Literacy and Learning Diagnostic Clinic
Our program is able to comprehensively assess reading, writing and other academic and learning issues. The diagnostic assessment clinic runs on Mondays from 3:00-5:00 p.m. Telepractice and in person options are available.
The Literacy and Learning Diagnostic Clinic provides assessment and intervention services for children and adults with reading and writing or other academic difficulties, including dyslexia, disorders of executive functioning and language-related learning difficulties.
About the Process - What to Expect
- All assessments are completed either by a speech-language pathologist or by a trained graduate student clinician under the direct supervision of a speech-language pathologist in person or via telepractice.
- As a speech-language pathologist, the following can be diagnosed:
- Language Disorder/Delay
- Reading Disorder (including Dyslexia)
- Writing Disorder
- Disorders of Executive Functioning (attention, memory, planning and executing tasks)
- Learning Disorders, Autism, Attention Deficit/Hyperactive Disorders cannot be diagnosed by a speech-language pathologist. Appropriate referrals will be made for those diagnoses.
- All testing is completed in 2 two-hour sessions (4 hours). After these sessions, a written report with disability information will be compiled as well as a face-to-face or phone consolation regarding results will be available.
- This report can be used for 504 planning in schools and accommodations/modification for college courses.
- The results will be reported using International Classification of Disorders -10 (ICD-10) coding for disability which is also accepted by Accessibility Resources at Minnesota State University, Mankato and local school districts for 504 plans.
Cost of Assessment
There is a $450 fee for this comprehensive assessment. Sliding scale fees and scholarships are available. We may be able to be reimbursed from insurance depending on your coverage -- please contact us for for more information on this.
What are considerations for in person vs. telepractice assessments?
There are some assessments that cannot be delivered reliably over telepractice. The telepractice assessment must consider the variability that can occur through being online but many children are able to be assessed reliably online.
Who do I contact for more information?
Megan Mahowald, Ph.D. CCC-SLP is an associate professor and department chair in Speech, Hearing and Rehabilitation Services. She is the director/primary speech-language pathologist of this assessment clinic. Dr. Mahowald has a doctorate in Literacy Education and is credentialed as a speech-language pathologist. She has been completing assessments and intervention for oral and written language at Minnesota State University for six years as well as in consultation with private clinics.
Contact Information:
Email: megan.mahowald@mnsu.edu
Phone: 507-389-1415
Office: Clinical Sciences Building room 318
