Diagnosing Learning Disabilities - When are Learning Disabilities Diagnosed?

At What Age or Grade are Learning Disabilities Usually Diagnosed?

• Learning disabilities, as defined by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) cannot be reliably diagnosed until students have been formally taught in basic subject areas;
• Many psychologists recommend waiting until children are at least six years old before evaluating intelligence for more valid and reliable test scores; and
• Students from minority groups with cultural and socioeconomic differences benefit from having at least two years of education and socialization before testing. This is also customary for English Language Learners. This helps to reduce the effect of their cultural and language differences on their test performance. Schools typically attempt to ensure parents of ELL students are involved in the process to the greatest extent reasonably possible.

As with intelligence testing, achievement testing is more reliable after that time.