Dyslexia UK testing, reports and independent advice for both children and adults. Advice for parents about their children's problems with spelling, reading and learning at school, and adults with possible dyslexia.

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How do I get a 12-year old to sit down long enough to take this test, when he can't sit long enough to color a picture? I don't know whether to test him for dyslexia or ADD. How do I decide?
Sometimes 12-year olds can resent being directed by their parents. Our tests are actually quite short - mostly a few minutes in length. However, you may find a promised reward - negotiated between the two of you - may provide the necessary motivation. As well as making a clear assessment for dyslexia, our test questionnaire also checks through the main indicators of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD or ADHD). We will inform you if we feel that a further assessment is advisable locally for possible Attention Deficit.

I have a 7-year old son and he has been tested by the school: they say that he has learning disabilities, ADD, and dyslexia, but yet, he is not failing enough to get special services! He has trouble with spelling, writing, and math. I have a brother that had trouble in school too; also my husband's brother had problems. I can't seem to get the school to help my son and I am at my wit's end. Can you please give me some advice about what to do?
It does sound as if your son should be receiving additional help in school. What you might like to do is to have him take our online Dyslexia test 7-16. From what you say, it does sound as if he may be dyslexic. The test will establish this clearly, and to what degree - whether slightly, moderately or severely - and if he is dyslexic you will receive an authoritative Assessment Report from us recommending that he receives additional support - special services - in school. You can show this to the school as an independent assessment of his learning disability, and this should be enough to ensure he receives the extra help he needs.

My daughter is 9 years old and has a history of spelling problems although she spells phonetically. Conversely, she is especially talented in creative writing (winning contests, working for a bookstore as their "kid" book reviewer, landing a monthly book review on local TV) but finds the mechanics of writing and spelling very frustrating, and does not enjoy reading for longer periods of time. She also suffered from stress related illnesses (school) and she is now being home schooled in order to help her with areas of frustration and to allow her to pursue her talents beyond her grade level.
My public school system has not been supportive of dyslexia testing and has stated that no specific diagnosis of dyslexia will be made. Why do you think this is their policy and how can your test help my daughter? If I use your test, will the results be respected and considered authoritative by the public school system? Although I would like to continue to home school my daughter, I understand that an official diagnosis of dyslexia can be used to give extra time in testing, and utilization of different testing approaches such as verbal tests etc. Will your test be respected enough to be submitted as proof for this need for individualized testing methods of SAT's, college course testing etc.?
Your daughter does seem to be having problems with words. Her high creativity may be one indicator of possible dyslexia.
As far as the reaction of the school system is concerned, I'm afraid that this is common among a lot of schools, who, because of the financial implications, will not put themselves out to make extra provision for a child unless the evidence is presented to them by a parent.
If she takes our test, it will clarify the matter, as all the indicators of dyslexia are thoroughly tested. A distance test gives more objective results than one conducted in the presence of the subject. The Assessment Report lays out all the evidence from the different parts of the test so that it can be seen by another psychologist or educator, and our Report is in fact far more lengthy and detailed than the kind normally provided by local psychological assessments.
As far as we are aware most assessments that we have provided have been shown to the child's school so that proper provision can be made for the child. (This is the primary purpose of most parents having our assessment carried out.) A lot of parents stay in touch with us over the years, and we have never yet heard of a school anywhere in the world that has not accepted our Assessment Report on a child or student as a professional assessment.

I've been wondering this for a while, are most dyslexic people left-handed or right-handed? Or does it even make a difference?
Not all dyslexic people are left-handed. However, left-handedness is common among them or among other members of their blood-related family. There are many indicators of dyslexia, and left-handedness occurs fairly frequently, but not in every case. It is thought that dyslexia is inherited, and a history of learning difficulties - especially on the male side of the family - is fairly common.

I think that my son who is nearly 8 may be dyslexic. He is very aware and bright on a verbal scale but is not achieving at school. He is very disorganized and has trouble with expressing himself as his words tend to get jumbled. He uses past tense for present, etc. He also writes a lot of reversed letters and numbers, but his school says this is quite common. His school thinks he has more of an emotional problem as he is very shy and introvert within the school setting yet he is the joker at home!!
From your description of your son it certainly does sound as if he may be dyslexic, particularly because of the difference between his intelligence and his actual achievement. The reversals and being disorganized can also be indicators in some children, and it is interesting that he jumbles his words when speaking. As far as the school's comments are concerned, he may be beginning to experience failure within the school setting, and becoming shy and introverted in response to this.

My daughter is 6 years old and finishing 1st grade. She turns 7 on July 1. She has had a hard time in school with letter and number reversals. She has been tested through the school and they feel she is too young to be tested for dyslexia. She has problems completing written work. She has many reversals. She even has math computer games in which she reads the numbers backwards - 12 she reads as 21. Do you have any suggestion on what I should do? She will be starting 2nd grade in the fall. We did get an IEP for her but that does not seem to be helping with her handwriting, letter and number reversals. The teacher marks her papers correct even when the letter or number is reversed. Thanks for you help. regarding this?
I would think that the best way forward would be to let her draw the letters and numbers she reverses really large on the carpet so that she can get the feel of them the right way round. She will be able yo take the Dyslexia Test 7-16 in July.

Thank you for the assessment on David. It was very detailed and confirmed my theories on his dyslexia, although I had not heard of dysgraphia, so thank you again.
I wonder if you could help me with my next step in getting him the kind of education that would help him in his school. The SENCO (special needs teacher) believes there is not a problem. She feels that he just needs to concentrate more, stop getting easily distracted and may be a bit lazy (all the usual stuff associated with dyslexia).
I am meeting the principal next week to show him your report on David, and I wondered whether, if he still refused extra help, your report could be used as evidence if I request the education authority to assess David? This might be the only way that he will get the help he needs!
Yes, I think this is the best way forward. A polite but firm approach to the principal/headteacher, so that he/she can see that you are determined to have some kind of additional support.
If he does not accept the ned for extra help, then you are within your rights to formally request (in writing) an assessment by the school authority's educational psychologist. You're not the only parent to have to struggle like this! It seem that the only way to do the best for your child is to keep on pushing, I'm afraid.
Your local Dyslexia Association may be helpful for support. (It can also help to go to see the principal with a relative or family friend, so that you are not alone.)

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