What is Dyslexia and How is it Assessed?

At BetterCare, we understand how challenging it can be when a child struggles with reading, writing, or learning in the same way as their peers.

Dyslexia is a common reason for referral, and in this blog post, we aim to explain what it is, the signs to watch for at different ages, and what you can expect if you choose to have your child assessed.

So what is Dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a learning difference that affects reading, writing, spelling, and sometimes math. It affects approximately 10% of the population.

The indicators of dyslexia vary from person to person and appear differently at different ages. The following indicators are based on the Report of the Task Force on Dyslexia (2001).

Many of these indicators may also appear in children with learning differences not arising from dyslexia.

Indicators of Dyslexia at Ages 3–5 Years

• Speech and language delays: Later than most children in learning to speak, difficulty pronouncing multi-syllabic words

• Phonological awareness issues: Trouble separating spoken words into sounds, blending sounds, rhyming

• Auditory challenges: Problems with auditory discrimination, prone to spoonerisms (e.g., “fips” for “fish”)

• Emergent literacy delays: Difficulty learning letters, numbers, colors, shapes, writing their name, and understanding text direction

• Memory and vocabulary: Slow to add new words, difficulty recalling the right word

• Fine motor delays: Trouble with coordination, following multi-step directions, or retelling stories in sequence

Indicators of Dyslexia at Ages 5–7 Years

• Letter-sound recognition: Slow to learn the alphabetic principle, difficulty decoding words

• Reading and spelling challenges:

  • Letter reversals (d ↔ b), inversions (m ↔ w), transpositions (felt/left)

  • Word reversals (tip/pit), substitutions (house/home)

• Reading fluency: Reads slowly, with little expression

• Function vs content words: More difficulty with small words than meaningful words

• Learning style: Relies on memorization without understanding

• Comprehension: Reading comprehension below expectations, listening comprehension stronger

• Motor skills and handwriting: Awkward pencil grip, slow or poor handwriting, trouble telling time, poor fine motor coordination

• Planning and organization: Difficulty learning facts, following routines, and organizing tasks

Indicators of Dyslexia at Ages 7–12 Years

• Reading challenges: Continued difficulty reading aloud or silently, confusion with letter sequences, slow at learning prefixes, suffixes, and morphemes

• Spelling and writing: Age-inappropriate spelling, frequent letter omissions/additions, poor written expression

• Avoidance behaviors: Reluctance to read aloud or write

• Language and math difficulties: Trouble with word problems, memorizing multiplication tables, confusing numbers or symbols

• Memory and orientation: Difficulty recalling facts, directional confusion (left/right), forgetting dates, phone numbers, or homework

• Planning, organization, and self-confidence: Poor time management, organization, low self-esteem, and self-image

• Social understanding: Trouble interpreting body language or figurative language such as idioms or proverbs

Indicators of Dyslexia at Age 12+ Years

• Reading fluency: Slow, inaccurate, and without expression, misreads words

• Written expression: Dysfluent or illegible handwriting, difficulty with syntax, punctuation, skimming, scanning, summarizing, and note-taking

• Spelling: Continues to be problematic, affects writing and confidence

• Oral vs written skills: Oral skills stronger than written skills

• Planning and organisation: Poor sequencing, time management, and task completion

• Learning style: More difficulty in language-based subjects (English, Irish, History) than in non-language subjects (Math, Technical Graphics)

• Self-image: Low self-confidence and poor self-image

If you notice several of the indicators listed above or your child continues to struggle despite extra help, it may be worth speaking with a specialist in dyslexia assessment.

Early identification can make a meaningful difference in your child’s learning journey.

Should I get my child assessed for dyslexia?

A diagnosis of dyslexia can often bring a sense of relief for parents and children alike. Your child may have been struggling with reading and writing for a long time, and wondering why they are not learning at the same speed as their peers.

For guidance on preparing your child for a psycho-educational assessment, please take a look at this helpful guide.

If you feel your child may have dyslexia, one of the first steps you should consider is speaking with your child’s teacher to see if they have also identified any difficulties or patterns of struggle.

Dyslexia can only be properly and fully diagnosed by an Educational Psychologist, who can identify the extent of the problem and offer specific advice on remedial work.

Getting an assessment can help:

• Identify your child’s specific strengths and challenges

• Provide tailored strategies and support for learning

• Reduce frustration and build confidence

• Ensure your child gets the accommodations they need at school

Presenting the diagnosis of dyslexia as a positive discovery about their learning style can help counteract any negative experiences.

How do you test for Dyslexia?

When a child is assessed for dyslexia, the evaluation typically investigates three key areas of cognitive processing, along with their reading and spelling skills.

An IQ test is often included to rule out other possible difficulties, such as a general learning disability, to provide both the student and their school with a clearer understanding of the child’s learning abilities, and to meet requirements for certain Department of Education accommodations or exemptions, such as the Irish exemption.

The assessment itself takes approximately two hours, with some time at the end to chat with parents about the findings. A written report is then provided a few weeks later. This report:

• Details all scores

• Provides information about the tests used

• Presents the overall findings

• Gives detailed recommendations for both parents and the school, including:

  • Effective intervention strategies

  • Accommodations that can be applied for

A follow-up appointment is always offered after review of the report. Reports from BetterCare are accepted by the Department of Education and therefore by all Irish schools.