British Association for Counseling and Psychotherapy
If you think your child may have dyslexia, the first step is to speak to their teacher or the school’s special educational needs coordinator (SENCO) about your concerns. Educational Psychologists can work with children who have literacy difficulties, and if the child meets the criteria, can be diagnosed as dyslexic.
This assessment provides a cognitive ability profile (usually the Wechsler Scales or British Ability Scales) with measurements of reading, spelling and number as required. Further exploration into areas where those with Specific Learning Difficulties typically struggle, will be carried out where appropriate.
6 Types of dyslexia Phonological Dyslexia . Surface Dyslexia . Visual Dyslexia. Primary Dyslexia. Secondary/Developmental Dyslexia. Trauma Dyslexia also referred to as Acquired Dyslexia.
Answer: In most cases, testing for dyslexia is done by a licensed educational psychologist . Neurologists and other medical professionals may also be qualified to provide a formal diagnosis .
Myth #2 – Educational Psychologists diagnose conditions such as Autism or ADHD. do this by gathering information within the school/education context. They work to help those involved find ways to address particular needs, whether they have a name or not.
reading slowly or making errors when reading aloud. visual disturbances when reading (for example, a child may describe letters and words as seeming to move around or appear blurred) answering questions well orally, but having difficulty writing the answer down. difficulty carrying out a sequence of directions.
Around age 5 or 6 years , when kids begin learning to read, dyslexia symptoms become more apparent. Children who are at risk of reading disabilities can be identified in kindergarten. There is no standardized test for dyslexia, so your child’s doctor will work with you to evaluate their symptoms.
It does not result from vision or hearing problems. It is not due to mental retardation , brain damage, or a lack of intelligence. The causes of dyslexia vary with the type. In primary dyslexia , much research focuses on the hereditary factors.
Dyslexia is not a form of autism , although disorientation is a factor in both conditions.
Improved pattern recognition. People with dyslexia have the ability to see how things connect to form complex systems, and to identify similarities among multiple things. Such strengths are likely to be of particular significance for fields like science and mathematics, where visual representations are key.
Federal education law does not require public schools to test children for dyslexia . Schools only have to test to find out if a child is eligible for special education services, and if so, under what category. If a child with dyslexia is eligible, they will be placed in a category called Learning Disability.
You can proceed by requesting that your daughter be evaluated by your school district or by private diagnosticians. If you would like the school district to evaluate her, write a letter to the school district and list all areas of suspected disability.
Your optometrist can identify visual issues that may be the cause of your child’s difficulties, as opposed to the diagnosis of incurable dyslexia .
Why might children need to see an educational psychologist ? In a situation where a parent or school feels that a child’s learning isn’t progressing in the way they would want it to, and the child is becoming quite stuck with learning, an educational psychologist would be consulted.
You can ask your child’s school to arrange for an assessment . An educational psychologist will be called to the school to meet with and observe your child , and to talk to the teachers involved. The wait can often be long and you might feel you need an assessment more urgently.
Some—but not all—schools allow properly trained, experienced, and licensed school psychologists to diagnose ADHD . Those who are also in private practice may have more diagnostic experience and access to a wider network for referrals. School psychologists cannot, however, prescribe or manage medication.