Screening for Dyslexia
If you suspect that you or your loved one has dyslexia, you may have trouble finding someone in the school system or workplace who can screen or test for dyslexia. Many school districts will tell you it's impossible to specifically identify dyslexia. This is simply not true. Dyslexia has been carefully studied for decades. The National Institutes of Health recognize it. The Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity recognizes it. Many states now recognize it and are putting laws in place to help students with dyslexia. (Many of these laws require the type of screening I describe below). (And the California education code does use the term “dyslexia.”)
Basic Facts about Screening and Testing for Dyslexia
There are essentially two categories of people who can accurately screen or test people for dyslexia: trained screeners and psychologists (educational psychologists, neuropsychologists, and clinical psychologists). *If you seek the services of a psychologist, you’ll want a psychologist who knows a good deal about dyslexia specifically.
Trained Screeners do not "diagnose" people with dyslexia, but they can identify dyslexia very accurately. Screeners have been trained to look at the whole person: educational history, personal background (dyslexia in the family), and phonemic awareness (via 9 – 12 screening activities). A screening is most appropriate for children who are homeschooled or in private school or for people who simply want more information about themselves or a loved one.
Psychologists have the training to administer a variety of standardized/normed tests including IQ tests. They, too, will look at educational history, personal background, and phonemic awareness. Psychologists have the ability to give a formal diagnosis, actually assigning a diagnostic code from the DSM-5. A diagnosis may be necessary if someone is seeking to force a school to offer services through a 504 or an IEP. A diagnosis may also be necessary to get accommodations on the job or on the SAT.
If a screener fits your needs, here is what an effective screening process for a child might look like:
1. Parents watch the video called "Dyslexia: Symptoms and Solutions" (4 parts, 3 hours total): http://www.dys-add.com/
2. If the parents feel that their child has many of the symptoms mentioned in the video and they’d like to continue with a screening, a screener will do a 45-minute phone interview to discuss the child’s symptoms and background.
3. If the phone interview suggests that the child does show the signs of dyslexia, the screener will ask the parents to send school/testing documents to the screener for review (report cards, work samples, any testing). The screener will study these documents.
4. The parents and the screener will then meet to review the screener’s findings--based on the documents. This meeting is usually about 1.5 to 2 hours long. If the parents feel like these steps have given them enough information, they might stop the process here.
If the parents want the screener to formally screen the child and create a written report, then the process would continue.
5. The formal screening with the child takes about two hours, and the screener will use 9 - 11 different screening tools/activities.
6. The screener will then write up a 10-15 page report that summarizes all of the findings--from the first telephone interview through the screening. The report will also include specific recommended accommodations so that the child can reach his/her potential in the classroom.
7. The parents and the screener will then meet and review the report and the recommended accommodations. This meeting takes about 2 hours.
If you need a screener or psychologist to screen or diagnosis your child, please contact Dyslexia Alliance, the International Dyslexia Association, or Susan Barton at Bright Solutions.
Basic Facts about Screening and Testing for Dyslexia
There are essentially two categories of people who can accurately screen or test people for dyslexia: trained screeners and psychologists (educational psychologists, neuropsychologists, and clinical psychologists). *If you seek the services of a psychologist, you’ll want a psychologist who knows a good deal about dyslexia specifically.
Trained Screeners do not "diagnose" people with dyslexia, but they can identify dyslexia very accurately. Screeners have been trained to look at the whole person: educational history, personal background (dyslexia in the family), and phonemic awareness (via 9 – 12 screening activities). A screening is most appropriate for children who are homeschooled or in private school or for people who simply want more information about themselves or a loved one.
Psychologists have the training to administer a variety of standardized/normed tests including IQ tests. They, too, will look at educational history, personal background, and phonemic awareness. Psychologists have the ability to give a formal diagnosis, actually assigning a diagnostic code from the DSM-5. A diagnosis may be necessary if someone is seeking to force a school to offer services through a 504 or an IEP. A diagnosis may also be necessary to get accommodations on the job or on the SAT.
If a screener fits your needs, here is what an effective screening process for a child might look like:
1. Parents watch the video called "Dyslexia: Symptoms and Solutions" (4 parts, 3 hours total): http://www.dys-add.com/
2. If the parents feel that their child has many of the symptoms mentioned in the video and they’d like to continue with a screening, a screener will do a 45-minute phone interview to discuss the child’s symptoms and background.
3. If the phone interview suggests that the child does show the signs of dyslexia, the screener will ask the parents to send school/testing documents to the screener for review (report cards, work samples, any testing). The screener will study these documents.
4. The parents and the screener will then meet to review the screener’s findings--based on the documents. This meeting is usually about 1.5 to 2 hours long. If the parents feel like these steps have given them enough information, they might stop the process here.
If the parents want the screener to formally screen the child and create a written report, then the process would continue.
5. The formal screening with the child takes about two hours, and the screener will use 9 - 11 different screening tools/activities.
6. The screener will then write up a 10-15 page report that summarizes all of the findings--from the first telephone interview through the screening. The report will also include specific recommended accommodations so that the child can reach his/her potential in the classroom.
7. The parents and the screener will then meet and review the report and the recommended accommodations. This meeting takes about 2 hours.
If you need a screener or psychologist to screen or diagnosis your child, please contact Dyslexia Alliance, the International Dyslexia Association, or Susan Barton at Bright Solutions.