What tests are used to diagnose?
September 28th, 2009
Thank you very much for your response. I heard you on Richard Glover’s Drive programme on 2BL yesterday. If we were to come to you in WA at some stage, what tests would you use to diagnose dyslexia? My son had a diagnosis of dyscalculia but I believe he is actually dyslexic even though his reading is satisfactory. His handwriting and spelling is extremely problematic and always has been (he is 10). If he is to undergo more testing, I would prefer it be with someone who knows what they are doing.
Thanks & regards
Hi,
I developed my test for SPELD here when I wrote the course for TAFE. You have to be dyslexic to do the course since it is targeted for dyslexics. I use that but much more comprehensive. Its not just about diagnosis, its about learning how your kid learns and perceives the world. Once we know how he thinks then we know how to teach him. Unfortunately most testing focuses on the problem and merely identifies that. My testing is solution based. I am looking for the solution not the problem.
Dyslexia is a learning difference so once we can establish his strengths and weaknesses we can develop a teaching program around this.
Dyscalculia merely means that the kid has problems with numbers, its actually Greek for “difficulty with numbers” and as such is not a true diagnosis, in my terms. what you need to know is why he has difficulty with numbers. It could be due to a number of things, including, dyslexia, dyspraxia, Asperger’s Syndrome and other things. All these learning differences need to be taught in a different way from each other.
I am posting details of my assessment on the site soon.
hope this helps
Dawn
Entry Filed under: Dysgraphia,Dyslexia,Dyspraxia,General
8 Comments Add your own
1. Evelyn | October 8th, 2009 at 2:41 am
I have a daughter who’s in the 5th grade and I believe she is having a huge amount of difficulty cause she has adhd and I want her to get checked out for dsylexia also, and I need to know how to go about it
2. Laisa Hager | October 12th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
I have a daughter who’s in year 10 and having great difficulty with her school work. Especially with home works, when I get to find out through the mail that she has not submitted set work required.She has mentioned, mostly because she finds it difficult to put her ideas into writting. My daughter gives up if it’s all too hard, and I’m just as frustrated as she is! Would really appreciate your help.
3. Antonia Canaris | October 23rd, 2009 at 9:30 pm
I would love to see a good referral registry where people from all over Australia can find the right help. Existing sources of help are patchy and are mostly available for very short hours. I think on-line forums are a great alternative for queries especially when mums and dads (and older students wanting help) are a bit shy.
Parents and others can share some good experiences and resources. I have found heaps of things by chance. We could all save a lot of “re-inventing the wheel “So maybe there could be 2 or 3 differently marked folders or something.
4. sara holton | October 26th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
Are there any schools out there that understand our childrens needs? I would love to share experiences with other parents. We are moving to the Mandurah area (South of Perth) and would love to find a school that understood…
5. April Jenkins | October 27th, 2009 at 9:44 pm
My seven year old daughter has verbal dyspraxia.We live in Dubbo NSW and we are devasted to learn Dalwood,Palm avenue school,Seaforth,NSW will be shutdown.Who do I turn to for assistance now?I’d love to have contact with other parents of children who suffer from verbal dyspraxia…
6. Cait | December 15th, 2009 at 8:10 am
Hi there,
I have done the tick box and trying to find what a score of 23 out of 35 may mean please?
7. dawn matthews | December 18th, 2009 at 11:17 am
Hi,
Obviously you scored high on the tick test. I recommend further testing.
If you live anywhere near Perth then I offer full assessments with solutions as to how to improve your learning, and ways of sorting your problems for $200.
Otherwise i do offer SKPYE assessments. There are also a number of SPELD organization in Australia. UWA also offer testing but they have a huge waiting list.
If anone else out there knows of anywhere else do please contact me.
cheers
Dawn
8. Donna | March 16th, 2011 at 7:03 pm
Hi Dawn, I need my daughter to see a Behavioural Optomerist again. We saw someone in Perth a couple of years ago but have forgotten the name of the clinic.. Is there anyone in Bunbury, Mandurah or Perth you can recommend..Emma is struggling to read again I did get her tested 5 months ago in Busselton at OPSM and told me she was fine but she is getting headaches and finding it hard to read.. She has had glasses for reading since she was 7 as her eye had not been switched on and went ahead in leaps and bounds after getting them and could read avidly we where in South Australia then. Em is Dyslexic and everything I have read here resembles her as a little girl.. We still have struggles with socialisation and older issues of a teenage girl..
Cheers Donna
Leave a Comment
Some HTML allowed:
<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>
Trackback this post | Subscribe to the comments via RSS Feed