Due to current staffing, our learning disability assessment services may have longer wait times. Please call our office at 801-863-8876 or email the Assessment Coordinator at [email protected] with questions. You may also wish to explore alternatives in the community, including the resources on our Community Referrals document.
At UVU’s Student Health Services, evaluations are performed to assess a student’s learning strengths, as well as areas indicative of significant difficulty. These evaluations can determine if a specific learning disability, autism, attention, and/or emotional issues exist, and can provide detailed recommendations regarding academic functioning. Please be aware that we can only provide testing to currently enrolled UVU students. The testing can help explain your academic strengths and weaknesses and give you and the Office of Accessibility Services (LC 312) ideas for how to help you be more successful in school, and assist in determining whether you qualify for academic accommodations.
Get On The Waitlist for Testing
After you have entered your information, select the kind of testing that you are interested in (Learning Disability; Autism; or ADHD). Please be aware that we do not provide assessments to students who are under 18 years old.
Specific learning disorder (often referred to as learning disorder or learning disability) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that begins during school-age, although may not be recognized until adulthood. Learning disabilities refers to ongoing problems in one of three areas; reading, writing, and math, which are foundational to one’s ability to learn. An estimated 5 to 15 percent of school-age children struggle with a learning disability.
If you experience symptoms of learning difficulties, find that meeting your academic performance expectations is difficult compared to your peers, or have a history of learning problems but need updated documentation, then a learning disability evaluation may be of help. Though there is no guarantee that you will receive a diagnosis or academic accommodations, you will receive suggestions to improve performance.
As part of this assessment, we will look at cognitive ability, academic achievement, processing speed, and attention/emotional concerns. We also look at other important areas related to learning that may need attention (memory, auditory processing, etc.).
Assessments like this take a significant amount of time (about 8-10 total hours of testing given in 2-hour meetings). If you believe you need an assessment, the sooner you get on the waitlist, the better. Additionally, these services have significant costs due to the costs of the testing materials, scoring, and the time to complete the testing. Post-secondary institutions are not required to provide these services, and UVU is one of the few colleges in the state that provides the service “in house.”
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common mental disorders affecting children. ADHD also affects many adults. Symptoms of ADHD include inattention (not being able to keep focus), hyperactivity (restlessness or excess movement that is not fitting to the setting), and impulsivity (hasty acts or words that occur in the moment without thought). Many adults with ADHD do not realize they have the disorder. If you experience symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, or impulsivity, and these seem to make academic performance difficult, an ADHD evaluation may be helpful.
ADHD evaluations usually involve three meetings. The first meeting is an intake session where you and the assessor will discuss your experiences, concerns, and history related to attention. At the second meeting, you will complete an objective measure of attention. At the third and final meeting, you will receive a report summarizing your results. Though there is no guarantee that you will receive a diagnosis or academic accommodations, you will receive suggestions to improve performance.
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Regardless of where you are in the testing process, you are welcome to attend the ADHD Workshop. These psychoeducational workshops are focused on understanding ADHD, and managing distractive symptoms for individuals with or without a diagnosis of ADHD. This series of workshops will provide entry-level information as well as symptom management skills. Intended for audience members either who experience distractive symptoms or who function in a role where understanding distraction is helpful. For the schedule of these workshops, visit the Preventive Outreach Program section of our Mental Health Services webpage. The ADHD Workshop for Fall 2024 will be held in LA-101, September 5 through November 7. Feel free to contact Dr. Ammon Cheney ([email protected]) if you have any questions. |
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex developmental condition that involves persistent challenges in social interaction, speech and nonverbal communication, and restricted/repetitive behaviors. The effects of ASD and the severity of symptoms are different in each person.
ASD is usually first diagnosed in childhood with many of the most-obvious signs presenting around 2-3 years old, but some children with autism develop typically until toddlerhood when they stop acquiring or lose previously gained skills. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in 59 children is estimated to be autistic. Autism spectrum disorder is also three to four times more common in boys than in girls, and many girls with ASD exhibit less obvious signs compared to boys. Autism is a lifelong condition. However, many children diagnosed with ASD go on to live independent, productive, and fulfilling lives. (From the American Psychiatric Association website)
This testing involves an intake, testing similar to a learning disability (LD) evaluation (see above), and some specific testing related to distinguishing autism from other difficulties.
Learning Disability Evaluation: $400.00
Autism Evaluation: $400.00
ADHD Evaluation: $75.00
Note: Getting on the waiting list is free. Additionally, you must currently be enrolled in classes to get on the waiting list, as well as in the semester that you receive the assessment (there is no minimum credit requirement).
