LEARN Clinic offers
evaluations of students

Several months into the school year can be a very trying time for parents who have just been notified that their child is having academic or behavior problems in school. It may be that the child is not reading at the proper age level or is not able to understand what she is reading. Or it may be that the child is distracted and has problems with attention and concentration at school. It could also be that their child can’t get his homework done or is spending too much time on an assignment.

“Families come to us for a whole range of problems and, while academic difficulties are typically the main concern, by the time we see a family, children are often not feeling very good about themselves in general,” said Yumi Hiraga and Honora Hanley, University of Washington psychologists and co-directors of the LEARN Clinic. “In addition, the situation can be more complex after years of academic failure or problems having accumulated.”

To help children and their parents deal with such situations, the newly created LEARN Clinic was established at the UW to provide comprehensive learning and behavioral assessments for children who are experiencing difficulties in school or whose parents are considering changing their school placement. The LEARN Clinic is operated within the UW’s Psychological Services and Training Clinic.

The LEARN Clinic, which operates on a fee for service basis, specializes in evaluating learning disabilities and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The clinic also provides two other types of evaluations: readiness-for-school evaluations for parents who are considering whether their child is ready for kindergarten or school, and evaluations for gifted and advanced placement programs.

“We have found that there is a tremendous need in the Puget Sound and surrounding areas for comprehensive evaluations of children and adolescents having academic difficulties or learning disabilities,” said Hiraga.

The clinic primarily provides assessments. A typical assessment includes an interview with parents, a battery of cognitive and neuropsychological tests and communication with the child’s teachers. Results of the evaluations, recommendations and referrals for treatment, if necessary, are reviewed with the family.

“We try to provide specific information on areas of strengths and weaknesses of the child, along with specific recommendations for helping the child,” said Hanley. The psychologists also have conducted school visits and have worked with families and schools to implement recommendations.

Parents who have questions or want more information about the services offered by the clinic, which is located on the UW’s Seattle campus, should call (206) 543-6511. The clinic is open Monday and Wednesday. ¶

Joel Schwarz, News & Information