Description:
The Learning Difficulties Clinic offers schools and families
in the Western Region a multi-disciplinary approach to the assessment of and intervention for children with learning
difficulties.
The team consists of a Paediatrician, Audiologist,
Social Worker, Speech Pathologist, Occupational Therapist
and Neuropsychologist.
The program is limited to primary school children who are
in Grades 1 to 5 who present with a problem in learning to
read/spell and/or do maths that cannot be explained by lack
of intellectual ability and/or socio-educational opportunities.
Children who are already known to have significant physical,
cognitive or emotional disabilities are generally not seen in
this program. Children who have recently been assessed
elsewhere or where there is an ongoing involvement with
another agency are accepted only after liaison with the
personnel involved.
Children may be referred to the LDC program by anyone,
but before they can be considered for entry into the Clinic
they need to be seen by a Paediatrician. If it is felt that further multidisciplinary involvement is required, a referral is made
to the LD clinic.
Procedure:
Parents and the child's teachers are required to complete a questionnaire. When all the information is received the referral
is presented at a Clinic Intake meeting. At this meeting a
decision is made regarding the child's suitability for inclusion
to the program.
Assessments are conducted over a period of two days at the
Sunshine Hospital.