Dyslexia Screenings

Dyslexia Screening Test

for children and adults ages 7-70

$750

Brief Overview of Neurolearning’s Dyslexia Screening Test Design and Performance

The Test was designed by dyslexia assessment experts to determine an individual’s risk or likelihood of dyslexia.
Its nine subtests were designed to imitate an expert assessment process by measuring four basic processing features known to contribute to dyslexia risk, and two reading achievement skills whose development typically lags in dyslexia.
In testing with over 1000 individuals, when compared with the determination of dyslexia experts, the Test correctly identified as POSITIVE (HIGH or VERY HIGH risk range) over 90% of the individuals identified by the dyslexia experts in the test population (the Test’s sensitivity).
In the same testing, only 2% of individuals assessed as POSITIVE (HIGH or VERY HIGH risk range) on the Test were identified as NEGATIVE (LOW or VERY LOW risk range) by the expert diagnosticians (the Test’s positive predictive value).
The Test was also designed to incorporate features of Rasch Modeling, in that it measures both how many and which questions a person answers correctly or incorrectly. This provides a very powerful way of measuring misfit, or whether an individual’s pattern of correct and incorrect answers corresponds to the pattern a truly dyslexic individual would show, as compared for example with someone who missed questions due to inattention or to an attempt to falsely qualify as dyslexic by intentionally missing a number of questions.
More detailed descriptions of the test’s design and characteristics are available in the sections below.

Scientific Rationale in the Design of Neurolearning’s Dyslexia Screening Test
By: Brock L. Eide, MD, MA

The Dyslexia Screening Test provides users with 3 kinds of information:

the likelihood that a particular test subject will experience dyslexia-related challenges at school or work;
information about a subject’s cognitive learning and processing features, and especially those that often accompany a dyslexic processing style, which will be relevant to providing that individual with appropriate learning and instruction; and
individualized recommendations regarding instruction, accommodations, remediation, and/or need for additional assessment.

FAQs

Q: Who should take the Neurolearning Dyslexia Screening Test?

A: Students 7 or older who:
- Struggle to read, write, or spell
- Have siblings or parents with dyslexia or other learning challenges
- Read slowly or avoid reading
- Underperform their apparent ability and “can’t show what they know”
- Take longer to complete work or tests than expected
- Struggle more each year as the workload intensifies
- Received an unclear or confusing screening result at school

Adults up to age 70 who:
- Currently struggle with reading, writing, or speaking
- Underperform at work for unclear reasons
- Struggled in school but were never tested
- Have never enjoyed reading, read slowly, or struggle when reading aloud
- Have dyslexic children or grandchildren and recognize similar features in themselves

Q: What is a “screening test”?

A: Screening tests are intended to identify individuals who have not been identified with, or treated for, a particular condition. The Dyslexia Screening Test is designed to identify individuals who have not previously been diagnosed with, or treated for, dyslexia.

Q: What age do you have to be to take the test?

A: The test is available for children and adults ages 7 to 70.

Q: Are there any abilities that a person needs to take the test?

A: All testers need 4 basic abilities to receive valid results:
• The test is administered in English, so users must be fluent in spoken English at or near their age level.
• The test requires hearing good enough to listen to spoken instructions.
• The test requires vision good enough to see words and images on an iPad screen.
• The test requires arm/hand strength and coordination good enough to select answers quickly on a touch screen.

Q: After a person takes the test, what information do they receive?

A: All testers will receive a complete report which contains:
• A Total Dyslexia Score, which measures their dyslexia risk level, or likelihood of dyslexia.
• 6 Dyslexia Sub-scale Scores, which measure their performance in 4 key areas of basic processing that are main contributors to dyslexia risk, and 2 areas of reading performance.
• Detailed explanations of the meaning of the scores, and resources to help understand dyslexia.
• A detailed set of individualized recommendations to help users create an action plan for school or work.
• A resource list detailing where you can find the necessary information and tools you need to put your action plan to work.

