Now the uniforms and shiny shoes have made a reappearance, marking the start of the new academic year, it’s time for parents to focus on their child’s learning needs says a qualified dyslexia assessor.

Charlotte Bell, 31, said: “It’s important that people are assessed sooner rather than later for dyslexia, if they are showing some of the signs such as slow processing skills.”

But Miss Bell said that all too often people leave dyslexia assessments up until the exam period when there’s a mad rush and when in fact receiving an early diagnosis can be instrumental in helping someone with dyslexia.

She said: “Whether it be at university, school or even in the workplace, there is a vast range of support these days for people.”

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Miss Bell, who runs CLB Dyslexia Support which assesses and teaches people with dyslexia, said that knowing you or your child is dyslexic can be a huge benefit as the assessments can outline a person’s strengths as well as weaknesses.

She said: “Often someone with dyslexia is highly talented in certain areas but not in others. In addition, dyslexic individuals frequently exhibit high intelligence; it is just that they are slow at processing certain things and their handwriting may be illegible.

“But once they know they’re dyslexic it can help to boost their confidence as there are a plethora of coping mechanisms and strategies which they can use to help them, especially when it comes to academia and exams.”

The assessment itself involves a range of diagnostic tests which measure a person’s speed of processing, underlying ability (IQ), attainment and phonological processing.

Miss Bell said: “Dyslexia is regarded as a disability under the Equality Act 2010.

“It is vital people who think they or their child may be dyslexic have an assessment because it is often the key to unlocking their full potential.”

If your child is at school you can speak to the SENCO teacher who will be able to get in touch with Miss Bell or you can contact Miss Bell directly via her website. If you’re at University, speak to your disability team or contact Miss Bell directly. Or if you’re in the workplace you can get in touch with Access to Work team who can assign you someone to assess you and help to make reasonable adjustments should they be needed.

For more information or for an assessment or coaching, go to: https://www.clbdyslexiasupport.co.uk

Or you can call Miss Bell on: 07884 498801 or email: [email protected]

Screening, diagnostic assessment and tuition across South & West Yorkshire

CLB Dyslexia Support

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT DYSLEXIA:

 

1. The British Dyslexia Association estimate that as many as 10% of the UK population have a dyslexic profile. The majority of these cases do not receive any specialist intervention.

 

2. A dyslexic individual has no problem thinking of excellent ideas but may have difficulty expressing those ideas in written format.

 

3. Dyslexia is a common type of specific learning difficulty that mainly affects the skills involved in the reading and spelling of words and in some individuals it also impacts on numeracy.

 

4. Since dyslexia is a syndrome, it affects everyone differently. That’s why individualised support is essential.

 

5. Dyslexics often display outstanding creative thinking, verbal skills, visual-spatial skills and intuitive understanding, so thinking outside the box, giving an impromptu speech, learning to drive and reading between the lines often come more easily to them than to non-dyslexics.

 

6. In addition to learning to read and spell, dyslexia also impacts on working memory, processing speed, sequencing skills, fine motor skills and auditory and visual perception.

 

7. It’s a myth that being dyslexic makes the letters move around the page or appear distorted.

 

8. There have been many theories over the years as to the true cause of dyslexia. The most dominant theory is that dyslexia is down to a phonological deficit. This makes a lot of sense as dyslexic individuals commonly display difficulties with memorising English spelling patterns and matching the right combination of letters to the corresponding sound.

 

9. Dyslexia is more common in individuals for whom English is their native language. This is likely due to the fact that the English spelling system is so complex and inconsistent. Just consider the varying sounds that ‘ough’ makes in ‘through’, ‘cough’, ‘tough’ and ‘thought’!

 

10. Dyslexia is not linked to intelligence! Successful dyslexics include Albert Einstein, Richard Branson, Leonardo Da Vinci and Muhammad Ali.