Dyslexia evaluation: who does it, what's included, and what comes next
In short
A dyslexia evaluation is a full assessment by qualified professionals, such as a school psychologist or licensed psychologist. It looks at reading, spelling, sound skills, language, thinking skills and history. Public schools evaluate for free with parent consent; private evaluations are also available.
Who can evaluate for dyslexia?
In public schools, a team does the evaluation. It often includes a school psychologist, a special education teacher, a reading specialist, and sometimes a speech-language pathologist. Outside school, families may see a licensed psychologist, a neuropsychologist or another evaluator qualified under state rules.
Teachers, tutors, screeners and apps cannot identify dyslexia. They can raise a concern, and that concern is a good reason to ask for an evaluation.
What does an evaluation include?
| Area | What is checked |
|---|---|
| History | Development, health, family history, school history |
| Phonological skills | Hearing and working with sounds in words |
| Rapid naming | How quickly the child names familiar things like letters or colors |
| Word reading | Real words and made-up words, timed and untimed |
| Reading fluency | Speed and accuracy reading passages |
| Spelling and writing | Spelling words and writing sentences |
| Comprehension | Understanding what is read and heard |
| Language and thinking | Vocabulary, oral language and general reasoning |
Evaluators also look at classroom work, teacher reports and how the child responded to reading help. Vision and hearing are checked or ruled out, and the team may ask you to fill out a questionnaire about your child's early years, health and behavior at home.
How long does it take?
Testing usually takes several hours, often split across two or more sessions so the child doesn't get too tired. After testing, the team writes a report and meets with you to go over the results. In schools, federal law sets 60 days from your consent to finish, unless your state sets a different timeline.
How do school and private evaluations differ?
| School evaluation | Private evaluation | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Often expensive; insurance may not cover it |
| Purpose | Decide if the child qualifies for special education | Identify the child's learning profile |
| Uses the word dyslexia | Varies by school and state | Usually |
| Leads to | An IEP or 504 plan if eligible | Recommendations the school must consider |
A school must consider a private evaluation you share, but it doesn't have to follow every recommendation. Many families start with the free school evaluation.
How should you prepare your child?
Keep it simple and calm. Tell your child they will do some reading, word games and puzzles with a helper who wants to learn how they learn best. Make sure they get a good night's sleep and eat breakfast.
- Parent
- Tomorrow you'll do some activities with Ms. Ray. She wants to find out how your brain learns best, so we can help reading feel easier.
- Child
- Is it a test? What if I fail?
- Parent
- You can't fail. Some parts will be easy and some will be hard. That's on purpose. Just do your best.
What happens after the evaluation?
The team meets with you to explain the results. If your child qualifies for special education, the team writes an IEP with goals, specialized instruction and supports. If your child doesn't qualify, ask what other help is available, such as a 504 plan or reading intervention.
- Ask for a copy of the report a few days before the meeting, so you can read it first.
- Write down questions about anything you don't understand.
- Ask what the results mean for teaching, not just for eligibility.
- Ask how progress will be measured and shared.
Will the report say dyslexia?
It depends. Some schools use the term specific learning disability in reading instead. Federal guidance says schools may use the word dyslexia in evaluations and IEPs. Private evaluators usually use the word when it fits. What matters most is that the report describes your child's needs clearly enough to plan the right teaching.
What do the scores in the report mean?
Most tests in an evaluation report standard scores, where 100 is exactly average and most children score between 85 and 115. Scores below 85 are below average, and scores below 70 are well below. Reports also give percentiles, which compare your child with others the same age.
| Standard score | Percentile (about) | Usual description |
|---|---|---|
| 115 and above | 84th and above | Above average |
| 85 to 114 | 16th to 83rd | Average range |
| 70 to 84 | 2nd to 15th | Below average |
| Below 70 | Below 2nd | Well below average |
Look for the pattern, not one number. A child with strong vocabulary and reasoning but low scores in sound skills and word reading shows a very different profile from a child whose scores are low across the board.