Dyslexia Diagnostic Testing Sydney
Child Assessment & Testing - Dyslexia Testing
We provide professional and
detailed clinical/diagnostic
assessments of Dyslexia and general reading
ability. We provide dyslexia testing for children and
adults, from 4.5 years of age. All assessments are
conducted by experienced psychologists, specially
trained in diagnostic testing.
Below you will find valuable information about what is
Dyslexia, how it is diagnosed and how we can help
children with Dyslexia symptoms. If you are concerned
that your child may have Dyslexia, contact us to discuss
your concern.
WHAT WE OFFER
The first step in helping children with Dyslexia is
accurate diagnosis. We offer a professional and
nationally recognised diagnostic dyslexia assessment
across Sydney. Our assessment reports are recognised by
the NSW Board of Studies.
Following the dyslexia test for children, we'll
recommend strategies and individualised assistance for
children diagnosed with the disorder. We are also happy
to work together with teachers and other professionals
to design the most appropriate intervention plans for
your child.
FACTS ABOUT DYSLEXIA
Dyslexia (Reading Disorder) is a serious learning
disability that affects approximately 4% of school
children. Most children diagnosed with Dyslexia are boys
(between 60% and 80%). The reason for this difference
between boys and girls is unknown.
Symptoms of Dyslexia are rarely present before the end
of Kindergarten and most children are not detected until
much later. Formal reading doesn't begin until the end
of Kindergarten and Grade 1 and even children with
severe cases of Dyslexia can go unnoticed.
Dyslexia often emerges between Grade 2 and Grade 4.
Before Grade 2 the focus is on reading and reading
skills. In other words, children predominantly learn to
read. Towards the end of Grade 2 and from the beginning
of Grade 3 the focus shifts from teaching reading skills
to using reading as a way of acquiring new information.
In other words, children are expected to read to learn.
Children with Dyslexia symptoms are often able to
acquire basic reading skills, but are unable to use
reading to learn and progress academically.
Dyslexia is not related to intellectual abilities (IQ).
Children with high or low IQ are equally likely to
experience reading disorders. However, components of
intellectual functioning, such as short term memory, can
predict the presence of the disorder.
Children with above average IQ often manage well beyond
early school years and may only show noticeable
difficulties as the curriculum becomes more reading
oriented. It is not unusual to diagnose children with
Dyslexia symptoms in Grade 5 or 6, or even in high
school.
Early detection and intervention are key factors in
successfully treating Dyslexia. Although Dyslexia is a
lifelong condition, learning strategies and appropriate
assistance can improve children's reading ability and
they can achieve academic success. Many prominent
professionals and academics suffer from Dyslexia.
SYMPTOMS OF DYSLEXIA
Dyslexia is a learning disorder and it is associated
with difficulties acquiring reading skills. The main
characteristics of Dyslexia are the inability to
distinguish between common letters and the inability to
associate common phonemes with letter symbols.
Children with Dyslexia often have difficulty visually
distinguishing between confusing or similar letters,
such as b and d, or p and q. This could lead to a
difficulty correctly reading words, such as reading gall
instead of ball.
Another common characteristic of Dyslexia is the
inability to track word lines. Children may read the
same line twice; they may jump over and skip words, or
skip lines when reading.
Associated symptoms of Dyslexia may include difficulties
with writing, low self-esteem, behavioural difficulties
(particularly acting out during class), attentional
problems, anger and frequent headaches after the school
day.
TESTING DYSLEXIA
Testing Dyslexia involves a full child assessment
including the evaluation of a child's intellectual
abilities (IQ) and different reading skills. In order to
diagnose Dyslexia, children must complete a dyslexia
assessment. This involves standardised reading tests
that evaluate phonetic decoding skills, word reading
ability and reading comprehension.
02 8068 8661
