Dyslexia Assessments for Children and Adults
Understanding dyslexia
Dyslexia is a specific learning difficulty that affects reading accuracy, fluency, and spelling. It often involves challenges with phonological awareness (recognising and manipulating sounds in words), verbal short-term memory, and processing speed.
Dyslexia exists across all levels of intelligence, and its impact varies from person to person. It is a genetic, neurological difference affecting how the brain processes language. While dyslexia cannot be cured, early identification and the right support can significantly improve learning and confidence.
Signs of dyslexia may appear as early as age 4, but formal assessment is now available recommended from age 7, when reading and writing skills begin to develop. Early diagnosis is key - it ensures timely intervention, helping individuals stay on track with their peers and build essential skills.
Interestingly, while dyslexia presents challenges, many individuals show exceptional strengths in areas like creativity, problem-solving, and visual thinking. Recognising and supporting these strengths is just as important as addressing difficulties.
At D&D Focus, we provide specialist dyslexia assessments for children and adults using the latest diagnostic tools. Assessments can be completed remotely or in person. Our detailed reports identify strengths and challenges, offering clear guidance for schools, families, and workplaces.
✅ Free dyslexia screener available for children and adults.
Complete the free screener. A dyslexia specialist will contact you to explain the results.
Early years:
- Sequencing difficulties e.g., coloured beads
- Jumbled phrases e.g., ‘cobbler’s club’ for ‘toddler’s club’
- Late speech development
- Difficulty remembering known objects e.g., table, chair
- Struggles to learn rhyme e.g., cat, mat pig, big
- Confusion between directional words
- Difficulties remembering names of known objects
- Enjoys being read to but shows little interest in letters or words
- Difficulties learning and, or clapping a simple rhyme
- Coordination difficulties: hopping, skipping, catching or throwing a ball
Primary aged children:
- Difficulties with reading or spelling
- Writes letters and numbers the wrong way round e.g., b/d
- Reads a word but will not recognise it further down on the page
- Spells words several different ways in one piece of writing
- Poor concentration for reading and spelling
- Difficulties with time and tense
- Sequencing difficulties e.g., days of week and months of the year
- Confuses left and right
- Has difficulty recognising sounds in words and poor sense of rhyme
- Poor standard of written work compared to oral ability
- Leaves letters out of words or writes them in the wrong order
- Problems processing language at speed
- Areas of strength in other subjects
- Poor confidence and self-esteem
- Difficulties following instructions
- Poor organisational skills
- Handwriting difficulties
Students aged 12 years and above:
- Continues to read inaccurately
- Difficulties spelling
- Instructions need to be repeated
- Confuses places, times and dates
- Poor organisational skills
- Difficulties planning, sequencing ideas and writing essays
- Difficulties processing complex language
- Difficulties taking notes or copying from a board
- Word finding difficulties.
- Students aged 12 years and above
Adults:
- Reading and writing letters
- Completing forms
- Following spoken instructions
- Following directions and reading maps
- Organisational skills
- Remembering appointments and messages
- Recording telephone numbers accurately
- Explaining information clearly to others
- Understanding instructions or manuals
- Orientation in a different environment
- Concentration for more than one hour.