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Education, Language and Literacy Clinic (ELLC)

Has your child been experiencing ongoing difficulties with one or more of the following?

  • Reading (sounding out words, reading with expression, reading fluently and accurately)
  • Reading Comprehension (understanding and/or remembering what they have read)
  • Writing (coming up with ideas, planning, structure, grammar)
  • Written Expression (writing a piece that is interesting, that makes sense, that has enough information and is on topic)
  • Spelling
  • Maths calculations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division)
  • Mathematical reasoning (problem solving, understanding money, time, reading graphs etc.)
  • Struggling with learning in general?

Depending on your child’s age and situation, they may present with a range of different signs/symptoms.

Teachers may also have expressed concern about your child’s literacy and learning progress. The school may be trying various accommodations and strategies but perhaps these are not making enough difference. Your child could be feeling anxious about his/her own academic ability compared to peers and there could be a risk that your child will disengage from learning.

Perhaps you have previously obtained an assessment for your child and/or have tried targeted intervention, but the difficulties continue. Alternatively, perhaps your child has not yet had an assessment or tried intervention, and maybe you are unsure where to start.

If your child presents with one or more of the difficulties listed above on an ongoing basis, then they could benefit from an ELLC assessment.

To find out more about early intervention programs or services available near you, contact us today.

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What is ELLC?

Early Start Australia | Vic | Box Hill offers a family-centred and multidisciplinary team approach to education, language and literacy assessment, intervention and case-management through the ELLC.

In the first instance, parents meet with ELLC Manager Liselle Grant  (Senior Speech Pathologist and Primary/Secondary Teacher) and Moya Matthews (Psychologist) in order to obtain information about your concerns..

Your child will then undertake Speech Pathology language and literacy assessments as well as Psychology cognitive and educational assessments. Assessment will also include liaison with your child’s teachers.

Depending on whether your child has already received targeted intervention for their specific literacy or learning difficulties or not, will govern which assessment approach the ELLC will take

If your child has not received a targeted intervention to date, then the assessment will consist of a:

  • Parent interview
  • Teacher liaison
  • Psychology Cognitive Assessment identify/rule-out cognitive difficulties
  • Speech Pathology Language and Literacy Assessment
  • Feedback session
  • Teacher feedback
  • Six months of targeted intervention.

The initial assessment and preliminary report writing process will take approximately 5 weeks. Your child will then be required to undertake six months of a targeted, evidence-based intervention. Early Start Australia | Vic | Box Hill is one of the centres that can provide this intervention.

At the end of the six months, your child will complete:

  • Psychology Education Assessment (i.e. different to the Cognitive Assessment)
  • Speech Pathology Assessment (i.e. targeted literacy sub-tests).

Assessment results will be provided as an Appendix to the preliminary report. A diagnosis may potentially be provided and/or further recommendations are made.

If your child has already received a targeted intervention for six-months, then the assessment will consist of a:

  • Parent interview
  • Teacher liaison
  • Psychology Cognitive Assessment identify/rule-out cognitive difficulties
  • Psychology Education Assessment (i.e. different to the Cognitive Assessment)
  • Speech Pathology Language Assessment
  • Feedback session
  • Teacher feedback.

The assessments and the comprehensive written report will take approximately 6 weeks. A diagnosis may potentially be provided and/or further recommendations will be made.

These approaches are in-line with the mandated requirements under the

Health professionals in Australia, America and many countries in Europe must refer to the mandated criteria set out in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) handbook when diagnosing Specific Learning Disorder (SLD) as well as a range of other disorders. For a clinical diagnosis of SLD to be determined, a health professional must be convinced the assessment evidence satisfies the four SLD criteria required by the DSM-V.

A comprehensive, synthesised Speech Pathology/Psychology Assessment Report will be produced including recommendations. Feedback sessions are provided to both parents and teachers.

To streamline your experience, Liselle and Lisa will continue to case-manage your child’s progress throughout the time your child undertakes assessment and intervention at Early Start Australia | Vic | Box Hill (periodically reviewing your child’s progress).

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ELLC Assessment benefits

Having your child assessed through the ELLC can not only provide you, your child’s educators and other health providers with a deeper understanding of the specific education, language and literacy issues that are occurring, but will also enable your child to receive targeted, evidence-based intervention to address their specific difficulties.

Gain insight and anxiety relief

  • Assessment enables your child to adjust perspective and increase positivity
  • Helps to ease feelings of anxiety and disengagement with school, as well as give them achievable goals to work towards. 

Potential diagnosis

  • Assessment may either form part of an ongoing diagnostic process, or potentially result in a Specific Learning Disorder (SLD) to be diagnosed.
  • For an SLD to be diagnosed, a child’s difficulties cannot be attributed to cognitive ability or other factors (such as hearing, vision, emotional, environmental, social factors impacting on their opportunity to learn). 

Enhance advocacy

  • Equips you with facts and knowledge about your child’s specific education, language and literacy difficulties
  • You can effectively advocate for school and community participation support.
  • This support may take the form of teachers incorporating some strategies/accommodations for your child in the learning environments (such as the classroom), obtaining “Special Consideration” for assessments, and/or potentially securing some funding (if eligible and attending an Independent School).

The Early Start Australia promise

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Holistic care and treatment plans

We’ll create a personalised care plan that suits your child’s individual requirements. This treatment plan will include a variety of therapies, lifestyle changes and training for parents

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Australia-wide reach

With clinics and therapists across the country, you’re guaranteed the help you need, when you need it.

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Registered NDIS provider

Access necessary support without any additional worries. Our early intervention services are covered within your NDIS plan however ADHD is generally not covered by NDIS funding.

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Early intervention at all stages

Our ADHD assessments and therapies for people of all ages and capabilities, including adults with ADHD. Join us today to achieve better results on your journey!

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