Dyslexia Assessments for Children, Adolescents and Adults

Whom This Assessment Will Help

 

Dyslexia Assessments for Children and Adolescents

You may be concerned that your child finds reading, spelling or written work persistently difficult, despite teaching, practice and support. Perhaps homework has become a struggle, or you would like a clearer understanding of their learning needs as they move through school. An assessment can help explain the difficulties, identify strengths to build on, and guide more targeted support at home and in the classroom. It also provides a starting point for informed conversations with teachers and the school’s special educational needs coordinator (SENCO). 

 

Dyslexia Assessments for Adults and University Students

You may have wondered about dyslexia for years, be returning to education, or need a better understanding of the difficulties you experience in study or work. An adult dyslexia assessment can help you make sense of longstanding challenges and identify useful strategies and adjustments. Whether you are seeking personal understanding or evidence to discuss support with a university or employer, the focus is on your individual circumstances and next steps. 

 

Why Choose Hampshire Dyslexia?

Specialist expertise with a personal approach. Your assessment is carried out by Dr Grace Elliott, who has more than 15 years’ experience in education, special educational needs and specialist learning support. She holds a current Assessment Practising Certificate (APC) and Associate Membership of the British Dyslexia Association (AMBDA). An understanding of how support works in practice. As a former SENCO in primary and secondary education and former Professional Practice Manager at the British Dyslexia Association, Dr Elliott brings both school-based experience and knowledge of professional assessment standards. Recommendations informed by research. Dr Elliott’s doctoral research focused on improving reading outcomes for adolescents. Her recommendations connect assessment findings with practical priorities for teaching, study and support, rather than offering a generic list of strategies. 

 

The Assessment Process

1. Before the Assessment

Before the appointment, we send background questionnaires to gather information about learning, development and the difficulties experienced. For children and adolescents, we also request information from school to understand how they manage classroom learning alongside their experiences at home. For adults, we explore educational history, current study or work demands, and any strategies or support already in place. Previous reports and relevant background information help us build a fuller picture before the assessment begins.

 

2. Face-to-Face or Remote Assessment

The assessment takes place face-to-face at our Fleet clinic, or online where appropriate, and usually lasts approximately three hours.

A range of individual activities explores the skills relevant to dyslexia and the wider learning profile, including:

• Reading, spelling and writing: reading accuracy, fluency and understanding, spelling skills, and the demands of written work.

• Language and reasoning: understanding and using language, alongside visual and visual-spatial problem-solving.

• Phonological processing: recognising and working with the sounds within spoken words.

• Memory, processing speed and retrieval: holding information in mind, working with it, and accessing familiar information efficiently. 

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We also consider how attention, confidence and the demands of different tasks may influence performance. The aim is to understand the pattern of strengths and difficulties and identify the support most likely to help. Appointments are paced carefully, with breaks as needed. This is not an exam to pass or fail, and no revision is required. For remote assessments, we discuss suitability beforehand and explain the equipment and quiet, private space needed for the appointment. 

 

3. Detailed Report and Follow-Up

After the assessment, you will receive a comprehensive written report within seven days, along with a follow-up consultation to discuss the findings and answer your questions.  Your report explains the diagnostic conclusion, individual strengths and areas of difficulty, and how these may affect learning or everyday tasks. It includes practical recommendations tailored to the person’s age, needs and educational or working context. Where the findings support a diagnosis of dyslexia, this is clearly explained. Where they do not, the report still identifies the needs revealed by the assessment and recommends appropriate support or further investigation. The follow-up consultation provides time to work through the recommendations, discuss priorities and consider how to share the findings with the people who will help put support in place.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Will the Report Help My Child Access Support at School?

The report can help school staff understand your child’s learning needs and plan appropriate teaching and support.

However, a dyslexia diagnosis does not automatically qualify a pupil for extra time or other examination access arrangements. For GCSEs and A levels, the school or college must follow the relevant JCQ requirements, including evidence of need and the pupil’s normal way of working. Please speak to the SENCO before booking specifically for examination access arrangements, so the assessment process can be coordinated appropriately. 

 

Can the Report Support an Application for Disabled Students’ Allowance?

Where dyslexia is identified, a diagnostic report from a suitably qualified specialist teacher can provide evidence for an application for Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA). Eligibility and the support awarded are determined through the student finance process; an assessment does not guarantee funding. Please mention during your consultation that you need the assessment for university or a DSA application. 

 

What If There Are Difficulties With Maths Too?

When concerns involve both literacy and mathematics, we can discuss whether a combined dyslexia and dyscalculia assessment would be more appropriate. This allows both areas to be explored together and recommendations to reflect the wider learning profile. 

 

Book Your Dyslexia Assessment

Whether you are a parent looking for answers, a student seeking support, or an adult exploring longstanding difficulties, you are welcome to start with a conversation.

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Book a dyslexia assessment or arrange a free 30-minute consultation to discuss your concerns and whether a face-to-face or remote appointment would be suitable. 

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