Dyslexia testing age 6

[threelittlerapscallions]

DD1 age 6 has just had assessment from ed psych saying she has dyspraxia (or developmental coordination difficulty as the ed psych says it is now called). I want her to be tested for dyslexia as soon as possible but the school says I have to wait till age 7 as 'there are not enough examples of her writing'. Her class teacher showed me whole exercise books of her writing at parents evening. Also she ticks so many of the boxes for dyslexia and my husband's cousin has it.

DDs verbal ability very good but she says she dislikes school as 'reading and writing so stressful'.

I have written to the senco at her school and said I want her tested for dyslexia asap. is there anything else I can do? Woul it help to get her privately tested? Would the school accept a report from someone independent?

She's 7 next spring so a while to wait.

My DS was tested at age 6 by a private EP. Although it was expensive it was money very well spent. A diagnosis really helped my DS in terms of self esteem because he had convinced himself he was stupid. If you can afford it I would press ahead and get a private assessment ASAP. Tests done by the school can be very inaccurate. My son was given one in Y1 and the results indicated there was no dyslexia. However, a proper assessment showed severe dyslexia and other learning difficulties.

Thanks Sushi. Did your son get any extra help at school as a result of the private dyslexia test?

Yes he did even though the diagnosis was private. We also got an assessment from an OT both privately and through CAHMS on the EP's recommendation. His Y2 teacher was really good at embedding lots of the recommendations and it helped the school understand his areas of difficulty and his strengths.
Having said that I do find it a constant battle to make sure he keeps getting the right support, but I feel able to be pushy because I know I have strong professional evidence on my side. He is supposed to get lots of one to one, small group work, have use of a laptop and follow special programmes but in reality I am not sure it all happens.