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Adult diagnostic assessments for dyslexia
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About the service
Dyslexia is a common condition believed to affect up to 1 in 10 people in the UK to some degree. This service is proud to provide a full multidisciplinary input to its service users with a team that consists of psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists and social workers. All members of the team are highly trained specialists in the field of neurodevelopmental conditions.
Although ADHD and autism are two of the most common neurodevelopmental conditions, there are many other conditions with a neurodevelopmental origin, such as dyslexia, for which people also require specialist assessment and intervention.
Adult diagnostic assessments for dyslexia are not currently available on the NHS; however, we are now offering them at a competitive price to people within our geographical area. This service is provided by the Trust’s adult ADHD and autism service who are highly experienced NHS professionals.
Our prices are just £350 per assessment +VAT.
Any profits generated from this paid-for service will be directly re-invested in local NHS services.
What is dyslexia?
Dyslexia is a condition in which a person has difficulties with reading and writing. Dyslexia is classified as a specific learning difficulty (SpLD) of neurodevelopmental origin. This means that it is a lifelong condition that affects a person throughout their development. Having dyslexia does not mean that someone is less intelligent or capable than anyone else but rather they have specific difficulties with processing written information.
It is often identified in the school environment although it is sometimes not detected until adulthood when a person is having difficulties in the work environment. With timely identification and the right support people with this condition can maximise their learning and performance potential.
Could you have dyslexia?
Common signs of dyslexia include:
- reading and writing very slowly
- confusing the order of letters in words
- putting letters the wrong way round
- having poor or inconsistent spelling
- difficulty processing written information
- getting confused when required to carry out a sequence of directions
- difficulties with planning and organisation
Localities covered
We would be happy to provide you with an assessment at one our Trust estates in the Kirklees, Calderdale, Wakefield, or Barnsley areas.
Contact us
If you would like more information or to book an assessment please call us on 01924 316492.
Why would someone choose the service?
Our dyslexia assessments are overseen by a Health and Care Professions Council registered practitioner psychologist specialising in the area of neurodevelopmental conditions. Our assessments use the most up-to-date and validated tools (in accordance with SpLD Assessment Standards Committee.). The assessment will last approximately 4 hours and will include an assessment of; general cognition, phonological processing, reading, writing and spelling.
Following the assessment the results are analysed and a comprehensive detailed diagnostic report will be sent to you within 15 days. This can be used either to support your Disabled Student Allowance (DSA) application, as recommendations for support and access arrangements, or to inform your work place of the need for a work place assessment.
The report we provide will be recognised by examination boards, universities and employers and follows the British Dyslexia Association criteria. Our waiting time is minimal and you will be seen by one of our friendly and experienced clinicians at your convenience. Patient choice and comfort is important to us and so you will be offered the opportunity to complete the assessment at your preferred venue including; a trust site, home, place of study or work.
Having a diagnosis will help remove barriers to your performance in the workplace or education by having reasonable adjustments. The adjustments can be in the areas of written communication, verbal communication, time and work planning.
Apart from increasing job performance a diagnosis may help by reducing stress at work or study.
Staff you may meet
- Clinical psychologists aim to reduce psychological distress and to enhance and promote psychological wellbeing. They work in a variety of health and social care settings including hospitals, health centres, community mental health teams, and social services.
- There are more than 60 different specialities that doctors work within the NHS. Each is unique but there are many characteristics which are common. Roles range from working in a hospital to being based in the community as a GP.
- Nurses who choose to specialise in the mental health branch of nursing work with GPs, psychiatrists, psychologists, and others, to help care for patients. Increasingly, care is given in the community, with mental health nurses visiting patients and their families at home, in residential centres, in prisons or in specialist clinics or units.
- Nursing or healthcare assistants work in hospital or community settings under the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional. They help doctors, nurses and therapists give people the care and treatment they need.
- Psychiatrists are qualified doctors who diagnose and treat patients with mental health conditions. Psychiatry relies upon high-quality clinical skills assessments and diagnosis with help from technology.
- Social workers help, support and protect people who are facing difficulties in their lives. They help people to take positive steps to overcome problems and improve their lives. This could involve assessing and reviewing a service user’s situation, building relationships with service users and their families and agreeing what practical support someone needs.
- Therapy is a broad term and can range from occupational therapists to behavioural therapists. Our therapists are trained in their specialist area and type of therapy to make sure we can offer the very best care.
Support offered
Disabled Student Allowance (DSA)
DSAs are grants to help pay the extra essential costs you may have as a direct result of your disability including a mental-health condition, or specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia or dyspraxia. You don’t have to pay these back. DSAs can help with the cost of having a person to support you (for the additional support you may require while studying), items of specialist equipment, travel and other study-related costs.
How do I show I am eligible?
If you have a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia, you must provide a full diagnostic report, carried out after the age of 16, by a practitioner psychologist or a suitably qualified specialist teacher holding a current Assessment Practising Certificate.
Please note that you cannot get DSA’s if you are:
- getting support equivalent to DSAs from another funding provider
- an EU student or overseas student
- getting funding from the NHS
- getting funding from a research council, or a sandwich-course student on a full-year placement. (You may still be able to get DSAs if you’re doing certain types of unpaid work experience in the public sector or voluntary sector. If you don’t qualify for DSAs during your placement year, you may be able to get help from the Access to Work Scheme. Visit www.gov.uk for more information.)
- You cannot get DSAs for more than one course at the same time.
Referral criteria:
Thank you for your interest in our adult Dyslexia Service.
If you have any questions or would like to book an assessment, please call the service on 01924 316492 and we will be happy to help you.
If you wish to proceed and book an assessment we will transfer you to our payments department who will confirm payment using a credit or debit card or invoice if you are booking on behalf of an organisation.
We will ask you to provide us with some details including:
- Name
- Address
- Date of Birth
- Preferred location of your assessment
- Where you heard about our service
When we receive confirmation of payment one of our assessors will contact you to arrange a convenient time to conduct the dyslexia assessment.
Download our service leaflet for more information.