Learning Disabilities Assessment - Volume 8 - No. 3 - Assessing Adults with Summer 2008 Learning Difficulties

Sep 14, 2026

Uploaded by Ophelia

Focuses on identifying and assessing adult learning difficulties, including possible learning disabilities and ADHD, through LDA Minnesota referrals. Presents a student example struggling with reading progress and GED test completion due to time and longstanding difficulties, including a family history. Explains assessment purposes, available assessment types (learning disability, diagnostic for cognitive problems, and adult reading profile), and signs that warrant further evaluation. Details core assessment components, expected outputs, and referral eligibility for Minnesota ABE students.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time10 min

AccessFree to download

Assessing Adults with Summer 2008 Learning Difficulties

Signs that May Indicate a Learning Disability or ADHD

Types of Assessment Available from LDA

Assessment Components

What LDA Assessments Provide

Volume 8, No. 3 Assessing Adults with Summer 2008 Learning Difficulties Does this student seem familiar to you? Ms. K. has attended ABE classes for almost one year has had significant difficulty in making progress in reading. She has passed some of the GED tests, but has struggled with others due to having insufficient time to complete them. She currently works as a teacher’s aidein a daycare center. Her goal is to pass the GED and attend college. Ms. K. first began to have learning difficulties in first grade. She received speech and language services andremedial reading and math instruction during school, but was not diagnosed with a learning disability until she was 16 years old. She dropped out of school soon after. She reports that her brother has also been diagnosed with learning disabilities. Ms. K. was referred to LDA Minnesota for assessment, to identify learning disabilities, determine productive learning strategies, and establish whether she meets criteria to request accommodations on GED tests. Does this student profile remind you of any of your students who are having difficulty progressing in one or more subject areas even after intensive instruction? Does he or she have a history of learning difficulties? If you answered yes to these questions, you may want to consider referring the student for assessment for a learning disability, AttentionDeficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, or other learning concern. ∞ Types Assessment Available LDA: and elementary of from Learning Disability Assessment – confirms or rules out the presence of a specific learning disability. Feedback improves student self-understanding and also includes instructional recommendations and required documentation for requesting GED accommodations, Adult Diploma waivers, or post-secondary accommodations. Diagnostic Assessment – determines the presence of other cognitive problems, including ADHD. Feedback improves student self-understanding and also includes instructional recommendations and required documentation for requesting GED accommodations. Adult Reading Profile – determines strengths and weaknesses in alphabetics (phonemic awareness and decoding), fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension, resulting in self-understanding and recommendations for improving reading instruction. The goal of an assessment is to clearly identify the existence and evaluate the impact of a neurological (from birth) or acquired (from brain injury) learning disability, attention deficit, or other learning difficulty. A comprehensive assessment includes not only standardized test results and interpretation, but also history, observation, and analysis of the functional limitations of a learning difficulty on the adult’s performance in school, work, and life.∞ | Inside this issue: | | | --- | --- | | Assessing Adults with Learning Difficulties | 1 | | Types of Assessment Available from LDA | 1 | | LD/ADHD Checklist of Symptoms | 2 | | Assessment Components | 2 | | What Is ADHD & What is an LD? | 3 | | Common Learning Disabilities | 3 | | LDA Assessment Process | 4 | L E A R N I N G D I S A B I L I T I E S A S S O C I A T I O N O F M I N N E S O T A NetNews An online newsletter devoted to adult literacy The following can signal a possible learning disability and/or ADHD. Observation of these signs is reason to seek further evaluation at LDA: Learning difficulties beginning in the early grades Special Education services provided during school years A family history of learning disabilities Patterns of achievement are inconsistent Does not appear to be working up to potential Frequently needs to have instructions repeated Appears distracted or forgetful Lifelong difficulties with oral language, reading, writing, math, reasoning, or organizational skills Secondary problems with self-esteem, motivation, jobs, or relationships Difficulty improving scores on the GED practice tests Specifically with reading:

FAQs

When should adults be referred for assessment for learning disabilities or ADHD?

When a student shows early-grade learning difficulties, inconsistent achievement, distraction or forgetfulness, repeated instruction needs, or difficulty improving GED practice test scores, referral is recommended. Additional concerns include lifelong issues with oral language, reading, writing, math, reasoning, or organizational skills.

What assessment types does LDA Minnesota offer for adult learners?

LDA provides Learning Disability Assessment to confirm or rule out a specific learning disability, Diagnostic Assessment to identify other cognitive problems including ADHD, and an Adult Reading Profile to determine strengths and weaknesses in alphabetics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension with recommendations.

What components are included in an adult learning difficulties assessment?

The assessment includes an interview covering personal, medical, family, and language history, current academic functioning, previous assessment results (if available), observations, testing of cognitive strengths and weaknesses, testing of achievement strengths and weaknesses, and analysis leading to a diagnosis statement and educational recommendations for instruction and accommodations.

Sep 14, 2026

Uploaded by Ophelia