Children's Assessments
Federal Child Find law stipulates that any child under the age of 18 being tested for dyslexia or any other disorder be fully tested in reading, writing, and mathematics. This testing, called an FIE, covers all eight areas of testing required by the Texas Education Agency as outlined in their Dyslexia Handbook.
Some schools use a shorter test such as the Wechsler (WISC). We are committed to using the Woodcock Johnson as the gold-standard, nationally recognized test. This test is slightly longer but yields a more detailed picture of your child’s abilities and needs.
Assessment begins with cognitive testing, sometimes referred to as IQ testing. We test both short-term and long-term memory, processing speed, and whether your child is a visual or auditory learner, among other things. Most young people, whether age 5 or age 17, find many of the activities entertaining, and the testing time goes by rather quickly.
We perform the cognitive testing in the morning, and after a break for lunch on your own, we finish with achievement testing in the afternoon. It is similar to the child going to school for the day, but with frequent breaks, small prizes and incentives, and a relaxed atmosphere in our home-based office. Nine times out of ten, assessment is completed within one day. If one or two extra or cross-battery tests are needed, there is no extra charge.
Test results are typically discussed at the time of assessment, and you can expect a 9–12-page report detailing results, any diagnosis, and recommendations within one week. Please see our assessment costs and details link for more information.
Your Rights as a Parent
Some schools delay dyslexia assessment until second grade or later, despite research and state guidance supporting earlier identification.
This delay is not aligned with Texas Education Agency guidelines, the Texas Dyslexia Handbook, Child Find laws, or current educational research. First-grade students may be fully assessed, and mid-kindergarten students may be screened and identified as at-risk.
Parents have the legal right to seek a private assessment and share it with their child’s school. If you disagree with a school-provided Full Individual Evaluation (FIE), you may also request an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) at school expense.
DASA conducts IEEs that meet required documentation standards. We are happy to explain available options during your consultation.
