When Identifying Dyslexia in Children is Appropriate
Dyslexia is generally identified from around 8 years of age. This is because research suggests that some children are not developmentally ready to learn to read until they are around 7 years old. By the time a child reaches 8, we can be confident that most have had at least a year of reading instruction—both at school and at home—during a period when they are ready to learn. This provides a fair basis for assessing ongoing literacy difficulties.
How Can you Tell if your Child is Dyslexic?
In some cases, a 7-year-old child may have already received specialist literacy intervention, such as regular sessions with a specialist literacy tutor using multisensory methods. If the child’s progress has been closely monitored, and despite at least six months of weekly specialist intervention, their literacy difficulties remain resistant to teaching, then—if their assessment profile aligns with dyslexia—it may be appropriate to make a diagnosis from age 7.
However, in most cases, children at this age have not yet accessed specialist literacy support. In such circumstances, the recommendation would be to engage in targeted, structured intervention for a period of time before proceeding to full assessment. Then, by the time the child is 8 years old, there is clear evidence that they have received additional, high-quality literacy teaching and support, yet continue to experience significant and persistent difficulties. This evidence strengthens the basis for a reliable diagnosis of dyslexia.
Dyslexia in Students
Student assessments are intended for individuals who are enrolled in, or preparing to begin, undergraduate or postgraduate study and who require evidence to support learning adjustments, examination access arrangements(such as extra time), or applications for Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA).
Further Reading
How can I support my child | British Dyslexia Association
Neuropsychology Assessments for Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP)