Diagnostic Assessments for Dyslexia

Clients wishing to book a Diagnostic assessment for Dyslexia:

Please note that all diagnostic assessors are booking several months in advance due to their availability.

Our Individual Assessment Service means that we will be able to put you in contact with a BDA Approved Assessor that can organise and carry out an assessment for you. This service is for self funded assessments.

Assessors will provide a report following the assessment and this can take up to 1 month.

If the assessment is being funded by your child’s school, a local authority, a university, an organisation or your employer we will organise the assessment for you under our Corporate Assessment Service.

A Diagnostic Assessment for Dyslexia is the only way that dyslexia can be formally identified. As dyslexia is not a medical condition, a diagnostic assessment it is not covered by the NHS. There is no direct funding for diagnostic assessments in schools, colleges or anywhere else, generally assessments have to be paid for by the individual person, parent or employer. From time to time, and subject to available funding, the British Dyslexia Association is able to offer bursaries to individuals to support with the cost of accessing diagnostic assessments. Assessment Bursaries

Our assessors can offer face to face assessments and remote assessments via video platform such as Zoom. We cannot assess for any other Specific Learning Difficulties such as Dyscalculia at this time but you will find further details on our Dyscalculia page. How can you get an assessment for dyscalculia and/or maths learning difficulties?

Reports following a Diagnostic assessment are not intended to be used in a court of law. If you require the assessment for a tribunal or court case you would require an expert witness. https://portal.bps.org.uk/Psychologist-Search/Directory-of-Expert-Witnesses

We assess from age 7 years onwards to comply with the SASC guidelines (SpLD Assessment Standards Committee), this is the governing body for our specialist teacher assessors. There is quite a lot of reading and writing involved in a full diagnostic assessment and as some children learn to read later than others it would be inappropriate to put them through this lengthy process before age 7.

The assessment will provide a clearer picture of someone's cognitive profile and their strengths and weaknesses. This will help to ensure that any support put in place is as effective as possible.

Should you need support completing your application, please contact our helpline on 0333 405 4567 or email helpline@bdadyslexia.org.uk