A Comprehensive Guide to Dyslexia Assessments and Support

Does My Child Need a Dyslexia Assessment?

The first step in deciding whether an assessment is appropriate is to consider the common signs of dyslexia. Here are some common signs to look for based on age/grade.

Kindergarten-5th Grade

• Have difficulty connecting letters to sounds
• Struggle to blend sounds into words
• Reads slowly compared to peers
• Frequently guess at words instead of sounding them out
• Reverse or confuse similar-looking letters (ex: b’s and d’s)
• Avoid reading activities
• Have difficulty decoding or spelling/encoding unfamiliar words
• Forget high-frequency sight words despite repeated practice
• Skip, substitute, or add words while reading aloud
• Become frustrated or anxious about homework
• Need a high level of parental support

Middle- High School

• Read significantly slower than classmates
• Need extra time to complete reading assignments
• Have poor spelling despite strong ideas
• Avoid reading aloud
• Have difficulty taking notes while listening
• Struggle to learn foreign languages
• Experience fatigue after reading
• Have strong verbal skills but difficulty expressing ideas in writing

It is also important to note that dyslexia is not a reflection of intelligence, motivation, or effort. It is a difference in how the brain processes language. Many individuals with dyslexia are intelligent, excellent problem-solvers, creative, possess strong socio-emotional skills, and have other strengths.

Learn more about Leveraging Strengths to Overcome the Challenges of Dyslexia or about how the Dyslexic Brain Works.

When Assessment Might Wait

While a formal assessment can provide valuable answers, it’s also important to remember that not every reading or learning challenge requires immediate testing. In some cases, observation, targeted support, and time may be appropriate first steps.

Some children naturally take longer to master reading, spelling, or writing skills than their peers. Children’s learning and behavior can also be influenced by significant life events. Experiences such as moving to a new home or school, family changes, illness, or the loss of a loved one can temporarily impact academic performance and developmental milestones.

Types of Dyslexia Assessments

If you suspect your child may have dyslexia or see that they are not meeting their full potential, a formal assessment can provide valuable answers and help determine the best path forward. There are several types of evaluations available, each designed for a different purpose. The two most common options are:

• A comprehensive psychoeducational evaluation
• A targeted dyslexia assessment, such as the Tests of Dyslexia (TOD)

Both can provide meaningful information, but they differ in their purpose, scope, cost, time commitment, and the types of recommendations they provide.

Option 1: Comprehensive Psychoeducational Evaluation

A comprehensive psychoeducational evaluation is conducted by a licensed psychologist and examines many aspects of a child’s overall cognitive functioning, not just literacy development and skills.

This type of evaluation typically assesses:

• Cognitive abilities (IQ)
• Academic achievement across multiple subjects
• Memory and processing speed
• Attention and executive functioning
• Language skills
• Social-emotional or behavioral functioning

These evaluations often require 8–12 hours of testing over multiple sessions, followed by extensive scoring, interpretation, and report writing. Families may be able to receive a psychoeducational evaluation through their public school district if the school suspects a disability and determines that an evaluation is warranted. When obtained privately, these evaluations can cost $7,000-15,000, depending on the provider and the scope of testing.

A psychoeducational evaluation is often recommended when families are seeking:

• Special education eligibility (IEP)
• Formal accommodations through a 504 Plan
• A broad understanding of a child’s cognitive and academic profile
• Evaluation for multiple areas of concern, such as ADHD, Autism Spectrum, anxiety, or other learning differences, in addition to dyslexia.

Option 2: Targeted Dyslexia Assessment (Tests of Dyslexia)

In comparison, a targeted literacy assessment, such as the Tests of Dyslexia (TOD), focuses specifically on identifying characteristics commonly associated with dyslexia. Rather than measuring overall intelligence or academic performance across subjects, the TOD evaluates the underlying skills that are critical for reading success, including:

• Phonological processing
• Rapid automatized naming (RAN)
• Word reading
• Decoding
• Spelling
• Other cognitive-linguistic skills related to reading

Because it is focused specifically on literacy, the assessment can typically be completed in about 2.5 hours. Compared with a comprehensive psychoeducational evaluation, a targeted dyslexia assessment is generally more affordable and requires significantly less time while still providing detailed information about a child’s reading profile. The results provide an individualized roadmap that can guide academic support and school-based interventions.

Which Assessment is Right for My Child?

While a comprehensive psychoeducational evaluation provides a broad picture of your child’s overall learning profile and is often necessary to determine eligibility for special education services or accommodations, a targeted dyslexia assessment, such as the TOD, offers an in-depth understanding of your child’s reading and language processing skills. This focused evaluation helps families determine whether dyslexia is likely and identify the evidence-based interventions that are most likely to support their child’s reading development.

Learn more about how to choose the right dyslexia assessment for my child.

