Identifying Dyslexia
Although dyslexia is a neuro-biological issue and can be seen on fMRIs, the diagnosis for dyslexia is not determined by a family doctor or pediatrician. The information needed to diagnose dyslexia and to determine its effects is educational in nature. That is why medical insurance does not typically cover dyslexia testing or remediation. The solution for dyslexia is a specific type of educational methodology, not a medical solution such as surgery or medication.
OPTIONS
The single most important factor to getting the correct testing done for dyslexia is to make sure that the person doing the assessment truly understands dyslexia and knows what to look for. It is surprising how many professionals have never had formal training on dyslexia. Many families have paid educational psychologists, or even neuropsychologists, many thousands of dollars and not received the correct diagnosis because of a lack of education and awareness around dyslexia.
My goal is to help your family get an appropriate evaluation. Many factors such as age, severity, co-existing conditions, amount and types of testing that you want done, type of education (private, public or homeschool), financial considerations, and what you hope to gain from testing will help determine the most appropriate type of testing for your child. If I feel that I am not the best service for assessing your child, I will happily refer you to other professionals who also understand dyslexia so that you can feel confident in their findings. I offer free phone consultations to help you decide on the best option for my circumstances.
WHAT I DO
My assessments start with an in-depth questionnaire and interview to go over the medical and educational history. A review of current school work, all school records and prior testing is also conducted.
The testing itself consists of a battery of standardized and non-standardized tests to help identify why your son or daughter is struggling in school. A follow-up meeting with parents is then scheduled to go over the assessment results and my recommendations for specific instruction and accommodations. Included is an 8-12 page report.
Comprehensive language and literacy assessment also includes:
• Sounding out words
• Word reading
• Paragraph reading
• Reading comprehension
• Oral language comprehension
• Spelling
• Vocabulary
• Following directions