Can Dyslexia Be Ruled Out Without Testing?

[shinyhappypeople]

So, that's question #1.

 

At her educational eval they never did specific testing for dyslexia.  They did a WISC IV, WISC Achievement tests, and VMI test.  From those three tests they got the SLD Math and SLD Written Expression diagnoses. She decodes more or less on grade level (albeit slow and laboriously) but DD herself is convinced that something else is going on with her reading and she tells me that she thinks she has dyslexia.  I tend to agree with her.  There's just something hinky going on that isn't explained by her CI or other stuff.

 

Question #2:

 

Will a school district eval test for dyslexia if that's what I list that as the area I'm concerned about?  That sounds stupid.  What I mean is that are they required to do whatever the specific dyslexia tests are if I request it or can they just shrug it off and say "Meh, she can decode individual words on grade level (sort of.. slowly...) so she's fine.  No dyslexia test for her!"

 

 

Edited March 26, 2016 by shinyhappypeople

[Arcadia]

My friend requested her daughter be tested specifically for dyslexia. She can't request specific test for screening I think, I didn't read the law. Her daughter was tested within two weeks of filing a request for evaluation letter with the district office. Her results were not enough to be diagnosed as dyslexia so it becomes a keep in view case. She is in 1st grade though and my district is in the late bloomer camp for borderline cases. My district does take outside results for LD.

 

She just use the generic form on our state's website.

 

ETA:

Another friend in a different district has her daughter tested as well, but her daughter is older. The school evaluator said there wasn't any evidence of dsylexia at time of evaluation.

Edited March 26, 2016 by Arcadia

[EKS]

When a school psychologist tests a student, her goals are likely to be very different from your goals as a parent.  You are likely wanting the answer to the question "What is going on with my child's reading?" whereas the psychologist is looking for the answer to the question "Does this student qualify for special education services?"

 

The SLD in written expression diagnosis is consistent with dyslexia.  Dyslexics tend to read better than they write, so your daughter's reading apparently tested above the threshold for qualifying for services, but her writing did not.

 

If you want a real answer to the question "What is going on with my child?" you need to have her evaluated privately by someone who gets dyslexia.

 

ETA:  Upon rereading the OP, I'm not sure if the educational eval you received was through the school district or not.  If not, the answer is yes, you can ask for your child to be evaluated for dyslexia specifically but I would use an evaluator who has a professional interest in dyslexia.

Edited March 26, 2016 by EKS

[PeterPan]

If the school did your evals before, they should have done a CTOPP.  If you presented no evidence of reading disability, they probably didn't feel they needed to bother.  As the others said, I'd just go private.  A tutor, SLP, psych, anyone who has the CTOPP can get that run for you and pair it with your other info to come to a conclusion.  When you say she's slow, that could be low processing speed or dyslexia.  

 

So get the CTOPP run and see what it says.

[shinyhappypeople]

We didn't go through the school system before.  I'm only considering it this time because it would be free.

[PeterPan]

Well can you just call up the place you used before and ask them to run a CTOPP?  The ps is free, yes, but they're a PAIN IN THE BUTT.  If you request now, many districts will be so bogged down you won't get any work on it till fall.  When they start in the fall, that means they'll take till Christmas.  A CTOPP would take one hour with an SLP or someone.  That's $100.  I know it's real.  I'm just saying it would be more expedient in this case to find someone else to do it.  Even if the ps runs the CTOPP, they're still not asking the same question you are.  You're asking if it's dyslexia, and they're asking if there's so much discrepancy that they would have to provide services.  Big difference.

[Heathermomster]

Maybe google and see if you have a Scottish Rite Learning Center nearby.  If so, call them and discover if they test and how much they charge.  My son's testing was free through Scottish Rite.

[City Mouse]

It depends on your state. For example, in Texas, dyslexia is considered separate from a special education evaluatin and must be requested separately. An evaluation for special education will not necessarily include testing for dyslexia. Students with dyslexia do not have to be "bad" enough to qualify for sped services to get services for dyslexia.

 

In New Mexico, dyslexia is considered secondary to SLD. The student must first qualify for special education services as a student with a SLD before testing for dyslexia is done. If a student does not score low enough on the sped testing, the student does not get any special services for dyslexia.

 

There are still some states that still do not recognize dyslexia as a separate thing. (Though the number of states in that category is getting smaller).

[mamamoose]

It depends on the school system and the state. In our state they don't test for dyslexia, they test for "specific learning disability" and it includes reading/writing/math skills. I would go outside the school district but I had a bad experience with testing through the school, so I'm pessimistic about schools in general right now.

[Esse Quam Videri]

We got just the CTOPP privately for less than $300. Always an option as well (though free is better of course!)