Frequently Asked Questions
What is Dyslexia?
Dyslexia is a learning difference that mainly affects reading, spelling and writing. It’s linked to how the brain processes language - especially phonological processing (hearing, identifying and manipulating sounds in words), rapid retrieval (quickly recalling letter-sound patterns or words), and sometimes working memory and processing speed. Dyslexia is not a sign of low ability - many children with dyslexia are bright and creative - but they often need explicit, structured teaching to build literacy skills. Read more about Dyslexia here
What are the early signs of dyslexia?
Children develop at different rates, but common early indicators include:
- Difficulty learning letter sounds and blending (e.g., c-a-t)
- Trouble remembering common words (the, said, was)
- Slow, effortful reading; guessing words from the first letter
- Spelling that’s very inconsistent (same word spelled differently)
- Avoiding reading/writing, tiredness after literacy tasks
- Difficulty following multi-step instructions (working memory)
- Struggling to learn times tables or sequences (days/months)
- One sign alone doesn’t mean dyslexia—but a pattern over time is worth exploring.
My child is bright - can they still be dyslexic?
Yes. Dyslexia is about how someone processes written language, not intelligence. More able children sometimes compensate (especially in early years), which can hide difficulties until reading and writing demands increase—often in Key Stage 2 or later when there’s more independent reading, more writing, and subject vocabulary becomes harder. Others aren't diagnosed until much later when they are adults at university or in employment.
What is the difference between dyslexia screening and a full diagnostic assessment?
A screening is a short assessment that suggests whether a child may be at risk of dyslexic-type difficulties. It is useful for deciding next steps, but it doesn’t give a formal diagnosis.
A full specialist assessment is more detailed and looks at a range of skills (reading, spelling, phonological processing, memory, processing speed, comprehension, and writing where appropriate). It results in a comprehensive report that explains your child’s learning profile and provides specific recommendations for home and school. If the assessment suggests dyslexia, a diagnosis will be made and the report can be used to support Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) applications. Not all assessments result in a diagnosis of dyslexia but the report will still be thoroughly detailed and contain recommendations to support the learner. Read more about screening and assessments here
Does my child need a dyslexia diagnosis to get help?
No. Support should be based on your child’s needs, not a label. Many children benefit from structured literacy intervention and classroom adjustments even without a diagnosis. A diagnosis can be helpful for:
- Understanding the full picture
- Building consistent support at school
- Accessing exam arrangements (where relevant and evidence-based) and DSA
- Confidence and self-understanding
But help should never be “diagnosis-dependent”.
What causes dyslexia?
Dyslexia is widely understood as neurodevelopmental and often runs in families. It isn’t caused by poor teaching, lack of effort, or too much screen time. High-quality teaching matters hugely - but for some children, learning to read and spell still requires a different approach, delivered more explicitly and with more repetition.
Can dyslexia be 'cured'?
Dyslexia isn’t something that needs curing - it’s a learning difference. With the right teaching and support, children can make significant progress and become confident readers and writers. The aim is to build:
- Accurate and fluent reading
- More secure spelling patterns
- Strong strategies for writing and organising ideas
- Confidence and independence
Support is about equipping your child, not “fixing” them.
How is dyslexia assessed?
A specialist assessment typically includes:
- Background information and developmental history
- Review of school information
- Psychometric tests for reading accuracy/fluency, spelling, and comprehension, measures linked to dyslexia (e.g., phonological processing, rapid naming) and cognitive processing areas that often interact with literacy (e.g., working memory, processing speed)
- A detailed interpretation of results, strengths, and barriers to learning
You’ll receive a comprehensive written report with practical recommendations tailored to your child's needs.
What does an assessment look like at Essex Dyslexia?
A full dyslexia assessment at Essex Dyslexia is designed to feel warm, calm and supportive - not like a test your child can “fail.” It takes place at the assessor’s home-based assessment space (details and directions are provided when you book), which is set up to be quiet and free from distractions. The appointment usually lasts around 2.5–3 hours. This includes time to settle in, complete the assessment activities, and take regular breaks. We ask for one parent/carer to stay for the duration. This helps your child feel secure, and it also allows us to ask a few background questions and clarify any key information.
What should we bring to an assessment?
If your child wears glasses or hearing aids, these should be used in the assessment. If they have been prescibed coloured overlays or tinted glasses, these should also be brought to use during the assessment.
What happens after the assessment?
After the assessment session, the assessor will need to score all the tests administered before considering the results alongside background information. Therefore a diagnostic decision will not be shared on the day. The assessor will email you within a few days to let you know the outcome of the assessment and the full report will be emailed to the address you provide within 15 working days.
What does effective dyslexia support look like?
The most effective approach is usually structured, cumulative, explicit teaching. This means:
- Teaching sounds and spelling patterns directly;
- Practising in small steps with lots of repetition;
- Linking speaking, reading, spelling and writing together;
- Using multisensory methods (seeing, saying, hearing, doing);
- Building fluency through short, regular practice.
Support should also include classroom adjustments so your child can show what they know without literacy being a constant barrier. Find out more about one-to-one tuition here
My child says that words move around on the page - does this mean they have dyslexia?
Not necessarily. Visual difficulties (such as words appearing to move, blur or shimmer) are not symptoms of dyslexia. Dyslexia is a language-based difference, linked to how the brain processes speech sounds and maps them to letters and spelling patterns. Some dyslexics do experience these difficulties but the symptoms should be investigated by an optometrist before a dyslexia assessment takes place. Before booking an assessment, you will be asked to complete a visual difficulties questionnaire which may suggest you need to delay the assessment until an optometrist appointment has taken place.
Why should I book an assessment with Essex Dyslexia?
Choosing an assessor is a big decision - you want someone who is thorough, fair and genuinely child centred. At Essex Dyslexia, the focus is on helping your child feel understood and giving you clear, practical next steps to support their learning. Assessments are calm, encouraging and paced to suit your child; breaks are built in and the aim is always to reduce anxiety so your child can fully demonstrate what they are able to do. We use a carefully selected range of standardised psychometric tests based on the background information you provide and we consider the results of these assessments alongside information provided by home and school in order to make a fully informed decision. As a small, specialist service, Essex Dyslexia offers you a personal experience, with a highly qualified assessor who is an Associate Member of the British Dyslexia Association (AMBDA) and holds a valid Assessment Practising Certificate (APC). Dyslexia reports provided by Essex Dyslexia follow SASC guidelines and can be used as evidence when applying for DSA.