Beware of Rip-Off Dyslexia Assessments

I am about to give you what I think could be a time and money and stress saving tip.  Why the note of hesitance, nay, nervous caution?  -Because a lot of people will argue I’m oversimplifying.  Well, maybe, but here’s the thing.  I just read an article about assessing for dyslexia.  It looked good.  It was persuasive. The writer boasted all kinds of qualifications and experience and kept me happily clicking my way through a couple of screens.  And then, that writer’s advice went something like this:  Read this, try that, and if you’re not crash-hot with this stuff then you need to do my fabulous, cheap at the price, you’re an idiot if you don’t take advantage of this, program of a mere fifty or so lessons.  Pay here.

Beware.  If you struggle with reading and writing do you really need a batch of expensive tests/programs to tell you, hey yes, you really do?  Sure, if you need the psychologist’s or audiologist’s report to help you get support in your workplace or at college, but otherwise, know this. –The most accepted, proven technique for dealing with dyslexia is (in a nutshell, and let’s not quibble)

...to study a phonics–heavy reading and writing program in a systematic, multisensory (hands on, engaging) way, and, to get savvy with helpful technology. 

Ta da!  –And be wary of flourishing your wallet without giving it due thought.

Auditory processing – have you heard the news?

 

If you’ve heard talk about auditory processing being at the root of dyslexia you may have heard right. Research published in the journal Neuron finds that a glitch in the processing of auditory signals (this is not deafness) causes the main symptoms of dyslexia, and the trouble starts in the left auditory cortex.  What does it mean?  It means if you’re dyslexic you most likely have trouble:

·      Following spoken directions.

·      Remembering what you were told.

·      Paying attention.

In your first years at school, sounding out words was probably very hard for you so you fell further and further behind when it came to learning new words. 

Children with learning and reading disabilities are now more often being referred to the audiologist for a hearing and auditory processing test. And some audiologists make a distinction between phonologic dyslexics (whose problems are mostly to do with speech sounds) and comprehension dyslexics (whose problems are mostly with irregular words that don’t fit customary categories).

Am I dyslexic?

Number one question I get asked. –“I can’t spell.  When I write, I mix up my letters and usually leave some out.  It takes me ages to read too.  Am I dyslexic?”

Official answer, short version: 

Dyslexia is a specific learning disability, specifically in the area of reading.  You need an assessment by a qualified person to tell if you have dyslexia.  It will cost.  It may cost a lot more than you expected.  You may not get any coverage from your health insurance.  If you need to show other people your assessment results be sure, beforehand, that the organization you’re showing the assessment to accepts the assessor’s credentials.

Practical answer, short version: 

An assessment is good if you need it to show to a college or workplace.  Otherwise, you may simply want to explain to people that you have dyslexia (or are a bit dyslexic).  Then people have a better understanding and it’s no big deal.  –Dyslexia is when you have trouble with reading when you don’t have any trouble in other areas of learning. You can have lesser and greater degrees of dyslexia but the trouble is pronounced enough to have made you feel embarrassed at times, and to have stopped you doing as well as you know you are capable of.  The trouble persists.  In school you will have sat next to your friends, same classes for years, and yet been unable to keep up with them -not without working much harder and longer.

Dyslexia is tough.  But it’s not that bad.- Especially with iPads and apps, and voice recognition software and spell checkers.  And you’re a lateral thinker, a many-tasks-at-one-time person, and all the time you’re learning nifty ways to cope better.  

“Hi.  Do you have dyslexia?”

Getting assessed for dyslexia

Unfortunately, finding out if you are "officially" dyslexic, when you left school long ago, isn't always easy. -You must be assessed by a psychologist who is recognized by your workplace or college, or whom you are referred to by a reputable organization (like the disability office of your local college or the dyslexia association). The assessment is not inexpensive. Your health insurance may cover all or some of the costs. If you attend college and paid for mandatory insurance through that college, some psychologists' fees are covered by that insurance, but you will have to check around.

It should be easier, shouldn't it!