The subject of diagnosing dyslexia or testing for dyslexia is one that gets a lot of attention and also seems to bring about the most confusion for people. It is our intention to provide you with current and accurate information about the importance of getting an accurate assessment and ultimately the decision is yours to make about whether or not to go ahead with testing.
How do I know if my child should be tested?
Who should I call to test my child for dyslexia? Who does the testing?
What test or tests will be given to my child? What is the evaluator looking for?
Why don't public schools test for dyslexia?
What will it cost to have my child tested for dyslexia and does insurance cover it?
How do I know if my child should be tested?
Great question! The truth is if you are wondering about this and are reading this web page, then you likely already suspect ‘something' may be wrong. FOLLOW YOUR GUT and have him/her tested! Mothers (and fathers) have an intuitive awareness about their kids and if your gut tells you something is ‘just not right', we highly encourage you to check it out- THE SOONER, THE BETTER!
If your child exhibits several of the Warning Signs it is a good idea to have him tested by a professional who will conduct a complete evaluation. Keep in mind, parents are more likely to first notice signs of a possible learning disability- not the teachers. Of particular concern should be the extent to which your child likes to read &/or likes school in general. Children who avoid the printed word or say they don't like school are giving you a significant message that they may be having a problem.
In general terms, if your young child has difficulty identifying letters and sounding out words or your grade schooler struggles quite a bit with reading and spelling, you should investigate further.
There is no downside to having your child tested as soon as you suspect a problem. HOWEVER, there is serious risk in waiting until your child fails and/or hates school. See the facts about this on our HOME page. Research is significant and clear: Earlier is better. The ideal time to get help and start a remediation program is between five and seven years. This is also best, due to the child's cognitive, physical, and social development at this age.
Research tells us that parents who suspect a learning disability often wait before requesting help. Naturally, no one relishes the thought their child may be dyslexic or have a related learning disability. We urge you, DO NOT PUT IT OFF. Do not play the “just wait and see” that is often encouraged by schools “until at least the end of second grade”. While you and the teachers “wait and see” your child is continuing to struggle, to “feel stupid”, and continuing to lose self-esteem, because he is already keenly aware of what he cannot do and probably very confused as to why nobody is helping. Help your child. Contact a professional for an evaluation. Details are below.
Finally, if you are still apprehensive about having your child tested, keep this in mind. Research shows that children often fear the worst when they are NOT in a situation where they have been tested and are receiving support from home or school. They worry that something much more serious than a learning disability is to blame for all of their difficulties. They will do their best to hide this shame and insecurity. They become masters of disguise- the “class clown” or “troublemaker”. Understandably. Human nature tells us being funny or bad is much better than being found out to be “stupid”. Not only are they relieved to find out that they are not stupid at all and that the root of their problems is dyslexia but they immediately move to a position of power once they know help is available.
Do not let your own insecurities stop you. It is a fact that one of the strongest indicators of dyslexia is a parent or immediate family member who also struggled with language and is dyslexic (whether diagnosed or not). Perhaps you did not receive the help you deserved. Sadly, this is the case in many families. Now that you ARE aware, you have the wonderful opportunity to do for your child what was not done for you.
If you have additional questions or concerns or want to share your story, CLICK HERE and send us an e-mail. We are here to listen and to help!
Who should I call to test my child for dyslexia? Who does the testing?
It may be very surprising to learn that…Testing for dyslexia is rarely done in schools. Why/why not is addressed in a question below. For our purposes when we continue this discussion on testing, we are talking about getting a formal evaluation done, outside of the school.
So, who does this testing? The testing can be done by an individual or group who have specialized educational training, in the fields of psychology, psychiatry, speech/language, &/or neuropsychology. The person you may hear referred to most often to test is a neuropsychologist. Child neuropsychology is a professional specialty concerned with the relationship of thinking, learning and behavior to a child's brain. To download a brochure that explains what is involved in a neuropsychological exam, CLICK HERE.
IF YOU LIVE IN GREATER CLEVELAND : The Learning Brook has compiled a list of professionals who test in our area. Simply CLICK HERE to download the list of who to call if you suspect your child may be dyslexic, have a similar learning disability, or ADHD. You are also encouraged to visit our RESOURCES & MORE webpage for many other important contacts.
IF YOU LIVE OUTSIDE OF GREATER CLEVELAND : Most larger hospitals have a Pediatric Psychology/Psychiatry Department or Neuropsychology Department that you can call to schedule an evaluation or to get further help. You can also contact the following organizations who should be able to give you more specific information about individuals/groups who test in your community. Try contacting:
The International Dyslexia Association: 1-800-ABCD-123 or visit their website www.interdys.org
The Learning Disability Association: 1-412-341-1515 or www.ldanatl.org
Look in the Yellow Pages under “dyslexia”, “learning specialists”, or “schools for learning disabilities”.
Remember… Until you know why your child is struggling with reading, writing, or spelling, you won't know the best way to help him/her.
FACT SHEETS to READ and DOWNLOAD PRINTED COPIES :
NOTE: If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader, click on the icon and you can download this now, FREE, to your computer. After installing, you will be able to read and print the comprehensive list and any other PDF files on our website
“Testing for Dyslexia” Information provided by The International Dyslexia Association. CLICK HERE to download this fact sheet.
For a wealth of information you can DOWNLOAD from The International Dyslexia Association (IDA) … CLICK on the following LINK : http://www.interdys.org/servlet/compose?section_id=5&page_id=79
“Pediatric Neuropsychology: A Guide for Parents” This educational pamphlet answers many of your questions. CLICK HERE to print your copy.
“Dyslexia: Testing and Teaching” In this one-hour video, from Susan Barton and Bright Solutions for Dyslexia you will learn:
• What tests reveal dyslexia
• Who should do the testing -- and who should not
• Which reading programs to use -- and which ones to avoid
To order this video, visit Susan Barton's website by clicking on the following link : http://www.dys-add.com/#video
To download the accompanying handout for the video, CLICK HERE.
“Understanding the Results of Psychoeducational Testing” and many more fascinating and informative articles can be found on SchwabLearning's website. Visit their site and click on the “Managing” tab or click on the link below:
http://www.schwablearning.org/resources.asp?g=1&s=4&t=1
What test or tests will be given to my child? What is the evaluator looking for?
There is no one single test used to identify dyslexia. A battery of several tests should be administered. While reading problems may look the same on the surface, there is no one dyslexic child. Dyslexia can range from mild to moderate to severe, so the more tests that are given, the better the chance of pinpointing those areas of language that impact your child the most.
The various tests that are given will measure the language abilities, intellectual functioning, cognitive processing, and educational achievement of your son/daughter. The language abilities tests are most significant and will look at the expressive abilities (written and oral) as well as the receptive language abilities (reading and listening). The assessment will also likely look at the motor abilities and adaptive capabilities of your child.
For more information about what the tester will be looking for when administering the various tests to your child, we recommend that you review what dyslexia and learning disabilities are. Of particular interest will be the information on “phonemic awareness” and the related 
materials you can download or order free. CLICK HERE and go to our webpage, LD & DYSLEXIA. Be sure to scroll down for the free handouts.
For the most complete picture of what is involved in the testing process, we highly recommend reading Chapter 11, “Diagnosing Dyslexia in the School-Age Child” from Overcoming Dyslexia by Sally Shaywitz.
Included with the overall assessment should be suggestions for appropriate educational interventions and remediation. This is significant and we recommend you request this when you start the testing and confirm that you will receive a written summary and recommendations when your child has completed the tests. It is also a good idea to inquire of the person(s) testing your son/daughter if he is willing to advocate for your child in your school system, which means attending a meeting to inform the educators how they can best meet your child's specific needs. This can be invaluable! Some testers will do this at no additional charge, some will advocate for an additional fee, and some do not advocate at all. Regardless, you as parent, should become your child's first and most significant advocate. Fight for what he deserves, cheer each success, and keep learning more, together, about how best to meet his needs. Never quit!
Regarding testing for dyslexia: we include a list of the tests most often used; it is NOT all inclusive. While we understand these test names/abbreviations are not terms you are now familiar with, they are the most commonly used and you may want to see if your evaluator will be administering tests from these lists. This is especially important if you are having an evaluation done within a school setting! We also include it for those who have working knowledge of the field and because we get requests from many educators for the lists. As a parent, rest assured a competent evaluator will go over the specific tests he administers to your child and will explain the significance of each. You can and should ask any questions concerning any of the tests. You may want to print out the charts below to have as a reference.
Test Instruments for Cognitive Abilities / Intelligence Testing |
Wechsler Scales (WPPSI-III; WISC-IV; WAIS-III; WASI) Stanford-Binet (SB-FE; SB-V) Woodcock-Johnson III Test of Cognitive Abilities (WJ-III Cog) Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (K-ABC) |
Phonological Assessment Tools |
Comprehensive Test of Phonological Processing (CTOPP) Test of Phonological Awareness (TOPA) Woodcock-Johnson III Test of Achievement (WJ-III Ach) Test of Auditory Perceptual Skills- Revised (TAPS) The Phonological Awareness Test (TPAT) |
Writing and Spelling Tests |
Test of Written Language-3 (TOWL-3) Test of Written Spelling- 4 th Edition (TWS-4) Wide Range Achievement Test-Revised (WRAT-R) Test of Early Written Language- 2 nd Edition (TEWL-2) |
General Achievement / Reading Tests |
Woodcock –Johnson III Test of Achievement (WJ-III Ach) Woodcock Reading Mastery Tests Revised (WRMT-R) Test of Word Reading Efficiency (TOWRE) Gray Oral Reading Test- 4 th Edition (GORT-4) Weschler Individual Achievement Test-II (WIAT-II) Peabody Individual Achievement Test- Revised (PIAT-R) Nelson-Denny Reading Test (NDRT) Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) |
Why don't public schools test for dyslexia?
