Understanding dyslexia and what an assessment can unlock

Dyslexia has nothing to do with intelligence.

When reading does not match the rest of you

These challenges can feel confusing and frustrating, particularly when other areas of your life demand exactly the thinking, innovating and verbal communication you are good at.

Dyslexia was historically misunderstood as a visual problem, or as a sign of low academic ability. We now know it is a neurodevelopmental learning difference.

Clinically, it affects the skills involved in accurate, fluent word reading and spelling. It exists on a spectrum, so it looks different from one person to the next, and it has absolutely no correlation with core intelligence.

The three processing differences

Brain imaging shows that dyslexia is rooted in how the brain processes language. It is characterised by three cognitive processing differences:

• Phonological awareness. The brain finds it harder to identify and manipulate the distinct sounds, or phonemes, within spoken words, which makes translating those sounds into written letters more difficult.
• Verbal working memory. A reduced capacity to hold on to and work with verbal sequences for short periods, such as a list of spoken instructions, or the exact order of a sentence while trying to write it down.
• Rapid automated naming. The speed at which the brain retrieves a visual symbol, like a letter or a number, from long term memory and says it out loud.

Because these underlying mechanisms take intense, conscious cognitive energy, tasks that others do automatically become deeply effortful, and that leads to rapid mental fatigue.

How it shows up at different ages

Dyslexia is a lifelong neurological profile, and it evolves as someone matures.

In children, it may present as slow, hesitant reading, switching letters around when spelling, or difficulty with phonics.

Many adults survive the school years by masking, and the difficulty resurfaces at work instead. That might look like struggling to organise complex written reports, processing large amounts of text based information, or working at a noticeably slower processing speed than colleagues.

Why we look at dyspraxia too

It matters to us that we look at the whole person.

Dyslexia frequently co-occurs with dyspraxia, sometimes known as developmental coordination disorder or DCD, which affects motor skills, planning and physical organisation.

Our integrated assessment model lets us explore both profiles side by side, so nothing is missed.

What an assessment involves

A formal assessment is a comprehensive, psychology led process. We use standardised digital assessment tools, including the Q-interactive platform, to explore memory, processing speed, phonological processing and spelling.

Our practice strictly follows guidance from the SpLD Assessment Standards Committee, known as SASC. That means your written report is a clinically and legally robust document, recognised nationwide.

Strengths, not only hurdles

Our approach is strengths based, and that matters to us. We are not only interested in the hurdles.

We map your cognitive assets too, including big picture thinking, visual spatial reasoning and the high level creativity that so often accompanies a dyslexic mind.

What the report unlocks

We see an assessment as a gateway to practical and legal adjustments.

For children, a SASC compliant report allows schools to put exam access arrangements in place, such as extra time, a reader or a scribe.

For adults, it provides a legal framework for workplace adjustments under the Equality Act, and it can grant eligibility for the government's Access to Work scheme, which can fund specialist assistive technology and executive coaching.

For many people though, the greatest result is not the diagnosis or the practical support. It is the relief of finally understanding your own brain.

Talk to us

We publish clear, upfront pricing with flexible, interest free instalment options, so that care is accessible.

If you have questions, or you are interested in a dyslexia or dyspraxia assessment, please get in touch.

‍