A full dyslexia diagnostic assessment is very detailed and can only be carried out by Level 7 qualified Specialist Assessors (like myself), or Educational Psychologists. These diagnostic assessments are more detailed and reliable than a dyslexia screener which are sometimes carried out in schools. There are four stages to the assessment process:
Stage 1: Contact. Contact is made with an assessor and an informal chat can help to see if a diagnostic assessment may be appropriate.
Stage 2: Background questionnaires. Questionnaires are completed by the parents/carers and the pupil’s school, as well as a visual screening difficulties questionnaire. The formal testing can not begin without the background information. From the information I receive, I will decide if it is appropriate to continue with an assessment for your child – sometimes it might not be, especially if there are lots of other issues for your child. Sometimes, we may need to wait for your child to get an up-to-date eye test. If the information I receive indicates there is a good probability of a specific learning difficulty (dyslexia), I will contact you to go over terms and conditions and arrange a suitable date and time for the testing.
Stage 3: Psychometric testing. These tests cover cognitive functions, underlying abilities and attainment and are carried out at either your home or the child’s school. It is important the child feels comfortable, is free from major distractions and understands why I am testing them. During the testing, I will note how they approach tasks and if they have developed any strategies to help them. I will work with your child to understand their views on learning and how they like to be supported. This testing usually takes place in one session lasting between 2-4 hours depending on the pupil. I ensure there are plenty of rest breaks and down time however!
Stage 4: The diagnostic decision and write up. The tests are marked and scored. They will give me a result of how your child has performed in relation to other children of the same age (standardised score). The results will allow me to explore cognitive strengths and weaknesses and how these are impacting on your child currently, and how they are likely to impact in the future. I carefully map the results of the tests and questionnaires to a working definition of dyslexia and conclude with a diagnostic decision of whether dyslexia is present or not. Then I write up the assessment report, which is usually around 30 pages long. The report will highlight any strengths and weaknesses your child may have and includes tailored recommendations to support your child in education and with life skills. I advise how schools (or colleges), home and technology can assist your child in reaching their potential!
Contact me to make the first step in supporting your child: sarah@dyslexiaunlocked.co.uk