It is difficult to answer this question as the answer may well vary from school system to school system and even from school to school within the same system. If you are wondering about your child's school, we urge you to go to the principal AND the director of Pupil Services/Special Education and ask them for an answer and perhaps be the grassroots force behind bringing about positive change. Schools can and should test for dyslexia. Most, however, choose not to.
At the very least, schools can and should consider the following: Researchers have developed tests to administer to children in the early grades that will identify students who are at risk for reading failure. These tests, according to the Coordinated Campaign for Learning Disabilities (CCLD), can distinguish with 92% accuracy, those children who will read below the 20 th percentile at the end of 2 nd grade. These tests take as little as 10-15 minutes to administer per child, and can be administered by classroom teachers. Joseph K. Torgesen, distinguished research professor of psychology and education at Florida State University and a leading researcher in the area of reading, recommends a combination of two types of tests to identify young students who will struggle with reading. For more information about these tests and to read the CCLD article “HOW TO CATCH CHILDREN BEFORE THEY FAIL AT READING ” , CLICK HERE.
Even though research indicates that early detection and remediation work, testing for dyslexia in public schools today is rare. There is no Federal Law requiring tests (but many states are currently working on changing this!), with the exception of the American with Disabilities Act (ADA). Under ADA , if a child's parents suspect a problem, they must submit a written request for a learning disability test. (Again- different than specifically looking for dyslexia). Under these circumstances, ADA provides that testing must be administered within 90 days; however what this testing does (and does not) consist of is totally at the discretion of each school or individual state law. This testing situation in the school may be referred to as an MFE or Multi-factored Evaluation. It usually focuses on level of achievement and skills needed for academic success. The MFE generally does NOT identify any thinking, learning, or behavior problems caused by altered brain function or development.
Some public schools will give one of the following excuses for NOT testing a child for dyslexia. They might say that dyslexia is just a catch-all term and there's no test for it. (NOT TRUE). They often say your child is too young to test, you have to “wait and see”. (NOT TRUE). Many educational professionals will tell you only a doctor can test for dyslexia. (NOT TRUE). Sadly, even with all of the current medical and scientific evidence, including neuroimaging of the brain, many educators will tell you that dyslexia is not real or doesn't exist. These same individuals are those who perpetuate the myth that children are “lazy” and “just not trying hard enough”. Shame on them!
Again, schools will test your child for a learning disability, but not for dyslexia. Keep in mind, there is a big difference in this testing. This is obviously not the best solution to a crucial problem affecting approximately 15% of all children. We know children who get off to a poor start in reading almost never catch up- particularly not without appropriate remediation. For more detailed explanations you may want to read Susan Barton's explanations by visiting her website. CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK:
http://www.dys-add.com/testing.html#schooltest
Considering all of this information, you can see why it is so often necessary and in the best interest of your child to get a professional dyslexia evaluation done by a trained professional or group- as noted in an earlier question on this page.
What will it cost to have my child tested for dyslexia and does insurance cover it?
The costs for a complete evaluation vary across the country. You can expect to pay anywhere from $750-$2,000. Insurance plans MAY cover the expenses. It is a good idea to ask your pediatrician if they can refer you to a specialist AND contact your insurance company directly to inquire about specifics. While many insurance plans will deny coverage for an evaluation used to establish an educational diagnosis (i.e. learning disability), when the learning problems emerge in the context of a neurological disorder, traumatic brain injury, or chronic medical condition, the assessment of academic skills as part of a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation may be reimbursed.
I know adults who feel they are dyslexic but they were never tested and they did OK. Why is it now necessary for kids to be tested?
It is true that many successful adults have indeed managed what they know to be dyslexia, yet never had a formal evaluation done. It is also true that many adults who feel they may dyslexic (and most likely are) have struggled immensely in their personal and professional lives. They did not have the benefit of the knowledge that exists today about the disability nor did they have access to the many powerful remediation tools available. For a variety of reasons, some have experienced great success while others have continued working to overcome the hurdles that still exist. This needn't be the case anymore.
Today, times have changed and we now have oodles of research stressing the good, the bad, and the ugly relating to the necessity of getting an early diagnosis, starting proper remediaton, and achieving great successes personally and professionally. We also now have amazing multi-sensory programs to effectively teach children reading and communication skills. Why deny your child any of this?!
You hold the power of unlocking your child's future by getting a professional evaluation and getting your child the help he/she needs to be successful in all realms. For a better look at REMEDIATION, visit our REMEDIATION webpage and learn what programs are now available that are scientific, evidence-based and proven effective for dyslexia. The way to get this help is by first having testing to identify/confirm the dyslexia and then exercising your (child's) legal right to get the necessary services to help overcome this disability. (School) law requires a diagnosis to receive appropriate educational services from your public school system. In the long run it will be well-worth the time, effort, and money you invest!