Blackburn Clinical Services in Los Angeles arranges learning disability and dyslexia testing for children, teens and adults, with testing sessions in person in Culver City. An evaluation looks at reading, writing and math alongside thinking skills, explains why learning feels harder than it should, and ends with a written report, a feedback session and specific recommendations.
Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. A referral is welcome, not required.
- Who it is for
- Children, teens and adults, including adults who were never tested
- Areas tested
- Reading accuracy, fluency and comprehension, spelling and writing, math, plus language, memory, processing speed and attention
- Conditions
- Dyslexia, written expression disorder (dysgraphia), math learning disability (dyscalculia), and related attention or language concerns
- Where testing happens
- In person in Culver City
- Who does the testing
- Licensed psychologists and clinical specialists
- You receive
- A written report, a feedback session and recommendations for school, work or exams
- Typical timeline
- Usually about two weeks from the first appointment to feedback and the written report. Testing itself is 4 to 6 hours.
- Referral
- Welcome from doctors, therapists and schools, but not required. Anyone can call to book.
- Call
- (888) 870-7405, Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM
Last updated November 5, 2026
Signs of a learning disability or dyslexia
- ChildrenTrouble linking letters and sounds, slow or effortful reading, spelling that does not stick, avoiding reading aloud.
- TeensReading takes far longer than classmates, essays are hard to organize, math facts do not stick, tests run out of time.
- AdultsReading slowly and rereading, avoiding writing, persistent spelling errors, and exams that feel like a race against the clock.
- At any ageA gap between how capable someone is in conversation and how they perform on paper.
Dyslexia found later in life
Many people with dyslexia are bright enough to compensate through elementary school, so it surfaces later, when reading loads jump in middle school, high school, college or graduate school. Adults often describe years of working twice as hard. A diagnosis at any age can explain that history and open the door to accommodations and the right kind of reading support.
What a learning evaluation measures
| What is tested | Why it matters | |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | Word reading, sounding out new words, fluency and comprehension | Separates dyslexia from comprehension or attention problems |
| Writing | Spelling, handwriting, sentence and essay writing | Shows whether written expression is a specific weakness |
| Math | Number sense, math facts, calculation and problem solving | Identifies a math learning disability and where it breaks down |
| Thinking skills | Language, memory, processing speed, attention and reasoning | Explains why learning is hard and which supports will help |
What the report can recommend
- Structured literacy or targeted reading intervention
- Extended time, breaks or a separate setting on tests
- Assistive technology such as text to speech, speech to text and audiobooks
- Classroom supports such as provided notes and reduced copying
- A 504 plan, IEP or private school learning plan
- Tutoring or educational therapy focused on the specific skill
For school plans, see psychoeducational evaluations. For college, LSAT, MCAT and bar exam requests, see evaluations for exam accommodations.
How testing works
- 01Call usCall (888) 870-7405 and tell us what is going on. We help you choose the right evaluation. A referral is welcome but not required.
- 02Intake conversationWe go over concerns, history and goals, and ask for any past evaluations, school records, IEP or 504 plans.
- 03Testing sessionsStandardized tasks and questionnaires, one on one with the examiner, in person in Culver City. Breaks are built in.
- 04Scoring and written reportResults are scored, compared with others of the same age and written up with clear findings and recommendations.
- 05Feedback session and next stepsYou go over the results, the recommendations and any documentation for school, work or exams, and how to connect to care.
Frequently asked questions
What does a dyslexia evaluation include?
A dyslexia evaluation measures how accurately and fluently a person reads words, how well they sound out new words, spelling, reading comprehension and the language skills underneath reading, such as phonological awareness and rapid naming. It also looks at thinking skills and history to rule out other explanations.
How long does learning disability or dyslexia testing take?
Usually about two weeks from the first appointment to feedback and the written report. Collateral calls, a one hour initial evaluation and 4 to 6 hours of testing happen over about a week. The one hour feedback session and the written report usually follow within a week after that.
Can adults be tested for dyslexia?
Yes. Many adults were never tested, or were told they were not trying hard enough. An adult evaluation looks at current reading and writing, school history and how reading affects work or study, and can support accommodations in college, graduate school or licensing exams.
Is dyslexia a learning disability?
Yes. Dyslexia is a specific learning disability in reading that affects accurate or fluent word reading and spelling. It is not related to intelligence or effort. Clinicians often diagnose it as a specific learning disorder with impairment in reading.
How is a learning disability diagnosed?
Through standardized testing of reading, writing and math, combined with thinking skills, history and school records. A diagnosis rests on a skill that is well below what is expected and that has persisted despite good teaching and support.
What is the difference between a learning evaluation and a psychoeducational evaluation?
They overlap. A psychoeducational evaluation is the school focused version, built to support a 504 plan, IEP or learning plan. A broader learning evaluation can add memory, attention, language and emotional functioning when the picture is more complex.
Can testing get my child extra time on tests?
Testing can provide the documentation schools and testing organizations ask for when deciding on extended time and other supports. The school, the College Board or ACT makes the final decision, so share the report early.
Will the school accept a private evaluation?
Public schools must consider a private evaluation you share, but they make their own decisions and may do their own testing. Private schools set their own policies, and many rely on private evaluations for learning plans.
Is it ADHD or a learning disability?
It can be either, or both. ADHD and learning disabilities often occur together, and attention problems can make reading look harder than it is. Testing both at once is often the fastest way to a clear answer.
Do I need a referral for testing?
No. Referrals from doctors, therapists and schools are welcome but not required. Anyone can call (888) 870-7405 to book.
Where does testing take place?
Testing sessions take place in person in Culver City. Our team gives you the details when you schedule. Therapy after testing can happen at our Mar Vista office or by video for clients in California.
Testing at Blackburn
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Reading or writing harder than it should be?
Call to talk through your concerns and book a learning or dyslexia evaluation for a child, teen or adult. Testing sessions take place in person in Culver City.
Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. Referrals from doctors, therapists and schools are welcome but not required. In a crisis, call or text 988, or call 911.
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