What Happens in a Dyslexia Assessment? Your Questions Answered
If you’re considering a dyslexia assessment for yourself, your child or a student, it’s natural to wonder what will happen. A diagnostic assessment is designed to build a detailed picture of an individual’s strengths and difficulties and establish whether their profile is consistent with dyslexia.
What happens before the assessment?
Before the appointment, you will usually be asked to provide background information. This may cover educational history, current concerns, previous support and any relevant developmental or family history. This helps the assessor understand the reasons for seeking an assessment and tailor the session appropriately.
What happens during a dyslexia assessment?
A diagnostic dyslexia assessment involves a range of activities selected according to the individual and the purpose of the assessment. These may explore:
Reading, including accuracy, fluency and comprehension
Spelling and writing skills
Phonological processing – how speech sounds are recognised and processed
Working memory – the ability to hold and work with information
Processing speed – how efficiently certain types of information are processed
Other relevant cognitive and processing skills, where appropriate
The assessor also considers how tasks are approached, not simply the scores achieved. These observations can provide valuable insight into strategies, strengths and areas of difficulty.
Will I feel under pressure?
The assessment is not an exam. There will be some activities that feel easy and others that are deliberately more challenging because the assessor needs to understand your individual profile.
You can ask questions and take breaks when needed. The aim is to help you feel comfortable enough to perform at your best.
Can you fail a dyslexia assessment?
No. There is no pass or fail. The assessor brings together information from your background, assessment results and observations to reach a professional diagnostic decision.
Even where dyslexia is not identified, the assessment can provide useful insight into strengths, difficulties and areas where support may be beneficial.
How long does a dyslexia assessment take?
The exact length varies depending on the individual and the assessment required, but you should allow several hours (about 3) for a comprehensive diagnostic assessment. Breaks can be incorporated where appropriate.
What happens afterwards?
You will receive a full diagnostic report explaining the findings, diagnostic decision and individual profile, together with practical recommendations for support. Depending on your circumstances, these may relate to school, university, examinations, the workplace, assistive technology or specialist support.
At Dyslexia Insight, assessment is about understanding your individual profile not passing or failing a test.
Insight is the foundation of change.
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