When a child has strong thinking and verbal skills but still struggles to read fluently, spell consistently, or understand written words, dyslexia may be the reason. This common, language-based learning disorder affects how the brain processes written language. It often appears as difficulty sounding out unfamiliar words, recognizing common ones, or reading with consistent accuracy and flow.
Seeking a professional who can diagnose dyslexia is an essential first step toward getting answers and creating a clear plan for support.
Who Can Diagnose Dyslexia?
A speech-language pathologist is often the most appropriate professional to evaluate and diagnose reading disorders like dyslexia, especially when deeper language issues are suspected. SLPs are uniquely qualified to assess spoken and written language and understand how oral language skills impact reading development.
What Is the Purpose of a Dyslexia Evaluation?
A dyslexia evaluation offers more than a diagnosis—it helps identify how a child processes language and what specific support can help them succeed. Rather than asking whether a child can read, the evaluation explores how they read, why they struggle, and what targeted interventions may improve their literacy skills.
What’s Included in a Dyslexia Evaluation?
While evaluations are personalized to each child, they typically include the following components:
1. Background and Family Input
Parents can provide insight into their child’s development, academic experiences, and reading challenges. This context may help shape the evaluation and identify patterns in their past struggles.
2. Phonological Awareness
This area assesses how well a child can hear and work with sounds in words—like rhyming, blending sounds, or breaking words apart, all skills that are important for reading.
3. Decoding and Word Recognition
These tasks measure a child’s ability to read familiar and unfamiliar words, including their use of phonics and recognition of sight words. The process helps identify patterns and specific areas of difficulty.
4. Reading Fluency and Accuracy
Fluency involves how smoothly and accurately a child reads. Children with dyslexia often read slowly, hesitate, or skip words, impacting overall reading comprehension.
5. Spelling and Writing
Spelling is commonly affected by dyslexia. Evaluations may include dictation, sentence writing, or spelling assessments to better understand how a child translates sounds into written language.
6. Language Comprehension
Evaluators will also examine whether the child understands spoken or written language. If decoding is not the primary challenge, a language disorder may be contributing to reading difficulties.
Why Early Identification Matters
Children don’t outgrow reading disorders like dyslexia, but an early diagnosis gives them access to tools and strategies that build confidence and prevent academic struggles from becoming more severe.
A formal evaluation may lead to research-based instruction, such as structured literacy methods, and classroom accommodations like extended time or assistive technology. These tools can make reading more accessible while helping children strengthen essential skills.
What If My Child Is Older?
It is never too late to diagnose dyslexia. For older children and teens, a diagnosis can offer much-needed clarity and explain challenges they may have faced for years. Even if they’ve learned to compensate in their reading and writing, formal testing can identify specific areas for growth and guide a more effective approach to support.
What Happens After the Evaluation?
Once testing is complete, families receive a detailed written report with findings and individualized recommendations, which may include:
- One-on-one reading intervention
- School-based accommodations like IEPs or 504 Plans
- Home strategies for continued practice
A clear path forward empowers families to take action and helps children feel supported through their reading and language struggles.
Insightful Learning Disorder Evaluations With Educational Inspiration
At Educational Inspiration, we specialize in thorough, individualized evaluations for reading and language concerns. If you’re seeking a professional who can diagnose dyslexia, our process is designed to uncover the root of your child’s struggles and offer practical, research-backed next steps.
Led by Nicole Power, a certified speech-language pathologist and reading specialist, our assessments are designed to give families a clear, well-rounded understanding of their child’s reading development. We review the results together, explain their significance, and answer any questions.
Reach out to us today to schedule a consultation.