From LSAT accommodations to MCAT accommodations to GMAT accommodations, there are many situations where having testing accommodations can be hugely helpful for many different people. Some common conditions such as autism spectrum disorder, ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), and dyslexia can make taking such important tests a very difficult task. For these people, taking the LSAT without LSAT accommodations is likely not to give a result that reflects their full ability, and thus LSAT accommodations can become hugely beneficial in leveling the playing field, so to speak.
Dyslexia is one such common condition in the United States, affecting as many as forty million people in the United States alone. Unfortunately, dyslexia is very much underdiagnosed, and only around two million of the forty million have actually received an official diagnosis. Though dyslexia is classed as a type of learning disability, it does not in any way affect the overall intelligence and intellectual capabilities of a dyslexia sufferer. In fact, the famous genius Albert Einstein was himself diagnosed with dyslexia. Testing accommodations like LSAT accommodations can be hugely beneficial for those students that have been diagnosed with dyslexia, as the extra time that is often part of the offered LSAT accommodations or other such testing accommodations can be extremely helpful in that it allows more time to process the test.
ADHD is another mental condition that is commonly diagnosed in a psychoeducational evaluation. Because ADHD is typically diagnosed in childhood – with a median age of diagnosis at only just seven years old – many people, parents included, are of the belief that children will simply grow out of such a condition. Unfortunately, this is a very misinformed belief, as ADHD is a life long condition that will need to be managed even in adulthood. Thus, seeking out testing accommodations such as the aforementioned LSAT accommodations may be important for the adult ADHD sufferer. Treating ADHD in adulthood is hugely important, or it is otherwise likely to have a negative impact on the lives of those who manage it. For instance, being diagnosed with ADHD raises your chances of being diagnosed with an anxiety disorder as well by as much as fifty percent. It has also been shown that adult ADHD patients are more likely to deal with high levels of stress, anxiety, and even depression – as well as a number of other emotional problems.
Finally, those who have been diagnosed as autistic and who fall somewhere on the autism spectrum can greatly benefit from testing accommodations. Autism is not as rare as many people first believe that it is, with as many as one out of every forty five children has been adequately and properly assessed and then diagnosed with autism. Autism is typically diagnosed early in childhood, as the symptoms of it present by the age of two in the vast majority of cases. Because of this, early intervention is possible for many parents, and this can make a world of difference in their child’s later academic success. But LSAT accommodations are likely to still be beneficial to a person who falls somewhere on the autism spectrum, even for those who have been classed as very high functioning.
Testing accommodations are hugely important for many people with varying challenges when it comes to learning. From ADHD to autism spectrum disorder, there are many reasons for testing accommodations such as LSAT accommodations to become a viable and helpful option. Testing accommodations can help students with such aforementioned learning challenges work to their full potential, leveling the playing field with their neurotypical peers, so to speak.