Every child learns to read at their own pace, and occasional stumbles are normal. But when several of these patterns show up consistently, especially in a child who is clearly bright and capable in other ways, a dyslexia evaluation can help you understand what's really going on.
Dyslexia lives in the specific skills that turn print into meaning, so the assessment looks closely at each one, and at how they compare to your child's overall ability. It's also designed to catch or rule out the things that can look like dyslexia or occur alongside it, from attention to language to writing.
Dyslexia evaluations here are for school-age children through young adults, including college students. Early signs can appear as young as kindergarten, and it's never too late to evaluate an older student or adult who has struggled with reading. What's right for your child is exactly what we sort out on the free intro call.
Common early signs include trouble learning letter sounds, difficulty rhyming, slow or effortful sounding-out of words, frequent guessing, avoiding reading aloud, and spelling that doesn't improve with practice. A bright child whose reading lags behind their thinking is one of the most telling patterns.
School evaluations focus on eligibility for services and often do not name dyslexia specifically. A private evaluation is typically more comprehensive, can identify dyslexia by name, and produces a detailed report that is yours to share with schools, tutors, reading specialists, and other providers.
Yes. Dyslexia is an unexpected difficulty with reading relative to a person's overall ability. Bright children often compensate with strong reasoning and memory, so their reading struggles are missed for years while they work far harder than their peers to keep up.
Yes. Dyslexia often co-occurs with ADHD, dysgraphia (writing), or language differences. The evaluation is designed to tell these apart, so you understand what is really driving your child's difficulties and what will actually help.
A comprehensive written report and a feedback session with Claire to walk through the findings and clear, practical recommendations, including the kind of structured, evidence-based reading instruction and school accommodations that make the biggest difference.
Not sure whether a dyslexia evaluation is the right step? Book a free introductory call with Claire to talk through what you're seeing and your options. Offices in Menlo Park and San Francisco, serving families across the Peninsula and Bay Area.
Prefer email? Reach Claire at hello@clarityedpsych.com.