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Dyslexia Assessments
Frequently Asked Questions
(and further information)
Diagnostic Assessments for Dyslexia
I offer diagnostic assessment for dyslexia for individuals of all ages, from children to older adults.
What are your qualifications?
I am an experienced diagnostic assessor who works full time as a lecturer of English, with responsibility for exam access arrangements and testing within my place of work. Prior to this I taught for ten years in a Guernsey secondary school, where I was the SENCO. As part of this role I gained the NASENCO award and CCET, which has qualified me in a range of diagnostic assessments. This latter award is needed to implement JCQ-approved exam concessions and arrangements at GCSE level and beyond.
I am also a specialist assessor (AMBDA qualified) which allows me to carry out specific dyslexia assessments and give a diagnosis if needed. I hold a current Assessment Practicing Certificate (APC) and this is required to ensure assessors stay suitably qualified and fit to practice.
Furthermore, I have a Masters in Education (M.Ed) with a focus in equality and diversity, specialising in literacy difficulties. I am a trained Secondary English teacher (PGCE) with a BA (Hons) in English Literature.
What is a diagnostic assessment?
The aim of a diagnostic assessment is to confirm if an individual has dyslexia or not. An assessment can provide a diagnosis of dyslexia and suggest strategies that may help the individual, but it also paints a picture of the person’s strengths and weaknesses, whether a diagnosis can or cannot be given.
Why do people have diagnostic assessments?
A diagnosis of dyslexia does not automatically solve any difficulties the individual is facing. However it can be useful when a person is experiencing difficulties in learning or day-to-day life. People also look for a diagnosis because of the following reasons:
Students wanting to apply for DSA (Disability Support Allowance) at university require a diagnostic report from a psychologist or qualified assessor [see ‘DSA information’].
In order to be considered for exam access arrangements at school or college, a diagnostic report by a qualified assessor will help the SENCO (or the qualified person appointed within the centre to carry out assessments) to ensure the student is prioritised for exam access arrangements testing at the appropriate age or to ensure they have appropriate arrangements in place as their normal way of working [see ‘exam access arrangements at school or college’].
For employers to have more information in order to make reasonable adjustments to support their employee.
To give an individual more information about their skills, including what they are good at and why they find some things difficult, and how to overcome these difficulties, including what strategies or programmes they could follow to improve their skills and learning confidence.
To update a previous diagnostic assessment or to see how extra help they have received has impacted their skills.
How long does an assessment take?
A diagnostic assessment will usually take up to three hours to complete, depending on the circumstances (for example, the type and level of difficulties, and whether an individual has ever had another diagnostic assessment at any point). I can usually arrange for an assessment to start within the month, once the initial questionnaire has been returned and payment confirmed.
The assessments are not exams, and the length of time taken depends on a variety of factors. Ultimately the aim is to highlight strengths and weaknesses to understand learning styles and strategies that will be work for an individual, including the skills of reading, writing, spelling, general ability (sometimes referred to as IQ), speed of processing, memory, and other learning skills.
What happens after an assessment?
The diagnostic assessment will be followed by a written report. This report will provide evidence of the individual’s dyslexic profile (if the individual has been confirmed as having dyslexia) and will include some recommendations about how to support the individual in their context. The assessment report will be sent directly to the individual via email within 30 working days of the completed assessment, although this is a maximum time and assessment reports are usually sent sooner than this. If the report is for DSA or an employer, discussion will be had about how to share the report before it is emailed. The assessee is encouraged to share the report with their family, teachers, employees etc. in order for them to have information on how to best provide support to the individual.
For Data Protection reasons, I will keep a copy of the final assessment report alongside the assessment materials but these are not shared with anyone except the assessee and their parent/carer (if they are under the age of 18). See my terms and conditions for further information about GDPR and the deleting of test materials and reports.
Can you diagnose any other conditions?
I specialise in dyslexia assessments, but the pre-assessment questionnaire and the assessments themselves may point to other conditions such as dyspraxia and dyscalculia, although different tests are needed for these. I am able to give a diagnosis for many difficulties, not just dyslexia, but I am not able to diagnose for autism of ADHD, as these are considered medical conditions rather than educational. However I will signpost the relevant specialists or procedures to follow for other conditions. Once I receive the pre-assessment questionnaire, if I do not feel dyslexic tendencies are the concern, I will offer advice rather than suggest a dyslexia assessment, as it is unlikely I will give a dyslexia diagnosis. If you wish to proceed with an assessment despite this, it would be because you wish to get a better understanding of strengths and weaknesses.
How should you prepare for a diagnostic assessment?
It is useful to check that your vision and hearing are adequate prior to assessments, if you have not had them tested for a long time.
The assessment process will be as calm and stress-free as possible. To aid this, I ask that you ensure the questionnaire form has been completed to the best of your ability and that the payment form has been completed prior to starting.
If you have undergone any previous assessments please allow me access to any relevant past specialist reports. If tests are repeated within short time, they can become invalid. Additionally, if you have any special requirements or diagnosis (e.g. Autism Spectrum; Visual Impairment) please let me know.
What is the difference between an assessment with a Chartered/Occupational/Educational Psychologist and an assessment with you?
From the British Dyslexia Association website:
‘Both Specialist Teachers (who are AMBDA qualified) and Chartered (or Occupational) Psychologists are able to accurately assess for dyslexia; there is very little difference between the two. Psychologists have access to a different type of test that Specialist Teachers are not able to use, and which has a slightly higher number of “sub-tests”. Both Specialist Teachers and Educational Psychologists can make recommendations about how the individual can best be supported. There may be some instances where an Educational Psychologist needs to be used instead of a Specialist Teacher, but these are often specified at the time of the assessment being requested.’ I will always be clear as to what I can and cannot test for (and diagnose).
Where do the assessments take place?
Assessments can take place at my home office, on the outskirts of St Peter Port, which provides a quiet and comfortable setting with parking. If an assessee is especially nervous or unable to come to me, I can assess at an alternative place if it is a suitably quiet environment.
How much does it cost?
A diagnostic assessment takes up to three hours to administer, depending on the assessee’s needs and if previous assessments have taken place. This is followed by a detailed report which takes some time to complete before it is emailed to the assessee/parent or carer. The total cost is £350 for testing and the writing of the report.
How do I arrange for a diagnostic assessment or get further advice from you?
Please email me giving a basic overview of your/your child’s needs. You will be asked to complete a questionnaire and assessment dates will be discussed that are convenient for both parties. If you decide to proceed with an assessment, you will be asked to sign an authorisation form and read my terms and conditions before assessments start. As I work as a lecturer during the day, email contact is always easiest for me, but I can arrange to discuss over the telephone or in person if desired.
What do the questionnaires involve?
There is a questionnaire to be filled out by the parent/carer/other relevant adults for children who are to be assessed. There is also an adult questionnaire for adults wanting to be tested. Finally, there is a short school questionnaire that we would encourage you to pass on to the child's class teacher(s) should you request this. The relevant questionnaire(s) are emailed to you once you have contacted me. They can be completed using online forms or printed and handwritten, whichever you prefer.