Just the Facts: Testing for Dyslexia
Information provided by the International Dyslexia Association

What is dyslexia?
Dyslexia is often referred to as a language based learning disability. It is the most common form of learning disability. Approximately 15 – 20% of the population has a learning disability and The National Institutes of Health report that 60 – 80% of those with learning disabilities have problems with reading and language skills. Individuals with dyslexia usually have difficulty with either receptive oral language skills, expressive oral language skills, reading, spelling, or written expression.

Dyslexia varies in degrees of severity. The prognosis depends on the severity of the disability, an individual’s specific patterns of strengths and weaknesses, and the appropriateness of the intervention. It is not a result of lack of motivation, sensory impairment, inadequate instruction, environmental opportunities, low intelligence, or other limiting conditions.
It is a condition that is neurologically based and often appears in families. Individuals with dyslexia respond successfully to timely and appropriate intervention.

Why is an evaluation important?
If you suspect dyslexia, it is important to have an evaluation to better understand the problem. Test results determine eligibility for special education services in various states, and they also determine eligibility for programs in colleges and universities. They provide a basis for making educational recommendations and determine the baseline from which remediation programs will be evaluated.

At what age should an individual be tested for dyslexia?
Individuals may be tested for dyslexia at any age. Tests which are selected will vary according to the age of the individual. Young children may be tested for phonological processing, receptive and expressive language abilities, and the ability to make sound/symbol associations. When problems are found in these areas remediation can begin immediately. A diagnosis of dyslexia need not be made in order to offer early intervention in reading instruction.

Who is qualified to make the diagnosis of dyslexia?
Professionals who possess expertise in several disciplines are best qualified to make a diagnosis of dyslexia. The testing may be done by a single individual or by a team of specialists. A knowledge and background in psychology, reading, language and education are necessary. The evaluator must have knowledge of how individuals learn to read and why some people have trouble learning to read, and must also understand how to measure appropriate reading interventions in order to make recommendations.

What test is used to identify dyslexia?
There is no one single test that can be used to test for dyslexia. A battery of tests must be administered. Tests should be chosen on the basis of their measurement properties and their potential to address referral issues.
Various tests may be used but the components of a good assessment should remain constant. Tests which measure expressive oral language, expressive written language, receptive oral language, receptive written language, intellectual functioning, cognitive processing, and educational achievement must be administered.

What should an evaluation include?
The expert evaluator will conduct a comprehensive assessment to determine whether the individual’s learning problems may be related to other disorders.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), affective disorders (anxiety, depression), central auditory processing dysfunction, pervasive developmental disorders, and physical or sensory impairments are among the other causes of learning problems that a competent evaluator will consider in making the diagnosis of dyslexia.

The following elements should be included in an assessment for dyslexia:

1 a developmental, medical, behavioral, academic and family history

2 a measure of general intellectual functioning

3 information on cognitive processing (language, memory, auditory processing, visual processing, visual motor integration, reasoning abilities, and executive functioning)

4 tests of specific oral language skills related to reading and writing success including tests of phonological processing

5 educational tests to determine level of functioning in basic skill areas of reading, spelling, written language, and math — testing in reading/writing should include the following measures:

• single word decoding of both real and nonsense words
• oral and silent reading in context (evaluate rate, fluency, comprehension and accuracy)
• reading comprehension
• dictated spelling test
• written expression: sentence writing as well as story or essay writing
• handwriting
  

6 a classroom observation, and a review of the language arts curriculum for the school-aged child to assess remediationprograms which have been tried.

What happens after the evaluation?
Discuss the test results with the individual who did the testing. You should receive a written report consisting of both the test scores as well as an explan-ation of test results. Administered tests should be specified. The strengths and weaknesses of the individual should be explained and specific recommendations should be made.

In the case of school-aged students, a team meeting should take place when the evaluation is completed. This meeting should include the student’s teachers, parents, and individuals who did the testing. When a reading problem is identified, the report should suggest recommendations for specific intervention techniques. This instruction should be provided by skilled teachers and professionals, specifically trained in structured language, multisensory programs.

Dyslexic adults should receive specific suggestions for coping strategies and remediation. Additional help to implement these strategies and recommendations can also be considered. If the testing was done in connection with a current professional problem, the report should include specific suggestions for modifications and accommodations related to job performance.

How long does testing take?
A typical educational test battery will take approximately three hours. Sometimes it will be necessary to conduct the testing in more than one session, particularly in the case of a young child whose attention span is very short.

The extent of the evaluation is based on clinical judgment.

Results of Testing

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) provides free testing and special education for children attending public school. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) provide protection against discrimination in federally funded programs for individuals who meet the criteria for qualification. This includes individuals diagnosed with dyslexia.

The International Dyslexia Association (IDA) thanks Lorna Kaufman, Ph.D. for her assistance in the preparation of this fact sheet.

Related Reading:
Greene, Jane Fell, Ed.D. and Moats, Louisa Cook, Ed.D., Testing: Critical Components in the Identification of Dyslexia.