Learning difficulties and academic underachievement

Learning difficulties and academic underachievement

Is your child struggling academically at school? Is he or she having difficulty concentrating in class? Are you feeling concerned, alarmed and helpless? It is essential to take proactive steps to understand the underlying causes of your child’s learning difficulties, so that timely support can be provided in helping your child achieve his/her academic potential.
An effective approach is to seek a comprehensive psychological assessment to identify potential issues that may be impacting on your child’s academic performance. A psychological assessment is a formal evaluation conducted by psychologists that typically includes intelligence (IQ), academic, emotional and behavioural functioning. The assessment comprises detailed clinical interviews, observations and standardised tests. Specifically, a child’s measured performance on the standardised tests are compared to other same-aged children (i.e. norm-referenced) to understand his/her learning profile.
Some of the commonly used standardised tools include the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-V), Wechsler Individual Achievement Test (WIAT-IV), Conners’ Continuous Performance Test (CPT-3), Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (Vineland-3) and others. Depending on the presenting difficulties, these standardised tools are used in combination to understand the cognitive, emotional, behavioural, and academic skills profile of the child.
The outcome of the assessment can be used for diagnostic purposes (e.g. ADHD, developmental/learning disorders) and to inform appropriate interventions or accommodations to support the child’s academic needs (e.g. extra time in exams). Although one of the goals of the assessment is to identify areas of weakness, it is also crucial to identify the key strengths of the child in learning. Every child has unique learning strengths and the strengths can often be used to compensate for the weaknesses.
It is important to recognise that a comprehensive psychological assessment is just one part of a holistic approach to supporting the child. A collaborative effort by teachers, school counsellors, and other relevant professionals is essential to develop a comprehensive plan to address the child’s needs. Regular monitoring and reassessments are recommended to track progress and support the child’s learning needs.
If your child is struggling with learning difficulties and academic underachievement, it may be due to underlying attentional or learning problems, and not simply due to laziness or a lack of discipline. It can lead to a vicious cycle of low self esteem, feeling demoralised and a loss of motivation to learn.
Find out more about learning assessments for your child at Private Space Medical via this FAQ

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At Private Space Medical, we have a team of skilled and experienced professionals to support children and youths. We are committed to work together with you to advocate for your child and optimise his or her academic success and overall well-being.

Early intervention translates to better outcomes, but it is never too late to seek help. Contact us to schedule an appointment at a time of your convenience.