Behavioural Optometry assessment for 5 year old

[Mummsnetter]

My DD (just 5) struggles to read. She absolutely gets phonics so I don't have concerns about her auditory processing but her reading hasn't progressed since Nov. She rubs her eyes when trying to read and she gets tired very quickly.

I don't think it's a sight issue but we've got an optician appointment this week just to rule that out. I looked into behavioural optometrists but it's about £500 for a full assessment and I wonder is this worth it, especially at the age of 5?

I think wait and see what happens with the optician. My son has one perfect eye and one that needs correction. If he goes without glasses he can see fine because the 'good' eye dominates, but he ends up very tired, especially from reading. If it's something like that, the optician will probably be all. You need.

Also - dyslexia assessment?? My son (same one with the eyes) has moderate dyslexia - diagnosed when he was about 8. He got phonics OK at 5 and learnt to read. Always exhausted at end of the school day though.

Thank you for your post. Thinking about dyslexia too, but probably a bit too early to diagnose?

You might be right. DS is 16 now and sitting his Highers so the details of dyslexia assessment a bit hazy in my memory! Potential dyslexia was not flagged by school until he was about 7.