Getting a diagnosis of dyslexia - how?

[KisstheTeapot14]

DS has dyspraxia and shows a good 50 per cent chance of dyslexia based on co-occurence and screening I have done with him (online stuff like Nessy).

After 16 months of asking school for ed psych appt we now have one soon. They said they are not looking to diagnose (this is policy) only to identify reading problems/info processing and so on (ie the component bits you would normally do when looking to assess someone for dyslexia).

Have asked our local advisory people associated with LA but they were very much a chocolate teapot.

Is there a way to get a diagnosis via school or LA, or is this a way of pushing people towards private funded diagnosis?

This is not fun when you have a child with multiple things going on.

I know we don't technically need one for EHCP but am thinking longer term. Job centre and employers of the future are not going to know or care about 'phonological difficulty' but they have to care by law if someone states they are diagnosed with dyslexia!!

Just had a reply which basically says

LA will not diagnose Dyslexia.

SENCO can use the tools in the Dyslexia Friendly schools file to screen for any dyslexic tendencies.

Hmm, so now it looks like I have to save up around £500 for a formal diagnosis through Dyslexia Association.

Can't quite believe that the situation. The LA is effectively quietly pushing diagnosis into the private sphere. I do not know why as it will cost as much for Ed Psych to come to school and run all the tests surely??

Whereabouts are you, OP? The Helen Arkell Centre (just outside Farnham) offers dyslexia assessments, although there's no info online about the cost of these.
www.helenarkell.org.uk/about-us/what-we-do/assessments.php

We are up north so nearest to us is Notts

Just can't believe you have to go private for diagnosis!

My impression is that diagnosis = having to provide support and spend money which is why you often have to get private diagnoses. I'm very suspicious that LA ed psychs won't diagnose dyslexia, or rather 'specific learning disorder with dyslexic profile '

Queried this further, they are not ruling out a diagnosis after adaptations for extra literacy needs have been tried. Not as it appeared in their info.

As far as I know EHCP is needs based so in theory a diagnosis not needed. I can't help wondering why LA's are choosing to circumnavigate diagnosis though. Most FE/HE providers will screen/test students for example, so its not like the idea/definition of dyslexia is that hotly disputed that no one is using it - obviously. There must be a reason!

EHCPs are indeed (officially) needs based but diagnosis gives so much extra weight to an EHCP application and eventual EHCP if successful. LAs circumnavigating diagnosis is most likely due to this.

As we were planning on applying for an EHCP we had a private ed psych in who diagnosed dyslexia ( we had to do this as LA ed psychs tend not to quantify and specify support and reports are often not as thorough).

Thekids - I have another thread in SN Chat where lanbury has posted their advice/experience.

EHCP for dyspraxia and dyslexia/literacy needs - give me examples

If you have an EHCP for your child what sort of things does a really water tight one specify/quantify? We have issues as above maybe ADD and speech too and a bladder.

lanbury Thu 10-Jan-19 20:12:35
My son’s (profound dyslexia, cognitively able) names a specialist school with full time reader/scribe, weekly salt 1:1 plus quite a bit about assistive tech, which we are still having trouble getting implemented in line with what’s in the plan.

lanbury Thu 10-Jan-19 20:17:34
I just saw your other post. Even though DS technically has “profound dyslexia” the word “dyslexia” is not in his EHCP. Many LAs including ours won’t use the term. It needs to be broken into sections such as profound issues with working memory, phonetical awareness, word recall, audio processing etc etc etc. A label of dyslexia alone won’t cut any mustard with getting an EHCP.

KisstheTeapot14 Fri 11-Jan-19 09:24:36
Thanks Lanbury. He had an Ed Psych visit recently so just awaiting report - includes many of the specifics above, I checked.

I know dyslexia is not used in EHCP's just trying to get an idea of reasonable adjustments to plan with school once the scores are on the doors. Our DS has a scribe for some lessons as well as Clicker and we have a SALT assessment arranged via our GP next week.

Any good resources you've found outside school? websites/books etc you have found useful.

How did you source an ed psych privately? We may go down this route as I personally think diagnosis useful - help can be argued for more effectively at teacher/school level.

You will need to break it down if you apply for an EHCP but unofficially the diagnosis does hold more weight. Eg our paediatricians - private and NHS - have both included it as a medical diagnosis. It comes under the DSM-5 'specific learning disorder '.

If you PM I'll message you about private ed psychs.

Thanks! Worth knowing as we are seeing paediatric team in Spring. Am going to ask them to assess for ADD inattentive too.

NHS paed diagnosed it on the basis of private ed psych report (and private paediatrician had put it on her report). Insist on it as a medical diagnosis. You basically need to collect as many diagnoses as possible. We went from none on the NHS to six thanks to private reports. NHS seem to have accepted the diagnoses. They actually tried to put me off going for private assessments by saying that it's all about need rather than diagnosis!!! I was

Thanks, well worth knowing. I suspect we will end up with dyslexia plus ADD. Writing an issue but not pushing for dysgrahia as its covered under dyspraxia. Maths he's behind with but seems to be moving in the right direction if slowly. He's not too bad at short term memory for spellings and times tables.

Hi sorry I know this is an old thread, but i am pushing for my son to be referred for dyspraxia diagnosis.

Can I ask how you got the diagnosis and what support we could ask for? My biggest concerns are speech and writing

Thanks

Face book has good dyspraxia forum groups.

I asked GP to refer to paediatrics. They took a history and referred to OT and physio at children's hospital. They reported and paed had the final call once other stuff ruled out.

Also asked GP for referal to speech and lang. I made a big list of concerns and got teacher to tick where she saw problems too. They did nuffield verbal dyspraxia test for sounds and words - see how well they can articulate with mouth muscles etc. ours has blurry speech and rambles.

OT will look at writing. Its a problem for us, have read tons on it so can send tips if you want ideas to get started. some kids are hypermobile to a degree too so watch for that when you get them assessed. ask lots of questions and tell them what you see as different to the norm x