If your child is bright and trying hard but still struggles with reading, writing, spelling or maths, a specific learning disability (SLD) may be part of the reason. An assessment can explain what is going on and open the door to the right help at school. This guide explains who does the assessment in India, the routes you can take, and what to expect.
What is a specific learning disability?
A specific learning disability is a lifelong difference in how the brain processes written or spoken language or numbers. It isn’t about intelligence or effort. The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 recognises specific learning disabilities as a disability. NCERT describes five main types:
- Dyslexia: difficulty with reading and spelling.
- Dysgraphia: difficulty with handwriting and putting thoughts on paper.
- Dyscalculia: difficulty with numbers and calculation.
- Dyspraxia: difficulty with planning and coordinating movement.
- Developmental aphasia: difficulty with understanding or using spoken language.
Signs worth checking
- finding it hard to link letters with sounds, or reading very slowly long after classmates have become fluent;
- frequent spelling mistakes, or mixing up letters in familiar words, long after other children have stopped;
- messy, effortful handwriting, or avoiding writing altogether;
- trouble remembering number facts, telling the time or handling money;
- doing well when answering aloud but poorly in written work;
- a big gap between how capable your child seems and their marks;
- avoiding homework, stomach aches before school, or calling themselves “stupid”.
Many young children reverse letters or make mistakes while they are learning. What matters is a pattern that lasts despite good teaching and extra help.
Rule out other causes first
Before an SLD assessment, it helps to check:
- vision and hearing, with an eye test and a hearing test;
- general health and sleep;
- the language of teaching: a child learning in a language they don’t speak at home may struggle for reasons other than an SLD;
- missed schooling, frequent changes of school or gaps in teaching;
- attention and emotions: ADHD, anxiety or low mood can affect learning, and can also come alongside an SLD. See ADHD in children.
Who does a learning disability assessment in India?
A full assessment is usually done by a clinical psychologist registered with the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI), often working with a special educator, and sometimes with a paediatrician or child psychiatrist. It typically includes:
- a detailed history from you, and reports from school;
- standardised tests of reading, writing, spelling and maths, compared with what is expected for your child’s age and class;
- an assessment of general thinking and reasoning ability;
- observation of how your child approaches tasks;
- a feedback meeting and a written report with recommendations.
Testing is usually done in person, often over more than one sitting, because standardised tests need controlled conditions.
What to take to the assessment
- recent report cards and a few notebooks or test papers showing the difficulty;
- notes or emails from teachers describing what they see in class;
- results of any eye or hearing tests;
- a short timeline: when your child started speaking, reading and writing, and when you first noticed problems;
- any earlier assessment reports, and a list of extra help your child has already had.
Talking to your child about it
Children who struggle at school often decide they are “stupid” or “lazy”. Before the assessment, explain that it is a way to understand how their brain learns best, not a test they can pass or fail. Afterwards, share the findings in simple, hopeful words: many people learn differently, and the right support makes learning easier. Name their strengths too. If your child is anxious or low about school, a child psychologist can help with their confidence.
Getting an official certificate
Schools and exam boards may ask for a disability certificate. For an SLD certificate, the assessment must be done by a medical authority notified by the government, usually at a government hospital. Under the national guidelines, the certifying team includes a paediatrician, paediatric neurologist or psychiatrist, and the NIMHANS battery of tests is used to diagnose SLD (Government of India notification, December 2020). Where SLD certificates are issued varies by state, so ask your district hospital or the state disability department.
The school route
Many children are first noticed at school. A typical path looks like this:
- The class teacher shares a concern, or you raise one.
- The school counsellor or special educator observes your child and may use a screening checklist. NCERT’s PRASHAST app, launched in 2022, helps schools screen for disabilities, including learning disabilities. Screening only flags a possible difficulty; it isn’t a diagnosis.
- The school refers you for a full assessment.
- Once there is a report or certificate, the school plans support, such as remedial teaching, changes in class and exam arrangements.
Exam arrangements
Exam boards have rules for students with disabilities, including SLDs. CBSE’s rules, for example, allow eligible students with dyslexia to use a scribe, extra time or both in board exams, and allow exemption from the third language. Requests go through the school with a certificate, ideally while your child is in Class 9 or Class 11. Rules change and differ between CBSE, CISCE and state boards, so check your board’s latest circular with the school.
Free and low-cost routes
- District Early Intervention Centres (DEICs): under the government’s Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK), learning disorders are among the conditions screened and supported free of cost, through district hospitals.
- Government hospitals and medical colleges: child psychiatry, paediatric and clinical psychology departments can assess children, and notified hospitals can issue certificates.
- Your school and education department: under Samagra Shiksha, schools can link children to screening and assessment camps. Ask your school or block education office.
What does an assessment cost?
Costs vary a lot, so ask for a clear written quote before you start. Check how many sessions are involved, which tests are used, whether the written report and a feedback meeting are included, and whether the report will be accepted for a certificate or for board exam arrangements. Government routes are free or low cost but may involve waiting. Mindara doesn’t do formal SLD testing, so we don’t quote assessment prices.
What online help can and can’t do
Formal SLD testing usually needs to be done in person. Online sessions on Mindara can still help with:
- a first consultation with a child psychologist to talk through your concerns and decide whether an assessment is needed;
- understanding an assessment report and planning next steps with the school;
- your child’s confidence, frustration and exam anxiety, which often build up after years of struggling;
- parent guidance on homework routines and keeping learning positive at home.
Start with our child psychologist page. If the daily struggle at home is wearing you down, parenting counselling can help.
After the assessment
- Share the report with the school and ask for a written plan of support.
- Look for a special educator for remedial teaching, if the report recommends it.
- Protect your child’s self-esteem: praise effort, find what they are good at, and explain the SLD in simple, hopeful words.
- Review progress every few months, and get an updated assessment if the school or board needs one.
Some children have more than one difference, for example an SLD alongside ADHD or autism. If that is a question for you, our page on autism support for parents explains where to get an autism assessment.