Assessments for children and teens
Dyslexia assessments for children and teens.
Monday to Friday, 9am to 4:30pm, or leave a message and we’ll call you back.
We’re away from the phones right now. Send an enquiry and we’ll get back to you by the next business morning.
- Our psychologists assess and diagnose
- A written report and a feedback session
- Reports take 4 to 6 weeks
Is this assessment for your child?
Some children work incredibly hard yet keep falling behind in reading, spelling and writing. An assessment helps you understand why, including your child’s strengths and difficulties.
What it answers
- Does dyslexia explain why reading and spelling are so hard?
- What else could be part of the picture, such as another learning difference, attention or emotional factors?
- What are your child’s strengths, and where do the difficulties sit?
- What could help at home and at school?
Who it’s for
Common signs include:
- Difficulty sounding out words
- Slow or inaccurate reading
- Guessing words from pictures or first letters
- Inconsistent spelling
- Avoiding reading, or reading aloud
- Frustration with homework
- Feeling “different” to their peers
These are differences, not failings, and no single sign means dyslexia.
What you get, and what it takes.
The number of sessions depends on your child and what we need to understand. We’ll explain the plan before you start.
What it takes
- Parent interview Including your child’s developmental history and school experience.
- School information We review reports and information from school.
- Literacy and cognitive testing Standardised tools, paced to keep your child comfortable.
What you get
Feedback session
To go through the findings and next steps.
Your report
A written report with your child’s results and recommendations, in plain language. Reports take 4–6 weeks. Your report covers:
- A clear, parent-friendly explanation of your child’s literacy profile
- Their strengths and difficulties
- Recommendations for home and school that schools can use to plan support
Follow-up
Who does it
One of our psychologists carries out your child’s assessment and writes the report.
A clinical psychologist, a registered psychologist, or a provisional psychologist working under the supervision of a Board-approved supervisor. Our Client Care team will tell you who is doing your child’s assessment, and their registration type, before you book. All our psychologists are registered with AHPRA.
Funding
What we assess, and tools we may use
- Phonological processing
- Decoding and reading fluency
- Spelling
- Working memory and broader learning skills
- Developmental history, school experience and emotional wellbeing
- Standardised literacy and cognitive testing
If the findings don’t point to dyslexia
From the start, we look at what else could explain what you’re noticing, such as another learning difference, attention or emotional factors. We do this first when we talk with you at intake, then throughout the assessment.
If the findings don’t point to dyslexia, your feedback session and report explain your child’s literacy profile and what could help next.
What the assessment does and doesn’t do
- It does look at what’s behind the difficulties you’ve noticed, and set out the findings and recommendations in the report.
- It doesn’t prescribe medication.
You can share the report with your GP or paediatrician if you choose.
See what a report looks like.
A fictional sample, so you can see what you’ll receive before you book.
Questions, answered.
Can’t see yours? Our Client Care team can help on 1300 151 110.
What are common signs of dyslexia in children?
Early signs may include difficulty sounding out words, slow or inaccurate reading, guessing based on pictures or first letters, inconsistent spelling, and frustration with homework. Some children avoid reading entirely. A dyslexia assessment helps determine whether these patterns reflect a specific learning disorder or other learning or emotional factors.
What does the assessment involve?
Assessments typically include a parent interview, review of school information, standardised literacy and cognitive testing, and a detailed written report. We then meet with you to discuss results, explain what they mean and guide you through recommended next steps. We pace sessions to keep them comfortable and engaging for your child.
Will my child get a formal diagnosis?
If your child meets criteria for a specific learning disorder (with impairment in reading and/or written expression), this will be clearly stated in the report. If not, you will still receive a clear explanation of your child’s literacy profile and practical recommendations tailored to their needs.
How do schools use this information?
Schools often use assessment reports to plan targeted reading intervention, classroom adjustments, learning support and accommodations for assessments. Schools decide what support they offer, and a clear report gives you something concrete to take to those conversations.
At what age can my child be assessed for dyslexia?
Most formal assessments occur from Year 2 onward, once children have had adequate exposure to reading instruction. However, if concerns arise earlier, especially with a strong family history of dyslexia, we can guide whether early screening or monitoring is appropriate.
Start with a phone call.
Not sure whether your child needs an assessment or therapy? We’ll help you work out the right next step.
Monday to Friday, 9am to 4:30pm, or leave a message and we’ll call you back.
We’re away from the phones right now. Send an enquiry and we’ll get back to you by the next business morning.
Locations
Gledswood HillsLevel 2, 25/13 Digitaria Drive, Gledswood Hills. We call from (02) 8319 1945.
KingswoodLevel 3, 302/13 Barber Avenue, Kingswood. We call from (02) 8528 4620.
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Unbound Minds provides general mental health information and professional psychological services. This website is not a substitute for personalised advice, diagnosis or treatment.