What to do if I think that my child has Dyslexia?

The symptoms of dyslexia in older children and adults can include:

• poorly organised written work that lacks expression (for example, even though they may be very knowledgeable about a certain subject, they may have problems expressing that knowledge in writing)
• difficulty planning and writing essays, letters or reports
• difficulties revising for examinations
• trying to avoid reading and writing whenever possible
• difficulty taking notes or copying
• poor spelling
• struggling to remember things such as a PIN or telephone number
• struggling to meet deadlines

Associated problems

Some people with dyslexia also have other problems not directly connected to reading or writing.

These include:

• difficulties with numbers (dyscalculia)
• poor short-term memory
• problems concentrating and a short attention span, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• poor organisation and time management
• physical co-ordination problems such as developmental co-ordination disorder (dyspraxia)

There is no NHS referral route to diagnosis dyslexia.

It is recommended that the first step is to take your child to see your GP so they can check for signs of any underlying health issues, such as hearing or vision problems, that could be affecting their ability to learn.

If you continue to have concerns then school complete a dyslexia screener which shows if you child has a high, medium or low probability of Dyslexia. If it identified a high possibility then we can put strategies and resources in place to support them.

If you would like school to place your child on the Dyslexia screener waiting list, please email estreet@bottishavc.org with an overview of your concerns.

Private Assessment

This is to seek an assessment privately. This can be expensive. More information on this can be found here: https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/services/assessments/diagnostic-assessments

Once your child has been assessed, you will be given a report which will contain the results of any assessment, along with a summary of the findings and if relevant the diagnosis. There will also be recommendations which can be put in place to support your child.

Once you receive this report, it should be shared with school so that the recommendations can be put in place.