Direct Learning provides dyslexia testing, professional assessment and independent advice for both children and adults. We advise parents with concerns about their children's problems with spelling, reading and learning at school, and adults with difficulties at work or college.

Introduction to the test

Our Dyslexia Test is designed to be extremely accurate, yet simple enough to be easily given by parents at home to children and young people aged 7 to 16.

It consists of reading, spelling and drawing tests, along with puzzles for memory and left/right. There is also a questionnaire asking you and your child about schooling, health, left and right, getting things in the right order, and some other areas which cause special difficulty to children with dyslexia. The test also scans for possible attention deficit and delayed learning. The reading, spelling and drawing tests will indicate how your child's achievement compares with the average for his or her age-group, and the questionnaire focuses on specific areas.

When you return the test to us, a thorough analysis will be made of all the information you have provided, and we will mail you your child’s full Assessment Report and recommendations of ways in which he or she can be helped to come up to the average level for his or her age-group. Children with learning problems such as dyslexia almost always suffer from low self-esteem, and we will suggest ways in which your child’s self-confidence can be raised, so that they can progress to a successful future in school and beyond. We will also include a certificate of achievement made out to your child for his or her drawing work.

Confidentiality and security

The entire assessment is conducted in total confidence, and your child's anonymity is safeguarded by the use of the mail service rather than the Internet. Although conducted at a distance, the whole process is designed to be as personal as possible, allowing you to add your comments on the questionnaire.

How should I start?

Begin by reading through the whole test and, if possible, discussing the different parts with a partner or friend. You may find it easier for a close relative or friend to give the tests to your child, but a lot of the questions can be easily answered by the parent/s alone. It might be best to spread the activities over a couple of days, for example a weekend, and to be sure to do the test when your child is not tired, for example not straight after a day at school.

Questionnaire and activities

A lot of the questions can be answered without your child being present, and it would be a good idea to fill those in first. When you come to the activities, try to make them a fun experience for your child, like doing puzzles together, but not helping with the answer! Maybe a little reward could be promised at the end to help your child's motivation.

We have tried to make the test instructions as clear as possible, but if you are confused over any point, please feel free to e-mail us with your question.

Medical

1. Was your child's birth unusual in any way (e.g. premature or lack of oxygen)?
YES       NO      If so in what way?

2. What was your child's weight at birth? .......................................

3. Is there anything unusual (beyond the normal childhood illnesses) in your child's medical history?
YES      NO      If so, in what way?

3. Has your child suffered any long absences from school - longer than two weeks?
YES      NO      If so, what was the reason?

4. Has your child had a recent eyesight test - say, in the last year or so?
YES      NO     

5. Are there any eyesight problems?
YES      NO      If so, please describe, and say if your child has to wear glasses, and whether this is working out satisfactorily. (E.g. Is your child actually wearing them in school, or avoiding wearing them because of embarrassment or being called names because of having to wear them?)

6. Ask your child if he or she has ever had any difficulty copying what the teacher has written on the board at school.
YES      NO PROBLEMS

7. Have you ever noticed that your child does not hear what is said to them - beyond the usual absorption in their play?
YES      NO

8. Has your child suffered from repeated ear infections, or had been to hospital to have tubes (grommets) inserted in the ear at any time?
YES      NO      If so, please give details (and at what age).

School

1. Is your child experiencing low self-esteem about school work?
YES      NO     

2. Has your child ever been reluctant or unwilling to go to school, or experienced a nervous stomach ache on a school day?
YES      NO      If so, please say when, and the reason if you found it out (e.g. on Fridays when there is a spelling test).

3. Does your child have difficulty reading aloud?
YES      NO     

4. Does your child have difficulties with spelling?
YES      NO     

5. Does your child have difficulty working with numbers?
YES      NO     

6. Does your child get confused about following two-step instructions? (e.g. Go to my bedroom and bring me the bag that's on the floor by the window.)
YES      NO     

7. Are there any concerns which have been expressed by a teacher about your child’s learning, either in school reports or on parents’ evenings?
YES      NO      If so, what were they?

8. Has your child ever said that he or she finds any part of school work hard?
YES      NO      If so, please describe (e.g. doesn't like spelling tests).

9. Is your child slow to finish his/her work in school?
YES      NO     

10. Have there been any changes of school beyond the normal (e.g. if you moved house)?
YES      NO      If so, at what ages, and how many moves?

11. Has your child ever been referred to a psychologist or similar agency?
YES      NO      If so, please give details.

12. What is your child’s attitude to reading?
DISLIKES      NORMAL      ENJOYS

13. What is your child’s attitude to writing?
DISLIKES      NORMAL      ENJOYS

14. What is your child’s attitude to spelling?
DISLIKES      NORMAL      ENJOYS

15. What is your child’s attitude to math/maths?
DISLIKES      NORMAL      ENJOYS

16. What is your child’s attitude to physical education?
ENJOYS      NORMAL      DISLIKES

17. What is your child’s attitude to art/drawing?
ENJOYS      NORMAL      DISLIKES

18. Have you noticed that your child sometimes misses out words when reading?
YES, OFTEN      YES, OCCASIONALLY      NO

Left and right

1. Is your child left-handed or right-handed?
LEFT-HANDED      RIGHT-HANDED      NOT CLEARLY LEFT- OR RIGHT-HANDED

2. Is anyone else in the (blood-related) family left-handed?
YES      NO      If so, who?

3. Say: " Show me which foot you kick a ball with."
LEFT      RIGHT

4. Give your child a rolled-up piece of paper - and ask them to look at you 'through the telescope'. Note which eye your child uses.
LEFT      RIGHT

This page is just a sample from part of the Dyslexia Test 7-16.
It is not a dyslexia test.