Dyslexia Assessments
I offer full diagnostic dyslexia assessments for children aged 8-15, and dyslexia screeners for children under 8. These assessments are not just about labels – they are about understanding your
child better and giving them the tools to succeed.
Full Diagnostic Assessment (for ages 8-15)
Dyslexia Screener
(usually for ages under 8)
If you're concerned your child might have dyslexia, it's natural to want answers. However, for children under 8 years old, a full diagnostic test usually isn't recommended. At that age, their reading and writing skills are still developing, so the results may not be reliable. Instead, a dyslexia screener can help spot early signs and give practical suggestions for support.
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What happens in a Full Dyslexia Diagnostic Assessment?
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A diagnostic assessment for dyslexia is a detailed process that helps us understand how someone thinks and learns. It's not just about reading and spelling - I also look at their understanding of language, how they process sounds and use their memory. This gives us a full picture of their strengths and any areas where they might need support.
I compare these thinking skills with how they are doing in school subjects like reading, spelling, and where relevant, maths. This helps us see if there's a gap between their potential and their current performance, which is often a key sign of dyslexia.
The assessment usually takes around three hours. To keep things comfortable, I always plan a break in the middle. Some young people prefer two shorter breaks,and that's absolutely fine too - we can adjust things to suit them.
To make sure the assessment is as helpful as possible, I gather information from different sources:
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Formal tests that explore how the brain processes information.
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Insights from parents or carers who know their child best, including their experiences of learning to read and spell, their language skills and any family history of dyslexia.
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Input from teachers who see how they learn in the classroom.
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The learner's own thoughts and feelings, which are just as important.
Building a good connection with the learner is a big part of the process. When they feel relaxed and understood, they're more likely to share openly, and that helps us create a clearer, more accurate picture of how to support them.
About the Report
The report is written in a way that's easy to understand, even if you're not an expert in dyslexia. It starts with a summary of the main findings and clearly states whether the person has dyslexia. Usually, the report is shared with the school, to help their teachers better understand their needs.
What's Included
After the summary, the report goes into more detail and then offers practical recommendations. These suggestions are tailored to the individual and include ways to help them in the classroom, at home, and through specific support strategies.
Next Steps
Once the report is complete, parents are welcome to have a phone call to talk through the findings and ask any questions they might have.
Other Areas of Need
Sometimes an assessment reveals that a child's learning needs may be due to other challenges - or that dyslexia is just one part of a bigger picture. If that's the case, I'll talk through the findings with you and explain what they might mean. If further support is needed, I can provide a referral letter to help you access the right services.
Cost £495 (This covers the pre assessment consultation, conducting the assessment and the report and follow up phone call)
What happens during a Dyslexia Screener?
Here's a simple breakdown of the key steps:
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Parent/Guardian phone call to understand your concerns and observations about your child's learning.
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Developmental background information is gathered about your child's early speech and language development, any family history of dyslexia, and challenges they may have with learning to read and spell. Their teacher also fills out a short questionnaire to share insights from the classroom.
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Screening Activities Your child completes short, age-appropriate tasks that help assess how they read, spell, and process speech sounds. These are standardised tools designed to highlight potential signs of dyslexia.
Screener Report
You'll receive a report that combines the test results with the background information. It will include suggestions for early support and advice on whether a full assessment might be helpful in the future.
Cost: £225 (includes pre-consultation, screener, report and follow-up phone call)