Dyslexia Testing: Can Schools Diagnose Dyslexia?

Understanding and identifying dyslexia early can make a significant difference in a child’s educational experience. However, parents often face confusion and frustration when trying to navigate the process of dyslexia testing and diagnosis through their child’s school. This guide will clarify what schools can and cannot do regarding dyslexia testing and offer practical advice for parents seeking help.

What is Dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a learning disability characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition, spelling, and decoding abilities. It can impact reading comprehension and hinder academic performance. But with the right support, students with dyslexia can succeed.

Key Features of Dyslexia

The public conception of dyslexia is pretty different from what dyslexic students actually experience. It’s not a problem of vision, or of seeing backwards letters. But dyslexia can present differently for students at different ages. And not all dyslexics are the same. Here are some features that many with dyslexia share:

• Difficulty with phonemic awareness: Trouble recognizing and manipulating sounds in words.
• Challenges in decoding: Difficulty translating written words into their spoken equivalents.
• Problems with spelling: Persistent issues with spelling, often inconsistent with age and education level.
• Slow reading rate: Reading is often slow and laborious, impacting comprehension.

Can Schools Diagnose Dyslexia?

The answer to this varies a bit by state. While some states have regulations that allow qualified people, including specialized teachers, to give a diagnosis of dyslexia. In other places, dyslexia remains a medical diagnosis. Either way, public schools have an obligation under Child Find to identify and educate students with specific learning disabilities, including dyslexia. The federal government clarified this responsibility in their 2015 “Dear Colleague Letter,” which says, “The purpose of this letter is to clarify that there is nothing in the IDEA that would prohibit the use of the terms dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia in IDEA evaluation, eligibility determinations, or IEP documents.”

Understand the Procedural Safeguards that protect you and your child during the school evaluation process. This state-specific document explains the school’s responsibilities, as well as the steps you can take if you disagree with their findings.

School Evaluations for Dyslexia

Schools are equipped to identify and assess learning difficulties through evaluations, but these evaluations are generally aimed at determining eligibility for special education services rather than diagnosing specific conditions like dyslexia. They may offer a diagnosis of “specific learning disability” without specifically saying dyslexia. Some insist that the word dyslexia be included in their child’s IEP. Others accept the designation of “specific learning disability in reading,” as long as appropriate services are offered.

Types of School Assessments

1. Initial Screening: Schools may conduct screenings for reading difficulties. These can indicate potential dyslexia but are not conclusive. Many states require universal literacy screenings several times a year. They are intended to catch children who are struggling, or who may struggle without more support.
2. Curriculum-Based Assessments: These may be teacher designed, or may go with the district’s literacy curriculum. They are generally designed to show whether a student has mastered the material that was recently taught.
3. Comprehensive Evaluations: If a student is struggling, the school might perform a comprehensive evaluation. This can include:

• Cognitive Tests: These are “IQ” tests that assess cognitive abilities, including memory, processing speed, and oral language.
• Achievement Tests: To compare a child’s academic performance with their expected performance.
• Reading Assessments: To evaluate skills such as phonemic awareness, decoding, and fluency.
• Observations: The student should be observed in multiple learning environments at school.
• Teacher Input: The child’s teachers should give information about the child’s classroom performance, in the form of rating scales or questionnaires.

📌Response to Intervention (RTI): Many schools use RTI to provide early intervention and track student progress. Screening assessments are used to place students in appropriate groups. Frequent progress monitoring data should show whether the current intervention is working. Ideally, this can help identify children who may need further evaluation for dyslexia. Effectiveness varies greatly between schools.

Limitations of School Evaluations

• Scope of Testing: School evaluations focus on educational needs and accommodations rather than medical diagnoses.
• Standardized Testing: Schools use standardized testing methods that might not capture the full spectrum of dyslexia symptoms. Students with “stealth dyslexia” may have initial success in school, often because they have an excellent memory and good oral vocabulary. They may get satisfactory scores on assessments of word reading or spelling, but struggle with another component of reading, like sounding out multi-syllabic words.
• Diagnosis Requirements: A formal diagnosis often requires a multidisciplinary approach, including input from psychologists, educational specialists, neurologists, or speech-language pathologists. It is important to rule out other causes for reading problems, such as speech or hearing impairments, which need different interventions.

Outside Dyslexia Testing

For a formal dyslexia diagnosis, parents often seek evaluations outside the school system. Here’s what to expect:

Private Evaluations

1. Neuropsychological Assessment: This comprehensive evaluation looks at cognitive, academic, and emotional functioning.
2. Educational Psychologist Assessment: Focuses on learning and behavior issues related to dyslexia.
3. Speech-Language Pathologist Evaluation: Assesses language skills and phonological processing.

Steps for Parents

1. Request a Referral: Start by discussing your concerns with your child’s teacher and request a referral for a school evaluation.
2. Seek an Independent Evaluation: If the school’s evaluation is inconclusive, consider a private evaluation from a specialist in dyslexia testing. Again, this is an area where it is beneficial to understand your rights under IDEA and learn how and when to request an Independent Educational Evaluation.
3. Compare Findings: Use the results from both school and private evaluations to get a complete picture of your child’s learning profile.

How to Request Dyslexia Testing

Step 1: Contact the School

Start by expressing your concerns to your child’s teacher or school counselor. Request a meeting to discuss your child’s difficulties and ask about the school’s process for evaluating learning disabilities.

What to Ask For

• Screening Tests: Request initial screening tests to identify potential reading difficulties. If these have been done, request the results.
• Comprehensive Evaluation: If screenings indicate a problem, ask for a comprehensive evaluation to assess your child’s educational needs.

Step 2: Write a Formal Request

Submit a written request for a special education evaluation. Include specific concerns about your child’s reading and learning difficulties.

Example Request Letter:

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State, ZIP Code]
[Date]
[School Principal’s Name]
[School’s Name]
[School’s Address]
Dear [Principal’s Name],
I am writing to formally request a comprehensive evaluation for my child, [Child’s Name], to determine if they have a learning disability, specifically dyslexia. [Child’s Name] has been experiencing significant difficulties with reading and spelling, which are impacting their academic performance.
I request that the evaluation include assessments for phonemic awareness, decoding, reading fluency, and comprehension.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]

Step 3: Follow Up

If the school agrees to the evaluation, stay involved throughout the process. Attend meetings, review the results, and discuss the findings with school officials to understand the next steps.

Step 4: Consider an Independent Evaluation

If the school’s evaluation does not provide sufficient answers or support, seek a private evaluation for a more comprehensive assessment.

Supporting Your Child After Dyslexia Testing

Once dyslexia is identified, whether through school or private testing, implementing the right support is crucial.

Educational Interventions

• Individualized Education Program (IEP): Work with the school to create an IEP that includes specific goals and accommodations tailored to your child’s needs.
• 504 Plan: If an IEP isn’t applicable, a 504 Plan can provide accommodations such as extra time on tests, oral reading support, or assistive technology.

At-Home Support

• Reading Practice: Regular, supportive reading practice can help reinforce skills learned at school.
• Assistive Technology: Tools like text-to-speech software and audiobooks can provide additional support.
• Tutoring: Consider a tutor who specializes in dyslexia and can provide one-on-one instruction.

Conclusion

Navigating dyslexia testing can be challenging, but understanding what schools can offer and seeking additional evaluations if necessary can provide a clearer path forward. Schools can conduct preliminary evaluations and offer interventions, but formal diagnosis often requires outside specialists. By actively pursuing dyslexia testing and appropriate interventions, you can ensure your child receives the support they need to succeed academically.