Diagnostic Dyslexia Assessment

Dyslexia assessment must be by a fully qualified assessor. The Professional Association of Students with Specific Learning Difficulties (PATOSS) issues and monitors the status of SpLD assessors, recognised by the letters ‘SpLD APC’ after their name.

Assessors prefer to work in partnership with parents, schools and colleges where possible to achieve the best outcome for the student. Parents who are concerned about their child’s literacy difficulties should approach the school or college in the first instance. Often if a child’s difficulties are not considered severe enough to warrant an educational psychologists assessment, then a specialist teacher’s report (which covers similar ground) can provide the details necessary to help plan for the child.
Adults considering assessment can contact Toni Johnson to discuss their needs as necessary.

Having decided an assessment would be helpful, background information will then be collected from parents, teachers, tutors or individuals. Everything is confidential. 

A full diagnostic assessment takes around three hours. A break is usually taken for lunch about half way through, so both assessor and assessed can refresh.

The full diagnostic assessment is comprised of three parts comprised of tests for: 

underlying ability, 

cognitive skills (memory, speech sound processing etc), 

attainment (reading, writing, spelling, computation etc).

Other tests such as those for visual stress or for visual motor integration will be done as necessary.

The written report will include a visual profile, full details of tests taken and responses to the tests, a summary, conclusions plus if appropriate a diagnosis and recommendations. The report is usually ready within ten days.

Please see the fees page for costs.
If a verbal feedback and discussion is required after the report has been read then this can be arranged at no extra charge.