Why See an Educational Psychologist?
Many children experience a learning difference or difficulty at some point in their schooling. Sometimes this is because of a different learning style and sometimes it is because of an underlying learning disorder.
Educational Psychology can help identify the child’s pattern of learning strengths and weaknesses and also identify (and diagnose if appropriate) underlying learning disorders in reading, written expression and maths (once called dyslexia, dysgraphia and dyscalculia).
An Educational Psychologist can also assess cognitive giftedness.
An Educational Psychologist often works closely with other education and health professionals including learning support staff, speech pathologists, occupational therapists, audiologists, and paediatricians.
An assessment includes a range of activities designed to measure cognitive skills such as verbal processing, visual processing, visual problem-solving, working memory and processing speed, as well as curriculum-based skills such as reading, spelling and maths. Assessment of concentration/attention and other behaviours can also be included.
The results of the assessment are clearly outlined in a written report that can then be used to guide teachers and other professionals in best caring for the child’s needs.