Benefits of a Dyslexia Assessment

In a world dominated by comparisons, milestones, and results, it can feel daunting when your child isn’t progressing at the same pace as their peers. However, there is often a reason behind these challenges; an estimated 10–20% of the population is dyslexic. Many remain undiagnosed, struggling in the classroom or reflecting on their education, wondering why they find things more difficult than others. This article explores the benefits of a dyslexia assessment for children facing literacy challenges.

What Are the Benefits of a Dyslexia Assessment?

For students struggling with literacy, a dyslexia assessment can be a crucial first step in understanding the barriers affecting their progress. An assessment often provides clarity, helping to explain specific difficulties and offering reassurance to the child. Knowing there is a reason behind their struggles can significantly boost self-esteem, fostering confidence and a belief in their potential.

Dyslexia is not a uniform learning difficulty. It exists on a spectrum and varies across intellectual abilities. Early signs can often go unnoticed, as difficulties may be masked or change over time with environmental factors and increasing academic demands. Dyslexic individuals often have a “spiky profile,” meaning they may excel in some areas while facing significant challenges in others.

An assessment benefits everyone involved—parents, teachers, tutors and the student—by providing a deeper understanding of the child’s learning style. The resulting report offers a detailed analysis of strengths and weaknesses, whether or not dyslexia is identified. It also includes tailored recommendations to support progress, both in an educational setting and at home.

It is important to note that a diagnostic assessment is needed for a formal diagnosis of dyslexia; it is not as simple as looking at a checklist, but persistence of a number of factors mentioned below, may suggest that it might be worth investigating further.

Literacy- based difficulties:

• No or little expression when reading
• Difficulties when blending letters together
• Hesitant to read aloud
• Misses out words when reading or adds in extra words
• Difficulties comprehending what they have read and finds it hard to summarise what they have read
• Letter and number reversal when writing
• When spelling, the letters are jumbled in the wrong order or missed out
• Confusion over letters which look similar
• Written work takes a long time and may not match their oral and spoken ability- appearing simpler when written
• Written work may be messy with lots of crossing out and many attempts at spelling the same word
• The same word spelt a number of different ways in the same piece of writing
• Difficulty with punctation and grammar

Other areas which may be affected:

• Trouble remembering times tables and the alphabet
• Poor concentration
• Uses work avoidance tactics
• Is excessively tired
• Difficulty with tying shoe laces and getting dressed
• Confuses left and right, and seems to have a poor sense of direction
• Needs to have instructions repeated and struggles if there is more than one part to the instruction
• Poor personal organisation and time keeping
• Memory difficulties
• Low self esteem
• Some days are much better than others for no apparent reason
• Difficulty with sequences- this could include days of the week, months of the year, numbers

If after reading this, you recognise a number of these difficulties, please do not panic. Identification is always best as then it can help your child access the support they need. Considering and booking in an assessment would be advisable as further investigations can then be made. Your child may be dyslexic, or there may be other reasons, but an assessment will help to identify strengths and weaknesses, along with providing recommendations of support.

About the Author:

Frankie is Bespoke’s Assessor of Dyslexia, conducting in-person assessments on students as an experienced teacher with 12 years of classroom experience and a dyslexia specialist. Frankie has a passion for supporting children and families with literacy challenges. She offers calm, welcoming assessments designed to provide a positive experience for every child. Her diagnostic reports offer actionable insights for tutors, schools, and educational establishments, highlighting areas of strength and providing strategies to address challenges. Frankie left classroom teaching to specialise in dyslexia assessments because she believes in giving every child the tools and confidence to become curious, inquisitive learners. Early identification of learning challenges is often the key to unlocking a child’s potential and boosting their self-esteem, helping them to reach for the stars.