According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), dyslexia is classified as a specific learning disability. It is not the result of vision or hearing problems, neurological conditions, intellectual disabilities, or socio-cultural factors.
Table of contents:
- How a dyslexia diagnosis is made
- What is the difference between dyslexia screening and dyslexia testing?
- Who can make a dyslexia diagnosis?
- What happens after a dyslexia test?
- What are the different types of dyslexia?
- What causes dyslexia?
- Helping your child overcome dyslexia symptoms
- Next step for parents
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How a dyslexia diagnosis is made
A diagnosis of dyslexia can only be made after a comprehensive evaluation. This typically includes an intelligence test, such as the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, alongside assessments of reading ability, academic performance, and family history.
Because many different factors can affect learning, a large amount of information is needed. The evaluator will guide the child through a series of tests, not to overwhelm, but to ensure that other issues — such as vision or hearing difficulties, or intellectual impairments — are ruled out. These may affect learning, but they are not the same as dyslexia.
A full educational evaluation usually includes:
– Hearing and vision checks
These confirm that physical difficulties are not interfering with learning. Even mild vision or hearing problems can disrupt reading and writing progress.
– Developmental, social, and emotional history
The assessor will consider milestones such as crawling or walking, as well as the child’s home and school environment. Emotional regulation and social background can provide important context.
– Tests of specific skills
During the evaluation, the child works through a series of structured tasks that measure key abilities, including:
- Phonological processing is the ability to recognize and manipulate the sound structures of language, such as rhyming or breaking words into syllables. Phonemic awareness is a more specific skill within this, focusing on individual sounds (phonemes).
- Decoding is the ability to apply your knowledge of letter-sound relationships, including knowledge of letter patterns, to pronounce written words correctly — in other words, the ability to ‘sound out’ unfamiliar words.
- Reading fluency is the ability to read text accurately, quickly, and with natural expression. Fluent readers can recognize words automatically and move through sentences smoothly, which allows them to focus on meaning rather than sounding out every word.
- Reading comprehension is the ability to understand and make sense of what is read. It involves not only recognizing the words on the page but also connecting ideas in the text to background knowledge, drawing inferences, and interpreting meaning. Because they have difficulty with decoding and fluency, students with dyslexia typically score low on reading comprehension tests.
- Vocabulary knowledge is knowing the meaning of words and how to use them. A strong vocabulary makes it easier to understand what is read, since readers can connect new information to words they already know. Research suggests that vocabulary knowledge contributes 50 percent to 60 percent of the variance in reading comprehension outcomes.
- Oral language skills include speaking and listening. They provide the foundation for learning to read, and once reading develops, the relationship is reciprocal — stronger oral language supports better reading, and better reading strengthens oral language.
- Rapid naming is the ability to quickly and accurately name familiar items such as letters, numbers, colors, or objects. Strong rapid naming skills help reading become more automatic, while slow or effortful naming is often linked to reading difficulties.
- Working memory is the ability to hold and manipulate information in mind for a short period of time. It is essential for tasks like sounding out unfamiliar words, remembering the beginning of a sentence while reading to the end, and following multi-step instructions.
The clinician brings all this information together to decide whether a learning disability such as dyslexia is present. The results are then used to recommend the type and level of educational support your child may need to overcome challenges and make progress.
What is the difference between dyslexia screening and dyslexia testing?
If you are considering an assessment for your child, you have probably noticed signs of a reading problem, learning difficulty, or ongoing struggles at school. Once parents, teachers, or family members raise concerns, the next step is to investigate further.
There are two main approaches: screening and assessment.
- Screening is a quick way to identify children who may be at risk for dyslexia. It usually takes the form of a short test. While the results can be helpful, they are not conclusive. Screenings are simply not detailed enough to confirm a diagnosis.
- A formal dyslexia assessment is much more in-depth. It is a personalized process designed to give a full picture of a child’s strengths and weaknesses. This level of detail is what allows professionals to make a diagnosis and recommend the right support.
Who can make a dyslexia diagnosis?
In many countries, only certain qualified professionals are allowed to diagnose dyslexia. In the United States, there is no single national law that specifies who can make the diagnosis. However, it is widely accepted that no single test is enough. A proper diagnosis requires a battery of assessments. A medical or physiological report can be part of the process, but on its own it is not sufficient.
The professionals most often involved in diagnosing dyslexia include:
– Educational or school psychologists
These specialists focus on how children learn and process information. They are often tasked with assessing students for learning disorders in school settings.
