Assessment
Benefits of Cognitive Testing
A detailed cognitive and educational assessment can help explain a learner’s profile, identify their strengths, and guide the next steps.
Benefits of Cognitive Testing
- Identifies specific strengths and difficulties: assess areas such as reading, spelling, writing, mathematics, processing speed, memory and reasoning, rather than treating learning difficulty as one general problem.
- Helps explain why certain tasks are difficult: for example, reading might be impaired due to poor phonological processing, working memory, vocabulary or sound-symbol knowledge, or a combination of them.
- Supports identification of a learning difference: the assessment, coupled with background information, observations, and educational history, helps to identify cognitive patterns and achievement. Also, early diagnosis has a positive correlation with the speed and effectiveness of intervention, and self-esteem.
- Guides targeted teaching and intervention: a detailed profile helps educators decide where instruction should begin, which skills need explicit teaching and what level of practice/review is required.
- Provides evidence for support and accommodations: the written report may help families, schools or workplaces consider appropriate supports (eg. extra time, assistive technology etc.).
For further information about the Woodcock Johnson IV (WJ-IV) visit: Speld New Zealand - Dyslexia and other learning difficulties for further information.