Tell Me About Dyslexia Screening

by Carrie Westengate on September 4, 2011

in Dyslexia

Dyslexia screening is a task that is often used to see whether you could have dyslexia. A positive screen means that there is a possibility that you could have dyslexia.

Should you be searching for a dyslexia screening test suggests that you may believe you have a reading problem. However, you may wish for some sort of confirmation before you take the step of approaching a professional body for a more formal assessment.

A dyslexia screening test will require you to finish a few tasks to see what your particular problem is. These may involve rhyming tasks such as being asked to indicate what word you think rhymes with ‘cat’ from ‘fit’, ‘sat’ or ‘car’ for example. You may be asked to write down spoken words. It may also surprise you to find number tasks included to. This is because a difficulty with numbers are often found alongside reading problems.

The word ‘dyslexia’ itself, tends to be used to encompass all the different types of reading problems. Within the term dyslexia, you must realise that there is more than one type of reading problems that will be different for each individual. These problems will show in the different ways in how you read.

In general terms, it is possible you have more problems with words that do not follow the traditional spelling-to-sound rules, such as the word ‘steak’, however, you may be able to read made-up words such as ‘shulz’. In contrast, you may be OK with words such as ‘steak’, but find the made-up words more difficult. Why this discrepancy occurs is widely debated within the academic world on various grounds, as are the different theories of how we read. A basic guide to reading theories will be the subject of another article as this may help people understand the deficit better.

Dyslexia is more involved for adults as, having grown up with a reading deficit; they may have developed strategies compensate for it in other ways.

Thankfully, dyslexia screening tests can be found online and will offer you useful advice. It is important to remember that should the test indicate possible dyslexia, an individual assessment will be far more specific and useful. The professional who tests you will also be able to suggest tasks for you to practice that may help you cope better.

Taking an online dyslexia screening test is a good way to avoid feeling embarrassed before you need to! You really should not feel that way, as the professionals you deal with are well aware of how you feel and the years you have spent trying to avoid reading out loud in public, the other difficulties you have had as well as the courage it takes to try and help yourself.

Get wise, and get those questions answered that have plagued you for years.

There are very few online tests of this type, but our dyslexia screening test recommendation can be found at www.testfordyslexia.org. This particular test has been recommended by the British Dyslexia Institute.

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