Dyslexia Assessments

Dyslexia Assessment for Children Aged 8-15

Dyslexia is a specific learning difficulty that primarily affects the skills involved in accurate and fluent word reading and spelling. For children aged 8-15, a comprehensive dyslexia assessment can identify dyslexia, and enable tailored support and interventions.

Early recognition and support are key to helping children with dyslexia succeed. Through comprehensive assessment or screening, along with a supportive and understanding environment, children can develop the skills they need to thrive academically and beyond.

The assessment process typically includes:

Initial Consultation: A discussion with parents or guardians to discuss their concerns and plan the next steps. Further information about your child’s developmental progress and academic achievement is gathered through a background questionnaire for you to complete, plus one to get the school’s perspective.
Dyslexia assessment: A range of standardised tests are used to provide objective data on your child’s abilities compared to their peers of the same age. A cognitive profile identifies any underlying factors that might contribute to their difficulties, which is then compared to their performance in reading, spelling, and writing assessments.
Diagnostic report: The information gathered from the tests, along with the comprehensive background information, is used to create a detailed diagnostic report. This report summarises the findings, highlighting both strengths and areas of concern, and leading to a diagnostic conclusion. It also includes detailed recommendations tailored to your child’s specific needs, such as adjustments for exams, support strategies for classroom and home environments, and suggestions for specialist tuition if necessary.

Cost: £530

Screening for Younger Children Where Dyslexia is Suspected

A full diagnostic assessment is not usually appropriate for children younger than 8, as they are too young for any diagnosis to be reliable. However, if dyslexia is suspected, a screener can identify early indicators and suggest support strategies.

Key elements of the screening process include:

Initial consultation: A discussion with parents or guardians about their concerns.
Developmental History: Gathering information about your child’s early language development, family history of dyslexia, and any difficulties with speech or language. A questionnaire is also provided for your child’s class teacher.
Screening Tools: Standardised tests are used to identify early signs of dyslexia and to assess their reading and spelling skills.

Screener report: A report summarises the screener findings and compares them to the background information. It includes recommendations for early intervention and advice about future assessment, where appropriate.

Cost: £250