The state of Texas is required to screen all students in kindergarten, grades 1 and 2 to determine their reading development and comprehension.
If your child is not reading at grade level, the school will take a number of interim steps before referring the child to a “committee of knowledgeable persons” for the ultimate diagnosis. This process can take six months or more.
Before approaching your school, we recommend you read The Dyslexia Handbook published by the Texas Education Agency. You may download a PDF version of the handbook by clicking here.
If your objective is to get help for your child sooner, you should follow these steps:
- Get both vision and hearing checked professionally.
- Collect IQ and achievement test results, Texas Primary Reading Inventory results (or state-specific equivalent), academic progress and teacher reports, and samples of school work (handwriting, spelling, math, etc.).
- Locate an educational specialist or mental health professional that is knowledgeable and experienced in dyslexia and learning disorder. The specialist will perform additional tests. You can learn about Mind Games’ testing and assessment process here.
Other disorders like ADHD may mimic or co-exist with dyslexia so getting a correct assessment from someone who understands the full range of disorders is critical.