Reading Testing (for DD8)

[FunFamily]

I would like to get DD8 tested for her reading skills. I do not want to do this through or with the school, but via our own independent process. If you have done this as well, please let me know the process you went through of identifying a test, a tester, and if you had confidence in the outcome.

Thank you in advance,
FunFamily

 

[janette]

Do you have a Scottish Rite hospital in your area? Some of them have educational centers that do testing. Best of all it is free, you just need to get a referral from your Dr. and they do have a long waiting period or at least here they do.

My DD is severely dyslexic but the school only tests enough to determine whether she needed services. She had been testing by the school and was found to be learning disabled but I wanted to get her into their Dyslexia program and the Scottish Rite testing included specific testing for Dyslexia.

If you can find one you want someone that can do the IQ/educational and psychological evaluations. There can be many reasons for learning differences and knowing what they are is the first step.

Some helpful websites:
http://www.allkindsofminds.org/index.aspx
http://www.dys-add.com/index.html

 

[WDWAurora]

Is there a reason you don't want to use the school? I'm just curious, since this will be my job and I'd like to know what would make people NOT want to come to me.

 

[janette]

I'm not the OP but I've used both the school and outside testing. The schools test to see if children qualify as learning disabled and do the major standardized tests. Often a child with reading problems has issues but wouldn't be considered learning disabled. The majority of kids with dyslexia are in this area, my DD is an exception to that rule. The testing Scottish Rite did specific testing for dyslexia and a more through education evaluation.

 

[rbuzzotta]

My DD's teachers mentioned they were lagging behind their peers in the area of reading and they would like to have her tested. Well, the school system takes quite a while to test so I contacted my pediatrician, explained the situation and he got me in contact with Mass General Hospital learning disablilities unit. I then set up testing through them. One DD has auditory processing problems and the other is dyslexic. The school then tested them in areas that Mass General did not (which wasn't much). But this did speed the process and they do recieve extra assistance in school.

However, the independent testing can be quite expensive. Luckily my insurance picked up some of the cost!!

Good luck to you and your family.