Are there medical or psychological tests to determine dyslexia?
Although there are no universally agreed upon criteria which would enable a physician or a psychologist to diagnose a child as dyslexic, there are valid and recognized tests which can eliminate many of the other possible causes of language learning problems. Thus only through a process of elimination can we pinpoint dyslexia as a primary factor. Essentially one looks for a bright young person whose language skills are well behind where they should be. Many educational psychologists avoid the label dyslexia, preferring instead, “language based learning disability” or “language based learning difference”.
Although there are no universally agreed upon criteria which would enable a physician or a psychologist to diagnose a child as dyslexic, there are recognized tests which can eliminate many of the other possible causes of language learning problems. Essentially one looks for a bright young person whose language skills are well behind where they should be. Many educational psychologists avoid the label dyslexia, preferring instead, “language based learning disability” or “language based learning difference”. For more information on testing, please contact The Gow School at (716) 652-3450 or admissions@gow.org. The International Dyslexia Association provides a list of Professional Providers in the United States and Canada.
