Dyslexia assessment

[starburst1979]

Does anyone know what happens during one? My 12yr old DS has one scheduled in 2 weeks and I was wondering what they would actually do?

Also, would they be able to tell if he was deliberately getting questions wrong?

DD had a dyslexia assessment when she was 6 (10 years ago). If I remember rightly it involved 2 IQ tests one written and one in a non written form. Apparently if there is a large difference in the results it indicates dyslexia. I suppose if your ds deliberately got a low IQ on both tests it may look like he wasn't dyslexic when he was but I also think that ed psycs are really good at spotting things like that. I'm no expert but I hope that helps

The classic for a dyslexic is a "spikey" profile, which means being good at some areas, and much worse in others. I think it would be very hard to fake - unless maybe you were a specialist. You would need to know which ones to do well in, and when to make mistakes (and be consistent).
I don't believe a child of 12 could do so.
They are also administered by a specialist, who would be hard to fool.

Why do you doubt he is dyslexic?

He is clever, very anxious and his writing is atrocious, so i do believe there is an underlying cause (which we are trying to find)

However, dyslexia was never mentioned by him, us or anyone until his best friend was diagnosed last year and then he's mentioned it over and over.

I thought more along the lines of ADD (he has other issues) but maybe I'm being all pfb with him.

Thanks for your answers, they put my mind at rest.

I would think dyslexia could well be part of the problem, it is not just about struggling to read. However if he is seeing an Educational Psychologist rather than a specialist teacher, they may spot something else (a friend took her son for a private dyslexia test and was told to investigated ASD instead). There is quite a bit of cross over between ASD, Dyslexia and Dyspraxia, among other things.

He will sit a succession of tests designed to give them an idea of his ability using tests of verbal and non verbal reasoning, the way in which his brain functions in terms of working memory and processing ie how he absorbs, retains and retrieves information (a dyslexic or someone with other Specific Learning Difficulties typically has problems with absorbing, retaining, processing and retrieving information), and his attainment in various areas, reading, spelling and writing. If his writing is bad and he has other motor control issues they may also test for Dyspraxia. As mummytime highlights if there is a spikiness in the results ie the working memory, processing and attainment scores are not as high as you would predict given someone with those reasoning scores then he has a disability that is preventing him achieving his potential and will be diagnosed with Dyslexia, if there are problems with literacy, or Specific Learning Difficulties.

The tests can actually uncover issues in a number of areas and those are defined as Specific Learning Difficulties, which covers the difficulties including Dyslexia (literacy problems) and Dyspraxia (motor control and sensory issues)

A diagnosis opens the way hopefully to getting support that will enable your DS to get the support he needs to achieve his potential. It may mean a lot of work on your part, both with him and putting pressure on the schools where the support given and knowledge of SpLDs is variable but the universities have plenty of students with SpLDs.