Other School-Based Literacy Assessments

Most schools also administer universal reading assessments throughout the school year. Common examples include:

• STAR Reading
• DIBELS
• Acadience Reading
• i-Ready Diagnostic
• MAP Growth Reading

These assessments are valuable tools for measuring a student’s reading performance and monitoring progress over time. They help schools determine whether a student is reading at, above, or below grade-level expectations.

However, these assessments are not designed to diagnose dyslexia or explain why a student is struggling to read. For example, a reading screener may show that a student is performing below grade level, but it typically cannot determine whether the underlying difficulty is related to phonological processing, rapid naming, orthographic processing, working memory, or another aspect of reading development.

A comprehensive dyslexia assessment like the Tests of Dyslexia (TOD) goes beyond measuring reading achievement. It identifies the underlying cognitive-linguistic processes involved in learning to read, providing families with a clearer understanding of where the reading breakdown is occurring and which interventions are most likely to help.

At What Age Should Children Be Tested for Dyslexia?

Children can be screened for dyslexia as early as age 5, and assessments can be conducted throughout adolescence and adulthood. If your child is showing persistent signs of dyslexia, seeking an evaluation early can make a meaningful difference.

Early identification is important because it allows reading challenges to be recognized and addressed before they become long-term obstacles. With timely, evidence-based intervention, children have a greater opportunity to build the foundational skills needed for reading success and to avoid falling further behind their peers.

The benefits of early assessment extend beyond academics. As reading becomes increasingly central to classroom learning, children who struggle to decode words often begin to experience frustration, decreased confidence, and anxiety about school. These emotional impacts can affect motivation and self-esteem just as much as academic performance.

While children first learn to read, they soon begin reading to learn. Strong literacy skills become essential for accessing grade-level instruction in every subject. Identifying dyslexia early gives families a clearer understanding of how their child learns and allows them to pursue targeted intervention, school supports, and accommodations when appropriate.

Although earlier is generally better, it’s never too late to be evaluated. Many older students—and even adults—are not identified until years after they begin struggling. A comprehensive dyslexia assessment can provide valuable insights at any age and help guide effective intervention and support. Learn more about How to Support a Late Dyslexia Diagnosis.

Dyslexia Assessment Near Me

There are several ways to find a qualified dyslexia assessment provider. At Strategies for Learning, we offer the Tests of Dyslexia (TOD), a specialized assessment that identifies characteristics associated with dyslexia and provides targeted recommendations for intervention. If you are seeking a comprehensive psychoeducational evaluation, you have two primary options:

• Schedule a private evaluation with a licensed psychologist, typically a child or educational psychologist, at your own expense. You can check out our Recommendation guide of qualified assessment providers. 
• Request an evaluation through your child’s public school district*, where assessments are provided at no cost for students who may qualify for special education services.

*In California, public schools will only provide an assessment if the student is eligible and not simply because it was requested by a parent. Before deciding whether to evaluate, the school typically considers:

• Suspected learning disabilities 
• Classroom performance
• Grades and work samples
• Standardized test scores
• Universal reading screeners (such as DIBELS or i-Ready, if used by the district)
• Attendance
• Teacher observations
• Previous interventions (often through a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) or Response to Intervention (RTI) framework)
• Parent input

Navigating assessment services through the school can come with several obstacles. Find practical resources on navigating complex school matters here.

Dyslexia Support 

Once a student has been assessed and screened for dyslexia, the next step is providing targeted, data-informed literacy intervention. Grounded in the Science of Reading, Structured Literacy or the Orton-Gillingham Approach provides explicit, systematic, cumulative, and diagnostic instruction in the foundational components of reading, including phonological awareness, phonics, spelling, morphology, syntax, and language structure. This Orton-Gillingham approach is considered the gold standard for teaching students with dyslexia. By using assessment data to guide instruction, educators and educational therapists can address each student’s specific areas of need, helping them build stronger reading and writing skills while gaining confidence as learners. Learn more about the Science of Reading, Structured Literacy, and Orton-Gillingham.

How to Find Dyslexia Support Near You

When searching for dyslexia support, it is important to look for professionals who have specialized training in Structured Literacy/Orton-Gillingham Informed Instruction.

Look for qualifications like Educational Therapy certification, Academic Language Therapist Certification, or Orton-Gillingham Certification through the IMSE, CERI, or the IDA.

At Strategies for Learning, our team of educational therapists and reading specialists is extensively trained in Structured Literacy approaches and has experience supporting students with dyslexia, reading disabilities, ADHD, executive functioning challenges, and other learning differences. We use assessment data to create individualized intervention plans that help students build stronger literacy skills, confidence, and independence as learners. Learn more about Our Team.

Key Takeaway

Choosing the right assessment depends on your goals. A targeted dyslexia assessment, such as the Tests of Dyslexia (TOD), focuses specifically on the reading and language processing skills associated with dyslexia and provides practical guidance for evidence-based intervention.

Most importantly, an assessment is not just about receiving a diagnosis—it’s about understanding how your child learns. With early identification, appropriate support, children with dyslexia can become successful, confident readers and learners.