Assessments

In Canada, assessment for dyslexia, learning disabilities and other diagnoses can only be completed by a registered psychologist (or school-based psychologist) and a diagnosis, if found, must be noted according to criteria met through the DSM-5 (medical criteria).

Schools have their own criteria for a designation of a learning disability, which may be different than the medical definition.  Schools do not look only for a psychologist to note a DSM code (315.00 for a reading disorder/ dyslexia) but that the child also meets that provinces’ Ministry of Education criteria for a designation.

School boards or districts have staff psychologists who are qualified to conduct the assessment.  However, waitlists in most jurisdictions range from 1 – 2 years.  Because of this, many people will look at getting an assessment done privately.

The following areas should be assessed in an educational evaluation of dyslexia:

• Phonological Awareness – an individual’s awareness of and access to the sound structure of his/her oral language

• Phonological or Language-Based Memory – ability to recall sounds, syllables, words

• Rapid Automatic Naming – speed of naming objects, colours, digits, or letters

• Receptive Vocabulary – understanding of words heard

• Phonics Skills – understanding of the symbol (letter) to the sound(s) relationship, either individually or in combination with other letters

• Decoding –ability to use symbol-sound associations to identify (read – pronounce) words

  • Real Words

  • Nonsense Words

• Oral Reading Fluency – ability to read accurately, at a story-telling pace – to facilitate / support comprehension

• Single Words

• Sentences and Paragraphs

• Spelling

• Writing

• Sentence Level

• Paragraph Level

Understood.org provides a very good explanation of what is assessed, the tests used and why they are important.

Where to go for a dyslexia assessment near you

Most provinces have a provincial registry of psychologists who offer assessments. Some associations allow for searching according to specialty, region and assessments offered. Others just list a full directory.

Regardless of what specialty might be noted for each phycologist, we encourage parents to ask many questions:  What is their experience with dyslexia? What is their understanding of Learning Disabilities? Are they members of any organizations involving Learning Disabilities/ Dyslexia? What kind of Learning Disabilities do they specialize in diagnosing, if any?  What type of report will be provided at the end and will they walk you through it?  What ages do they typically work with (age ranges, etc)?

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