Diagnostic Assessments for Dyslexia
Diagnosis and support for children with dyslexia or other Specific Learning Difficulties.
If you think your child might be dyslexic and are concerned that they are not making the progress expected, a formal diagnostic assessment can be the first step towards helping your child.
As a fully qualified dyslexia assessor, I work with your child during an assessment to identify if dyslexia is present, uncovering strengths and areas for support.
The purpose of a diagnostic report is to put into place the most effective teaching support for the child that can be shared with their school as well as at home.
It is the first step in paving the way for targeted, effective support, ultimately helping your child to build confidence and succeed academically.
I provide a flexible service where I offer home visits in and around North London, at school, or from my consultancy room in East Finchley (by appointment only).
What happens during a dyslexia assessment
The whole diagnostic process begins with a pre-assessment consultation and questionnaires for parents and the school SENCO to complete.
On the day, the face-to-face assessment itself can last between 2.5-3 hours and the student is made to feel as relaxed as possible with breaks built in as necessary.
A comprehensive range of standardised assessments are worked through covering areas of cognitive processing and attainment in literacy and maths.
Once the assessment has been completed, a comprehensive report will be written and sent to you within 4 weeks.
It will provide clarity, highlighting areas of strength and weakness and helping the learner, their parents and school staff understand their specific needs. The report will offer a diagnostic outcome and personalised recommendations for support and intervention.
How does a dyslexia assessment help a child?
Screening tests can be offered from Key Stage 2, but they can only indicate the likelihood of a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.
A formal dyslexia diagnostic assessment is suitable from age 7 and can provide several key benefits for your child:
Accurate identification
Understanding strengths and weaknesses
Personalised recommendations
Support in school
Improved confidence. Understanding that their difficulties have a specific cause can be reassuring for your child. It can help improve their self-esteem and reduce feelings of frustration or inadequacy.
Specific guidance to support your child at home
Long-term planning. Having a formal diagnosis can help in long-term educational planning, ensuring that your child receives the necessary support throughout their educational journey.
Occasionally, it is not possible to make an identification of dyslexia - having a private assessment does not guarantee being given a diagnosis. However, personalised recommendations can still be provided based on the student’s areas of need.
Guidance and advice for parents about dyslexia
Helping your child with dyslexia can be challenging, especially when their confidence is affected. A formal diagnosis provides reassurance by identifying their strengths and challenges. The diagnostic report will include personalised strategies and tools to support your child at home.
I offer additional support and guidance for parents. If you have any questions about how I can help, please email me. I would love to chat with you.
What is dyslexia?
Dyslexia is a learning difference that affects around 10% of the population, and which has no bearing at all on the intelligence or creativity of the individual. In fact, although many great entrepreneurs, artists, designers and actors talk openly about their struggles with dyslexia during their school years, they are equally thankful that their brains are wired differently, as they understand this contributes to their creative outlook and ‘out of the box’ thinking.
The British Dyslexia Association (BDA) states:
Dyslexia is a neurological difference and can have a significant impact during education, in the workplace and in everyday life. As each person is unique, so is everyone’s experience of dyslexia. It can range from mild to severe, and it can co-occur with other specific learning difficulties. It usually runs in families and is a life-long condition.
The British Dyslexia Association has recently published a guide for parents of children with dyslexia, which you can download here.
