Understanding these learning differences is part of a diagnosis. For example, a person who has a reading disability may be very slow when reading a passage. This does not mean the person cannot understand the passage. If a test were timed, the person who reads slowly would be unsuccessful because time would run out before a test was completed. With extended time, the person could demonstrate knowledge of the subject.
Extended time is an accommodation.
They do not make a test or job easier. Four questions are critical to diagnosis. Knowing the answer to these questions before seeking professional can save time and assure you that you are getting the information you need. Some answers to these questions are provided below. They include psychologists, educational specialists, and other professionals who work in specialized fields such as speech and language.