FAQS
Feeling nervous about an assessment is completely understandable. But rest assured that I’ll be there to offer gentle and supportive assistance, ensuring your comfort throughout the process.
In both written and video form, here are some of the most regularly asked questions about the services I provide:
What will happen before my assessment?
This is a question I’m often asked. We will take a full background history of any challenges during birth or learning to walk or anything else that happened when you were growing up. This is to make sure that we’re identifying any challenges that you may face that may be beyond our remit or scope and may not be due to dyslexia but something else.
However, if you’ve noticed something changing very rapidly; for example, you’re suddenly not able to read and write or if you find that you’re suddenly not able to manage a pen these need to be investigated by your GP and not a dyslexia specialist.
I’ll ask you to make sure you’ve had an up-to-date eye-test.
I’ll also ask your school or employer to share information about your challenges so that I can advise them accordingly on how to support you best. All information is treated confidentially and destroyed upon completion of your report.
What will happen during my assessment?
The next stage involves the assessment itself. I typically conduct these assessments in the student’s home to ensure they feel comfortable. If this is not an option, I have a room in my home office that can be used instead. The assessment usually takes around 4 hours, but this can vary depending on the need for rest breaks and progress.
I will ask you to do challenging puzzles and tasks, but the key thing is to try your best. I’m not really interested in how many things you get wrong or right; I’m mostly interested in how you got there. I will ask you how you did things, and what you did to succeed. At no point are we going to judge or expect you to do amazingly at everything – we’re all good at different things!
What will happen after my assessment?
After completing the assessment, I will prepare a detailed report in approximately three weeks. It will include information on the student’s strengths and challenges, as well as recommendations for the school, a Specialist Teacher, and you at home to help improve their learning. My Assessment Practicing Certificate is current and valid, meaning my reports can be used as evidence for access arrangements (although the school may need to conduct their own assessments for exams) and for Disabled Students’ Allowance in further and higher education.
I’ll also offer a video call to walk you through any other questions you have.
Why do I need an eye-test before my assessment?
Simply put, if you can’t read the text, I can’t check how well you read!
It’s essential to make sure that your reading challenges aren’t caused by a physical issue before I conduct my assessments.
If you notice the text moving or shifting when you read, I’ll advise you to have your sight and vision checked by a behavioural optometrist: www.babo.co.uk. You should always have your sight and vision checked by a qualified optometrist as they have the right training and equipment to explore your eyes’ health and function.
As a rule, you should have your sight and vision checked by an optometrist every two years. If you are 18 or under and in school, you may be able to have your eye test through the NHS. Ask your local optometrist if they offer this.
What is a Specialist Teacher Assessor?
Both Psychologists and Specialist Teachers can assess for dyslexia, and they use similar methods. However, in some cases where an individual has more complex needs or co-occurring difficulties, a Psychologist may be required. Psychologists often use additional tests that can help to identify subtle differences in an individual’s overall profile. On the other hand, Specialist Teachers generally have more experience working in an educational setting.
But the good news is that both Psychologists and Specialist Teachers are qualified to diagnose dyslexia and provide recommendations for supporting the individual.
If an assessor suspects that there might be other conditions aside from dyslexia, they will recommend additional testing. It’s important to keep in mind that assessors can’t diagnose medical issues like autism or ADHD, as these require a different type of assessment from educational ones.
Have a different question? Get in touch!