– Neuropsychologists
A neuropsychological assessment looks in detail at a child’s cognitive functioning. The goal is to determine the nature and severity of any difficulties and whether the child’s abilities are adequate for the demands of mainstream education.
– Speech-language pathologists
Because dyslexia affects reading and language, speech-language pathologists are well placed to evaluate a child’s linguistic competence. They often work alongside other professionals as part of a team approach.
– Occupational therapists
While they are usually more involved in treatment than diagnosis, occupational therapists may contribute valuable input. They can evaluate how a child engages with the learning environment, including posture, fine motor skills, and sensory factors.
– Other
Before a dyslexia assessment begins, it is important to rule out vision or hearing problems. An optometrist can test eyesight and eye function, while an audiologist can assess hearing. These checks ensure that reading difficulties are not the result of uncorrected sensory issues.
What happens after a dyslexia test?
If your child is diagnosed with dyslexia after a comprehensive assessment, you may feel a mix of emotions. There is often relief in finally having an explanation for your child’s struggles, but also worry about what the diagnosis means for the future. The important thing to know is that dyslexia does not have to be a lifelong barrier. With the right support, children with dyslexia can make significant progress. Here are some steps you can take:
– Get an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) in place
In the United States, dyslexia is classified as a specific learning disability, which means a child may be entitled to additional school support through an IEP.
If your child does not qualify for an IEP, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (1973) provides another pathway to secure accommodations such as extra time on tests, modified assignments, or classroom support.
– Identify and nurture your child’s strengths
A diagnosis can sometimes affect a child’s self-esteem. Focusing on what your child does well — whether in art, sports, problem-solving, or creativity — helps rebuild confidence and balance the challenges of schoolwork.
– Consider online tutoring for dyslexia
Specialized tutoring can make a world of difference. Edublox offers live online tutoring for students with dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, and other learning difficulties.
What are the different types of dyslexia?
You can think of a “type” of dyslexia as showing which skills your child needs to develop, rather than as a separate diagnosis. Many children show signs of more than one type.
– Phonological dyslexia
This is one of the most common forms. It is connected to sound. Every language is made up of individual sounds called phonemes. To read, children must link these sounds to letters and symbols. Decoding happens when a child sees a written symbol and converts it into the correct sound. Children with phonological dyslexia find this process very difficult, which makes sounding out new words especially challenging.
– Surface
In surface dyslexia, the difficulty is not sound-based but more visual. A child may struggle to recognize a word by sight, even if they have seen it before. Skilled readers instantly recognize familiar words, almost like recognizing a face. Children with surface dyslexia may score poorly on sight word tests and may confuse letters that look alike, such as b and d.
What causes dyslexia?
Researchers are still investigating whether dyslexia is primarily genetic or shaped by early development. The current consensus is that both play a role, and both can be present in different individuals.
- Primary dyslexia refers to inherited dyslexia. It tends to run in families — if a parent has dyslexia, the child has a higher chance of developing it as well.
- Secondary dyslexia develops as a result of events in infancy or early childhood rather than genetics. Possible influences include complications during pregnancy, delays in developmental milestones (such as crawling), or challenging social and emotional environments that limit early language development.
Helping your child overcome dyslexia symptoms
Even if your child’s reading difficulties have a genetic basis, this does not mean dyslexia is untreatable or that they will always struggle to learn.
A key factor is neuroplasticity — the brain’s ability to form new pathways throughout life in response to training and education. When a child receives targeted reading interventions, their brain adapts and builds the networks needed for stronger reading skills.
Research now shows that with early identification and the right support, children with dyslexia can make significant progress and greatly improve their learning outcomes.
Next steps for parents
If your child has been diagnosed with dyslexia, you don’t have to navigate the journey alone. At Edublox, we specialize in helping children strengthen the underlying skills that support reading, writing, and learning. Our live online tutoring programs have helped many students with dyslexia turn their struggles into successes.
👉 Book a free consultation to discuss your child’s learning needs and explore how Edublox can provide the right support.
How Is Dyslexia Diagnosed? was authored by Sue du Plessis (B.A. Hons Psychology; B.D.), a reading specialist with 30+ years of experience in learning disabilities, and Dylan Arslanian (B.A. Hons Linguistics, Cambridge DELTA). Medically reviewed by Dr. Zelda Strydom (MBChB).
Edublox is proud to be a member of the International Dyslexia Association (IDA), a leading organization dedicated to evidence-based research and advocacy for individuals with dyslexia and related learning difficulties.
