Seeking out a specialist for a professional evaluation of dyslexia is the usual path parents should take to determine a diagnosis of dyslexia and gain suggestions for how to help their child thrive in reading instruction. While this is a helpful and recommended step, sometimes parents might want their child to have a preliminary screening before committing to a full professional evaluation.
An online dyslexia screening is available. Developed by Dr. Brock Eide and Dr. Fernette Eide, neurolearning specialists, and Nils Lahr, a technologist, this screening can help you determine the likelihood that your child has dyslexia before you visit a specialist and have him or her tested. This screening is not intended to replace a professional diagnosis; it simply helps parents move forward in the testing process with more confidence in its necessity.
Anyone from age 7 to 70 can take the screening, and it usually takes about an hour to complete. It must be taken on an iPad, an iPhone, an android tablet, or a touchscreen app-based computer (such as a Chromebook). The results of the screening are organized very clearly by category with detailed explanations as to what steps you may want to consider to help your child. Once you receive the results of the screening, you will be invited to have your child take a “Dyslexic Strengths Survey” that helps identify which of the many strengths your child may have that often develop due to dyslexia. This additional feature to this test is illuminating and confidence-building.
If you decide to seek out the services of a professional evaluator, I know of a local psychologist in Bucks County, PA whom I would recommend. (Please contact me for more information.) If you live outside this area, I recommend you visit the International Dyslexia Association’s Provider Directory.
Bannister Tutoring 