Testing, testing and testing!

Strep tests are pretty straightforward.  The doc swirls a gargantuan q-tip around the back of your throat, you gag and glare at him...and if gunk grows in the petri dish, you have strep.  Take your meds, soon you are back to normal.

Unfortunately, that is not how dyslexia testing works.  There is no one test that determines a person has dyslexia, it is a combination of scores and weaknesses that determine a diagnosis.  Dr. Sally Shaywitz compares it to obesity or hypertension - there are varying degrees and rather arbitrary cutoff points.  This is where it gets sticky in schools.  If a child misses the "cutoff" for a diagnosis, there is still an issue, but it remains untreated.  When Ryan was tested, our county wanted there to be a 20 point difference between performance and IQ.  His decoding and processing scores were very low, but other non-related scores brought up his average so he didn't technically qualify for extra help, even though he has what is called the "double deficit dyslexia".  This is not uncommon, but it is a burden for schoolkids who struggle to read.

A psycho-educational evaluation is needed to determine a diagnosis.  Because there is no magic "score", but a pattern of weaknesses that point to dyslexia, the tests can be subjective.  Finding someone who is experienced in testing for language disabilities is a must.

An intelligence test is administered ( usually the Wechsler).  This tests verbal comprehension, perceptual reasoning, working memory and processing speed. People with dyslexia have an average to above average intelligence - it is not the IQ that interferes with learning to read.  Underlying issues in working memory and processing speed will show up in this part of the test, both which interfere with reading and learning.

One of the most popular tests used to detect dyslexia is the Woodcock Johnson Word Identification Test.  basically, reading words in isolation, starting with one syllable and getting progressively harder.  The scores are compared to others in the same age range.  The Woodcock Word Attack Test is a test of decoding nonsense words - plerp, fronkett, etc.   Very intelligent children who read poorly must memorize many words as a coping skill - this test takes away that advantage with the nonsense words.

I have been very fortunate to find psychologists who specialize in language and reading disabilities and can explain the tests and read between all the lines to give me quality reports and explain what needed to be done to build up their weaknesses by using their strengths.

I have spoken to many parents who are reluctant to test their kids because they fear a diagnosis will label them negatively.  Being labeled " dyslexic" by a psychologist is usually a relief to kids who have been calling themselves worse.  Trust me, kids know they are the worst reader in class, they know their younger siblings are reading faster than they are.    Being labeled "dyslexic" gives a parent power to fight for the education their child deserves and the accommodations to be made for that child to succeed while remediation is taking place.   There is really no downside to a diagnosis!