In order to make a learning disability diagnosis the following must be established:

• The learner's learning difficulties significantly interfere with his/her academic and daily living activities that require reading, math and writing skills
• There is a discrepancy between intelligence and academic achievement
• There are no other apparent reasons that could account for the level of learning difficulties the learner is experiencing¹²

A comprehensive assessment by a member of the College of Psychologists is required to diagnose a learning disability. In general the process involves an interview and a series of tests.

Advantages:

• When adults are diagnosed with a learning disability they have access to accommodations within the work, academic and testing environments
• When adults are diagnosed with a learning disability they are protected by human rights legislation from discrimination and from being denied access to accommodations
• The results help adults to understand their strengths and weaknesses and may ease feelings of inadequacy
• It helps adults watch for signs of potential learning disabilities with their children

Disadvantages:

• There are limited government funds available to help cover the costs of the assessment
• There may be limited access to qualified and suitable psychologists in the area
• Not all licensed psychologists have experience with adults and since the results are open to subjective evaluation, how they are interpreted could be detrimental to the adult. ¹³ Adults who are bombarded with a report that only highlights their weaknesses may be inclined to become overwhelmed or completely give up. In addition, if the report is written in complex language, this could lead to the adult not understanding the report and possibly misinterpreting the information.