Dyslexia assessment

[poppincandy]

My ds is having a dyslexia assessment next week, has anyone else had one of these? What happens?

[CecilyP]

CecilyP, that is so woefully daft that I laughed out loud! A Rocket Scientist can be hugely dyslexic, as can any professional.^

I hope I didn't imply that a rocket scientist couldn't be dyslexic, though I am not so sure about the hugely; it was more the scratching the head thinking that there was something wrong with him that puzzled me.

If you're assessed and they find no evidence, then clearly you're not dyslexic. It's as simple as that.

So no help for you then! Are you saying that the assessments are so sophisticated that they can't yield either false positives or false negatives?

[smee]

Just backing up what PeterPan said, as employers absolutely do have to recognise it and put appropriate support in place. It's illegal not to.

Vicar, I'd say it might be worth it, as an assessment might gain her some exam concessions and also might help you / tutors work out how to help her through. Why don't you call Dyslexia Action for some advice. You don't have to sign up for Assessment, as they're happy just to talk and offer advice. I know I found them very helpful when I first spoke to them. They're useless at answering the phone, but e-mail and they'll call you right back. Also, why don't you make an appointment to see someone at your local authority to ask your what their position is with Dyslexic students and concessions for exams, etc. Might help you decide.

[dyslexiateacher]

I want to comment on PeterPan's point about the fees at DA not being unreasonable.

I have worked for DA as a teacher. The teachers at DA get a low wage. They are not charlatans out to get your cash. They don't get anywhere near the cost of the lesson. They are doing the job for the love of it - because they want to help children with dyslexia. I barely covered my petrol costs when I was there. I didn't need to work there - I have a 'proper' teaching job. I worked there because I wanted to.

[CecilyP]

someone can do very well academically as this person did- they had a masters in a science subject. Their work however involved report writing, taking notes in meetings, and using those notes to write up the reports. Because of the specific nature of their dyslexia, they found this very hard.

I can understand that they might have this particular difficulty, though they would still have had to have good writing skills to have succeeded academically in the first place - presumably with no previous diagnosis, so no previous special arrangement.

If the assessment had not shown dyslexia then yes, the funding by the government would not have been forthcoming. Funding is provided by Access to Work, which provides adults with a recognised disability- which dyslexia is- with support to enable them to continue in their work.

So it is really a funding issue. It just seems a shame that without the label they would have not had the opportunity to be taught the strategies to cope.

[mrz]

The assessments can and do give false positives and negatives. They aren't infallible and there are other conditions /disorders that can give similar results.

[poppiesmom]

So does anyone know if there is help in education for young adults (18) available?? Colleges are just telling us they do not have enough support to help!!!! I find it very very upsetting...

[mrz]

I imagine with cuts in education many colleges are stretched with services. I have a friend who I trained with who works as a dyslexia tutor/teacher in a college in our neighbouring LEA and my own local college and training centres definitely provide support for students with literacy difficulties, so there is help available but I don't know what the picture is nationally.

[VicarGoingForGoldInKungFu]

my son has dyslexia, (and AS and Dyspraxia) but he was not dx with dyslexia until he was doing A levels.

With DD alarm bells started to ring when i watched my happy, confident, intelligent little girl slip down year on year....she lost all her confidence and resigned herself to being "thick"

she has had an assessment at school - it showed a positive result which the teachers were shocked at - but i was not shocked.

the problem is i know the criteria for exam consessions - she does not qualify - her processing and writing speeds are too high

funnily enough - the only thing they have done mrsz is print her exam sheets on blue paper.....

does anyone have a link for Dyslexia Action?

[CecilyP]

poppiesmum, our local college offers a great deal of support for dyslexic students, regardless of whether they have a diagnosis, but I suppose provision must vary across the country.

[smee]

www.dyslexiaaction.org.uk/

Poppiesmom, I think you have to do a lot of legwork to find out where the help is. Some places are far better than others.

[poppiesmom]

I seem to have been fighting a loosing battle for the last 12 years...
My Gorgeous young man also had a speech impediment which didn't/ doesn't help...
But in the last 4 months has passed his driving theory, driving test and cscs (health and safety on a building site) all 1st time... which show's he's certainly not STUPID....

He failed his functional skills at college last year.. so they say he will have to do the year again... But tbh i dont think the support is there!!!!

[PeterPanandWendy]

poppiesmum Most colleges of FE are very good at assessing and supporting students with an SpLD. My local college screens every new student. Those who require learning support are given a tutor, or at least access to group LS.
You or your son needs to ask what is available.

Cecilyp It's no good you trying to argue over whether this person could or could not write essays to gain a degree. The facts are that they were having problems and on assessment were dyslexic. Neither you nor I know the content of their degree course, but as it was numeracy based then essay writing would be minimal.

It's not all about funding- it's about diagnosis. Funding follows diagnosis- you can't have one without the other. Why would anyone suggest throwing tax payers money at people who didn't have the need? I don't really understand what you are trying to say, other than you are trying not very successfully IMO to prop up some " no assessment" argument.

And assessments are usually pretty accurate. If you had seen a report you would see that the stats show the likelihood of someone who is not dyslexic coming out with those scores on the tests. The test results are presented as bar graphs often, and dyslexics are known to have weaknesses in certain areas tested. It's the incongruity between all the scores which leads to a conclusion of dyslexia, based on statistical probability.

