanding written information • Problems with  reading and writing  • Poor memory for instructions, names, numbers or dates  • Problems with organising and planning  • Struggles with numeracy and managing finances  • Needing more time to learn or complete tasks

Not exactly. A full learning disability assessment may identify possible dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia or related difficulties, but it also explores the broader impact on daily functioning and learning capacity.

Only if someone chooses to. The process is confidential, and the person  decides who sees their report. However it is highly recommended.