Full Diagnostic Dyslexia Assessment -
Age 8+, Young People & Adults
A full diagnostic dyslexia assessment provides a detailed understanding of an individual's literacy skills, underlying processing profile, strengths and areas of difficulty. It can determine whether the evidence meets the diagnostic criteria for dyslexia and identify the support and strategies most likely to help.
For many children, young people and adults, an assessment provides more than a diagnosis. It can help explain why certain aspects of learning have been difficult, identify strengths and provide a clearer understanding of how they learn best.
Diagnostic assessments are completed in accordance with current SASC professional standards and reporting requirements and can be used to inform support in school, further and higher education and the workplace.
What Does the Assessment Include?
A range of standardised assessments is selected according to the individual's age, background and presenting difficulties. These explore areas including:
- reading accuracy, fluency and comprehension
- decoding and word-reading efficiency
- spelling
- handwriting and written output
- receptive and expressive language
- phonological awareness
- phonological processing speed
- phonological memory
- auditory working memory
Background information, educational history and observations made throughout the assessment are considered alongside test results. This allows the assessment to look beyond individual scores and develop a comprehensive picture of how the person learns.
What to Expect on the Day
Assessments take place in a calm, informal and supportive environment. Tasks are explained clearly, and breaks can be taken whenever needed.
There is no pass or fail. Children are encouraged and reassured throughout, while adults have plenty of opportunity to discuss their experiences and the difficulties that have led them to seek an assessment.
A full diagnostic assessment usually takes approximately 3 hours.
What Will I Receive?
A comprehensive diagnostic report is provided within one week. This includes:
- a clear diagnostic decision
- an individual profile of strengths and areas of difficulty
- clear explanation of assessment findings
- practical, personalised recommendations for school, college, university or employment
- recommendations for appropriate reasonable adjustments
- guidance on strategies and assistive technology where relevant
- consideration of Exam Access Arrangements where appropriate
- information relevant to Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) for eligible higher-education students
- workplace recommendations and information about Access to Work where relevant
Where the assessment identifies characteristics that may warrant further exploration, this will also be discussed and appropriate next steps recommended.
For students in Years 9, 10 and 11, liaison with the school's SENDCo and completion of relevant assessment information for Exam Access Arrangements can be included within the Diagnostic Assessment Package where appropriate.
Feedback Following the AssessmentA 30-minute feedback consultation is included with every full diagnostic assessment.
This provides an opportunity to discuss the findings, ask questions and understand what the results mean in practical terms. We can also discuss the recommendations and the most appropriate next steps for school, university, employment or home.
How Can an Assessment Help?
Children and Young People
A diagnostic assessment can:
- identify the reasons behind persistent literacy difficulties;
- help parents and school understand the child's individual learning profile;
- identify appropriate teaching strategies and targeted support;
- inform consideration of reasonable adjustments and Exam Access Arrangements where appropriate;
- help the child understand both their difficulties and their strengths;
- reduce frustration and build confidence and independence.
University Students and Adults
A diagnostic assessment can:
- provide an explanation for longstanding difficulties with literacy or learning;
- identify strengths and effective ways of working;
- provide evidence of dyslexia for Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) and university disability support;
- inform appropriate reasonable adjustments in education or employment;
- provide recommendations for assistive technology and study or workplace strategies;
- provide useful evidence when accessing workplace support, including Access to Work, where appropriate.
For many adults, finally understanding the reasons behind difficulties they may have experienced throughout education or employment can also be extremely valuable.
More Than a Test Score!
A diagnostic assessment does not determine dyslexia from one test or a single low score. The diagnostic decision considers the individual's developmental and educational history, pattern of strengths and difficulties, standardised assessment results, qualitative observations and the impact of these difficulties in everyday learning or work.
This is particularly important for older students and adults who may have developed effective strategies over many years and can sometimes achieve well despite underlying dyslexic difficulties.
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Additional Assessments for Adults (18+)
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Some adults experience longstanding difficulties with coordination, handwriting, organisation, sequencing or carrying out practical tasks but may never have had these difficulties formally explored.
For adults aged 18+, I offer an extended motor-coordination assessment alongside a full diagnostic dyslexia assessment. This explores whether an individual's history and current presentation show characteristics associated with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD/dyspraxia) and considers how these difficulties affect education, employment and everyday life.
This assessment does not diagnose DCD/dyspraxia. A formal diagnosis of DCD requires assessment by an appropriately qualified healthcare professional. Where findings indicate that further investigation may be appropriate, this will be clearly explained.
What Does the Extended Assessment Include?
Alongside the full diagnostic dyslexia assessment, the extended assessment includes:
What Will I Receive?
The report will include:
Who Is It For?
This extended assessment is available to adults aged 18+ who are undertaking a full diagnostic dyslexia assessment and who also report longstanding difficulties that may be associated with motor coordination.
It may be particularly useful where difficulties with handwriting, typing, coordination, organisation or practical tasks are having an impact on higher education or employment.
For adults aged 18+, I offer an extended motor-coordination assessment alongside a full diagnostic dyslexia assessment. This explores whether an individual's history and current presentation show characteristics associated with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD/dyspraxia) and considers how these difficulties affect education, employment and everyday life.
This assessment does not diagnose DCD/dyspraxia. A formal diagnosis of DCD requires assessment by an appropriately qualified healthcare professional. Where findings indicate that further investigation may be appropriate, this will be clearly explained.
What Does the Extended Assessment Include?
Alongside the full diagnostic dyslexia assessment, the extended assessment includes:
- a detailed developmental and educational history;
- screening of motor-coordination characteristics using an appropriate standardised measure;
- exploration of handwriting, fine-motor and everyday coordination difficulties;
- consideration of organisation, sequencing and planning where relevant;
- discussion of the functional impact on study, work and everyday activities.
What Will I Receive?
The report will include:
- a clear summary of any motor-coordination characteristics identified;
- an explanation of how these may affect study, employment or everyday activities;
- practical recommendations and reasonable adjustments;
- guidance regarding appropriate next steps;
- recommendations for further assessment by an appropriate healthcare professional where indicated.
Who Is It For?
This extended assessment is available to adults aged 18+ who are undertaking a full diagnostic dyslexia assessment and who also report longstanding difficulties that may be associated with motor coordination.
It may be particularly useful where difficulties with handwriting, typing, coordination, organisation or practical tasks are having an impact on higher education or employment.
Disabled Students’
Allowance (DSA)
Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) provides support to eligible higher-education students with additional study-related costs arising from a disability or specific learning difficulty, including dyslexia. Depending on individual needs, support may include specialist study-skills tuition, assistive technology, equipment and other support.
A full diagnostic dyslexia assessment completed by a suitably qualified Specialist Assessor holding a current Assessment Practising Certificate (APC) can provide diagnostic evidence of dyslexia for a DSA application.
Diagnostic reports from Stockport Dyslexia Service are completed in accordance with current SASC requirements and the national report format and include personalised recommendations for study strategies, assistive technology and reasonable adjustments where appropriate.
For adults who choose an extended assessment, any additional attention- or motor-coordination-related characteristics identified can also be described within their wider learning profile and may help inform discussions about appropriate support.
Students are encouraged to contact their university's Disability or Student Support Service as early as possible to discuss their DSA application and individual support needs.
