What is an assessment and why is it needed?

 

Dyslexia is not a disease — so it cannot be “diagnosed” in the same way that a medical condition can be determined. There is no blood test or genetic test that can show whether or not someone is dyslexic; a “diagnosis” is simply the opinion of a qualified professional.

 

In general, dyslexia is diagnosed on the basis of tests or evaluations used to measure a person’s learning characteristics and severity of symptoms.

If you suspect you or someone close to be dyslexic, a screening is always recommended before an assessment. If you believe a child or adult has several indications of dyslexia, further investigation should be made. The child may be dyslexic, or there may be other reasons. An initial screening will help uncover whether an assessment is required.

What is a screening?

A screening is generally a short, informal test which is used either to determine whether further testing or warranted, or to determine whether an individual is likely to be helped by a specific program. If the screening shows likelihood of dyslexia, the next step is to seek a qualified professional who can carry out a diagnostic assessment.

 
 

What is an assessment?

A Diagnostic Assessment involves a thorough testing to gain a full picture of the individual’s learning needs and areas of difficulties.  This must be carried out by a professional such as an Educational Psychologist or a Specialist Assessor who holds their AMBDA certificate. The professional will give a detailed written report summarizing the findings and also include recommendations as to the types of intervention or support that would be appropriate for the individual.  If the professional deems it necessary, the individual may be given the label ‘dyslexic’ or other terms such as ‘has specific learning differences’.  This is a diagnosis and all relevant individuals (such as parents, teachers or workplaces) should be notified to ensure the recommendations can be applied for the individual. You must have an assessment and diagnosis for any exam access arrangements