[CecilyP]

Why would anyone suggest throwing tax payers money at people who didn't have the need? I don't really understand what you are trying to say, other than you are trying not very successfully IMO to prop up some " no assessment" argument.

But presumably the employer has already identified a need, then the diagnosis only determines whether something is done about the need or not.

And assessments are usually pretty accurate.

How would that be assessed? Once the assessment has been produced, who is ever going to question it?

[PeterPanandWendy]

And assessments are usually pretty accurate.

How would that be assessed? Once the assessment has been produced, who is ever going to question it?

I'm not sure what you mean. Are you saying that some assessments are "untruthful"? Why would an EP or assessor want to risk their professional reputation and go against their professional code of conduct by writing an assessment that was untruthful- who would gain anything from that?

But more to the point, the assessments are objective- that's the whole point! They are not an opinion or open to individual interpretation.

[PeterPanandWendy]

It's not set in stone whether the employee or the employer requests support. It would be discussed with HR. An individual could arrange their own assessment and apply to Access to Work for support.

Why all the questions? Plenty of info online about all of this if you google, and are genuinely curious or interested .

[PeterPanandWendy]

cecilyp if you want to know more just go to Access to Work website and plough through the info- it;s all there :)

[JugglingWithFiveRings]

Just marking my spot on this thread so I can have a read through all later ...

Am wondering if would be worthwhile to have dd tested, though she is 13 and coping well ?

Evidence of mild dyslexia throughout primary years especially (a relatively late reader for example), and is taking part in research at Cambridge University to help them understand dyslexia better, so very likely she has it to some degree I should say.

[PeterPanandWendy]

If your DD is not having problems then there is not much point in having an assessment especially as she is part of a research project at the uni.
They will assess as part of that I imagine- I know someone else who did that.

The benefit is sometimes that in sec. schools children are setted or streamed according to their performance rather than their potential/ability. This is why it is very bad for undiagnosed dyslexics to be in bottom sets if they are bright/ able, but simply have problems producing a good level of written or numerical work.

Children need to be setted according to their ability- not their dyslexia which may be holding them back, Otherwise they become bored, frustrated and either withdrawn or uncooperative.

At a later stage she may benefit from an assessment for career purposes- it will highlight strengths and weaknesses. Also the criteria around exam concessions change almost annually, so it's worth keeping an eye on those; at present sometimes it is possible to have extra time simply with a " history of need" but that usually means being on the special needs register. Additional concessions need assessment and this includes handwriting speed, reading speed, reading and comprehension ages.

The bggest question is- what could the chool offer you if she has a diagnosis? Unless they have a specialist teacher there, then the answer is "Not a lot" in most schools.

The other issue is her self esteem and whether fidning out would help her.

BTW Badvoc and other parents- there have been cases of parents sueing their LEAS , successfully, for not providing appropriate education for dyslexic children. Schools have an obligation to meet a child's needs and if it can be proved that they have not, then some families have been awarded very generous compensation. I'm not suggestion litigation but you ought to know that the onus is on the school to provide suitable educaiton.

[CecilyP]

^And assessments are usually pretty accurate.

How would that be assessed? Once the assessment has been produced, who is ever going to question it?

I'm not sure what you mean. Are you saying that some assessments are "untruthful"? Why would an EP or assessor want to risk their professional reputation and go against their professional code of conduct by writing an assessment that was untruthful- who would gain anything from that?^

No, I wasn't suggesting that at all. I'm sure the results are accurate in showing what they show and are honestly presented. My post was more in response to smee's rather unequivocal, 'if you're assessed and they find no evidence, then clearly you're not dyslexic. It's as simple as that.'

I do see that if support is given through Action to Work, it has to be contolled in some way.

[JugglingWithFiveRings]

Thanks for your very thoughtful reply PeterPan

Taking part in the research project has been interesting, and we've had some lovely days in Cambridge as a bonus - punting on the river, visiting great museums, seeing friends, visiting Darwin's room in college, and being invited for tea and a tour at another of the historic colleges. But we've had virtually no individual feedback on DD. We haven't even been told officially if they've assessed that she has dyslexia, though we rather assume she does have (at least mildly) as they've been testing her and measuring her brain waves over several years. Also fits with what school have said, and what we observed of her early experience of reading and writing, and on-going issues especially with spelling.

She was given extra time, aged 11, for an exam for entrance to her school - but got a place through other criteria as it turned out. She seems to think she'll be OK without extra time for her GCSE's, but I feel it's something I should at least discuss with school as a possibility for her. She'll be starting Y9 after the summer.

As far as self-esteem goes I hope acknowledging her mild dyslexia and taking part in the research project has been a positive for her. I love her to bits and often say that I'm sure all our brains work in slightly different ways. Hers has enabled her to be especially gifted in art which is a great joy to us both. I think like me she has a somewhat NNT brain, but is developing some good strategies for living with the one she has !

[NancyBoon100]

Hi, was just reading your comments. I used a really good assessor that was reasonably priced for London and her report really helped.
Her details are on her website:
www.dyslexiaassessmentlondonandkent.com/

[NancyBoon100]

Used an amazing assessor. She is based in London and travels all over London. Report was excellent and school and parent friendly. Really recommend. Her website is:
dyslexiaassessmentlondonandkent.com