In addition, students who score HIGH or VERY HIGH will receive an additional School Summary Report containing a brief description of their results and recommendations that can be used with schools and teachers to request supports and/or additional testing.

Q: Can my test results be used to get an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), 504 Plan and/or accommodations at school or work?

A: Although your results do not constitute an official diagnosis that will require your school or work to provide special services, the high accuracy of the test can be very effective in prompting schools and employers to voluntarily provide accommodations, services, and even additional testing.

Q: Will my results be kept private?

A: Yes. All data control fully complies with HIPAA standards and your scores and reports are available only to you.

Q: Is the design of the test based on solid scientific evidence (i.e., evidence-based)?

A: Yes. The Dyslexia Screening Test was designed by dyslexia experts in response to the latest in research on dyslexia causation and assess. Rather than focusing only on a single or narrow set of measures, the screener is designed to test the four key brain processing functions that have been shown to contribute most to dyslexia risk:
• phonemic awareness
• working memory
• naming speed
• visual attention

It also measures two acquired reading skills:
• word level reading (real word and nonsense pseudoword reading)
• passage level reading

This broad combination of test measures means that the dyslexia screener measures many of the same kinds of skills that are measured in an expert professional assessment, which greatly supports the validity of our testing process.

Q: Does the screener identify risk for any other learning patterns or challenges than dyslexia?

A: Yes. The screener also identifies children who are at risk for broader and more severe language difficulties, often referred to as Developmental Language Disorder (or sometimes Specific Language Impairment). Children with this pattern may benefit from some of the same interventions that help children with dyslexia. However, these children also typically require more in depth and specialized interventions, and they ALWAYS require thorough and detailed testing. This testing is usually provided by a Speech Language Pathologists, and schools can often help provide access to such intervention.

Q: Does the test also measure dyslexia-associated strengths?

A: The screening test itself focuses on identifying dyslexia-associated challenges. However, a separate MIND-Strengths self-assessment survey, which is focused on helping dyslexic users identify their strengths in certain kinds of dyslexia-associated strengths, is also available.

Currently the MIND-Strengths survey tests are optimized for users ages 13 and over. Unlike the Screening Test, which allows a comparison of the degree of dyslexic challenges likely to be experienced by different individuals, the MIND-Strengths surveys are best used to help individuals compare their personal strengths in several different areas, rather to compare the strengths of one individual with another.

Q: When are these tests offered and how do I sign up?

A: Screenings are held at the Wellington Branch Library. Please contact us today to schedule your appointment.

Q: What is the cost of the screening?

A: Screenings are $750 and include an emailed PDF of your comprehensive 20+ page score report and findings. You will receive your report within 1-2 days from testing. A NON-REFUNDABLE deposit of $50 is due to hold your spot and must be paid when booking your appointment. This deposit will be subtracted from your total amount due.

Brief Overview of Neurolearning’s Dyslexia Screening Test Design and Performance

​

The Test was designed by dyslexia assessment experts to determine an individual’s risk or likelihood of dyslexia.

Its nine subtests were designed to imitate an expert assessment process by measuring four basic processing features known to contribute to dyslexia risk, and two reading achievement skills whose development typically lags in dyslexia.

In testing with over 1000 individuals, when compared with the determination of dyslexia experts, the Test correctly identified as POSITIVE (HIGH or VERY HIGH risk range) over 90% of the individuals identified by the dyslexia experts in the test population (the Test’s sensitivity).

In the same testing, only 2% of individuals assessed as POSITIVE (HIGH or VERY HIGH risk range) on the Test were identified as NEGATIVE (LOW or VERY LOW risk range) by the expert diagnosticians (the Test’s positive predictive value).

More detailed descriptions of the test’s design and characteristics are available in the sections below.

Scientific Rationale ​in the Design of Neurolearning’s Dyslexia Screening Test By: ​Brock L. Eide, MD, MA

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