What a Professional Dyslexia Evaluation Really Looks Like

Why Go Beyond the School Screener?

When a school screening flags your child as “at risk” for dyslexia, it’s a helpful first step but it doesn’t tell the whole story. Screenings are short, designed to identify risk quickly. They don’t explain why your child is struggling, which skills are strongest, or what interventions will help most.

That’s where a professional dyslexia evaluation makes all the difference. It gives parents clarity, a roadmap, and evidence-based answers tailored to their child, not a one-size-fits-all plan.

What a Professional Evaluation Covers

At NeuroChamp, our evaluations are comprehensive, neuroaffirming, and child-centered. We look at multiple areas to create a full picture of your child’s learning profile:

• Phonological Awareness: How well your child can hear and manipulate sounds in words.
• Decoding & Word Reading: Their ability to connect sounds to letters and read unfamiliar words.
• Fluency & Automaticity: How smoothly and quickly they can read connected text.
• Spelling & Writing: Their ability to represent sounds in writing and organize ideas.
• Working Memory & Processing Speed: Core skills that affect how efficiently they learn and apply reading strategies.
• Language Skills: Understanding spoken language, retrieving words, and making meaning from text.

We don’t stop with test scores. We combine these results with classroom observations, parent and teacher input, and developmental history so the evaluation reflects the whole child.

The Tools We May Use

Depending on your child’s unique needs, we are trained in a wide range of standardized, evidence-based assessments. We may use tools such as:

• KABC-II (Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children): Examines overall learning styles, problem-solving approaches, and cognitive strengths.
• CAS-2 (Cognitive Assessment System): Assesses planning, attention, and memory to understand how a child thinks and processes information.
• FAR (Feifer Assessment of Reading): Helps identify the why behind reading challenges by examining the underlying cognitive and linguistic processes.
• FAW (Feifer Assessment of Writing): Evaluates the cognitive, linguistic, and motor skills that contribute to written expression.
• FAM (Feifer Assessment of Mathematics): Measures the neurocognitive processes that underlie mathematical thinking and identifies specific types of math learning difficulties.
• TOD (Test of Dyslexia): Designed specifically to identify dyslexia profiles and related reading challenges.
• KTEA-3 (Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement): Measures academic achievement in reading, math, written language, and oral language to identify areas of strength and need.

Observations & Interviews: Real-world input from parents and teachers ensures that results reflect the child’s everyday functioning and learning environment.

Each child’s evaluation plan is unique. We choose the right mix of tools for their needs.

Why It Matters for Your Child

A professional evaluation gives families:

• Clarity- Is this truly dyslexia, or something else (e.g., attention, language, or memory challenges)?
• Direction- Which evidence-based strategies will help, and how often they should be used.
• Documentation- Essential for IEPs, 504 Plans, or requesting services in schools.
• Confidence- Peace of mind knowing your next steps are rooted in research, not guesswork.

What Parents Can Do After an Evaluation

Once you have results, here’s how to use them right away:

• Bring findings to your school team. Ask how they can integrate recommendations into your child’s IEP or reading plan.
• Support at home with structured routines. Read together, practice phonics games, and use multi-sensory tools (like sand tracing or magnetic letters).
• Build confidence daily. Celebrate effort, not perfection. Remind your child dyslexia is just one part of who they are.
• Check progress often. Ask for updates every 6–8 weeks and adjust as needed.

‍From Screening to Clarity

If your child was flagged “at risk” for dyslexia or you’ve noticed red flags yourself, you don’t have to wait months for answers.

At NeuroChamp, we provide comprehensive dyslexia evaluations that go beyond the basics, uncovering your child’s strengths and challenges and giving you a clear plan forward.

Schedule your free consultation today and take the first step toward clarity, confidence, and support for your child.

About the Author

Dawnyelle DeLongchamp, M.S., BCBA, LEP
Dawnyelle is a Licensed Educational Psychologist (LEP #4577) and Board Certified Behavior Analyst with over 25 years of experience. As the founder of NeuroChamp Educational Psychology & Speech Services, she specializes in comprehensive, neuroaffirming evaluations for learning differences, dyslexia, ADHD, autism, anxiety, and more, helping families move from uncertainty to clarity with empathy and practical insight.

‍References

1. California Department of Education (2025). Dyslexia Screening and Early Intervention Guidance.
2. International Dyslexia Association (2024). Dyslexia Basics.
3. Snowling, M. J., & Hulme, C. (2021). Interventions for dyslexia: Evidence-based approaches. Child Development Perspectives.‍
4. Shaywitz, S. (2020). Overcoming Dyslexia (2nd ed.).