Dyslexia Diagnosis
An Educational Psychologist can diagnose Dyslexia and make recommendations for the school.
Specialist Teacher - can also diagnose Dyslexia. His services are cheaper (usually 2 times). It is believed that it gives fewer recommendations, but in practice the recommendations are almost the same.
You can find these specialists locally in your area of residence or through the British Dyslexia Association (https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/) where you have to wait for up to 8 weeks just to process your request.
If you receive government benefits or have limited funds, you can apply for help from the Hellen Arkell Dyslexia Charity (https://helenarkell.org.uk/). It is available for UK citizens only. This charitable organisation has its own specialists for examination and diagnosis: Educational Psychologist and Specialist Assessors.
Timing of diagnosis: there are not enough specialists, you will have to wait in line. The examination itself usually takes 4-5 hours. A week after the examination, the specialist provides a report with recommendations (in case of emergency specialist employment, the period may increase up to 8 weeks).
With these recommendations, you need to go to the SEN (Special Educational Needs) department, where they will help to develop an individual EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan) student assistance plan. Or, if the diagnosed person is already an adult, then these recommendations should be referred to the HR department to organize the implementation of the recommendations.
Diagnosis can only be obtained privately. The NHS does not provide this service. In rare cases, schools initiate and pay for the diagnosis.
Dyslexia can be diagnosed at the age of 8 and older.
Diagnosis of ADHD or ASD
If a person reads, but does not really understand what they read, or has problems with focusing attention, as well as problems with behaviour, then this is more likely AD(H)D (Attention Deficit Disorder with or without Hypo or Hyperactivity) or ASD ( Autism Spectrum Disorder) - in this case, you need to contact your local GP. It will refer you to a commission to specialists: doctors, psychologists and psychiatrists, since a medical solution to the issue is also possible. Diagnosis of ADD, ADHD, ASD can only be made by doctors
You can act both through the NHS public health system, and privately: through insurance or paid medicine.
When examining problems in a child, three parties are usually involved in the process: the child, the parents, and the school. Parents and the school fill out special questionnaires, an interview is also conducted with the child, but additional consultations can be held with both parents and the school.
Timing of diagnosis: when examined through the NHS it can takes from 6 months to 2 years. Privately or through an insurance company: from a month to 6 months.
Doctors and psychologists draw up an individual plan EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan) to help the student. With this plan, you also need to go to the department that helps students with special needs (SEN (Special Educational Needs) department), where they should develop measures for the implementation of this plan.
In case of dishonest implementation of an individual plan by an educational institution, you can seek the help of private lawyers (Education Law specialists) or go to court to restore justice.
The diagnosis of "Autistic Spectrum Disorder" and "ADHD" can be made from a very early age, from the moment the first symptoms appear.
Elena Nikulina
© Copyright 2023
Elena Nikulina, licensed DDAI (Davis Dyslexia Association International) specialist in the correction of dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, dyspraxia, Attention Deficit Disorder with or without Hypo / Hyperactivity, and other problems in learning according to the author's method of Ronald Davis, methodologist RDAF (Ronald Davis Autism Foundation ) to help people with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Director of Dyslexia Correction and Support Centre, London, UK. www.fixdyslexia.com
For more information on how to correct dyslexia, ADD, and other learning problems, see Ronald Davies' The Gift of Dyslexia, The Gift of Learning, and Autism and the Seeds of Change: Achieving Full Participation in Life Through Davis' Approach to Autism. — Abigail Marshall (Author), Ronald Dell Davis (Author)
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