Supportive Blogs for Dyslexic Learners

When someone asks whether they should book a dyslexia assessment or start with some coaching, the question reveals a common and understandable confusion. Both involve working with a specialist. Both aim to help. But they are doing fundamentally different things, and conflating them can mean years of well-intentioned support that never quite lands because it is built on guesswork rather than evidence. A specialist dyslexia assessment is a clinical process. It produces a diagno

Understand What Dyslexia Actually Is (and Is Not) The single most useful thing a parent can do is get the facts straight. Dyslexia is not laziness, low intelligence, or a lack of effort. It is a neurological difference that affects the way the brain processes written language, most commonly through difficulties with phonological awareness, working memory, and processing speed. What this looks like in practice: Slow, effortful reading that does not improve at the expected rate

A workplace exam is approaching. You’re about to start university. And you’ve realised that the difficulties you’ve managed for years may be dyslexia. If you need answers within a short timeframe, a fast-track adult dyslexia assessment may help you take the next step. At This is Dyslexia, I offer a limited number of fast-track appointments for adults, with diagnostic reports available within 24 or 48 hours of the assessment, subject to availability. When might a fast-track as

If you have reached adulthood and suddenly started wondering whether you might be dyslexic, you are definitely on your own. I assess adults who have spent years, sometimes decades, knowing that certain things seem to require more effort for them than for other people. They may read perfectly well but need to reread information several times. They might be successful at work but avoid writing in front of other people. They may struggle to remember verbal instructions, lose the

If you have reached adulthood and suddenly started wondering whether you might be dyslexic, you are definitely not alone. I assess adults who have spent years, sometimes decades, knowing that certain things seem to require more effort for them than for other people. They may read perfectly well but need to reread information several times. They might be successful at work but avoid writing in front of other people. They may struggle to remember verbal instructions, lose their

As a specialist dyslexia assessor, one of the most common questions parents ask me is: What age should I get my child assessed for dyslexia? After assessing hundreds of children and spending 23 years working in education, my answer is always the same: Age is only part of the picture. The more important question is this: Has your child had the opportunity to learn through good quality teaching and appropriate intervention, yet they are still finding reading, spelling or writte

It’s one of the questions I hear most often from parents. “My child reads well. They passed all their reading tests. Surely they can’t be dyslexic?” The short answer is yes they most certainly can be dyslexic. In fact, some of the children I assess are excellent readers. They achieve good grades, work incredibly hard and, from the outside, appear to be coping perfectly. Yet underneath the surface, they’re putting in far more effort than anyone realises. When good reading hide

The question comes up constantly: is a formal dyslexia assessment really worth £550? It's a fair thing to ask. That's a meaningful sum of money, and without a clear picture of what comes next, it can feel like paying for a label rather than a solution. Here's the honest answer: for most people, the assessment doesn't cost £550 in the long run. It pays for itself, often many times over, through government grants, legal protections, academic accommodations, and workplace adjust

How to Get a Dyslexia Assessment in the UK: A Guide for Children and Adults If you are reading this, you are probably not asking "what is dyslexia?" You already have a feeling. A child who is bright but struggling with reading. An adult who has spent years finding workarounds for tasks that seem effortless for everyone else. The question you are really asking is: is this significant enough to do something about? That is exactly the right question, and a diagnostic assessment

When a child struggles to read despite being clearly bright, curious, and capable, the first question parents ask is: why? The answer, it turns out, is written in the brain. Neuroscience has fundamentally changed how we understand dyslexia. What was once dismissed as laziness, a lack of effort, or a sign of low intelligence is now documented through brain imaging as a genuine neurological difference in how the reading network is wired and activated. This is not a subtle acade

I have some genuinely exciting news to share. This Is Dyslexia has been named the Most Trusted Dyslexia Assessment Company 2026 at the UK Enterprise Awards. It's the kind of recognition that stops you in your tracks. Not because awards are the reason I do this work, but because this one is specifically about trust. And trust, in this field, is everything. When a parent contacts me about their child, or when an adult reaches out after years of quietly wondering whether dyslexi

When a child struggles at school, or an adult finds themselves exhausted by tasks that seem effortless for others, the instinct is to look for a single explanation. A diagnosis. A label that makes everything click into place. But for a significant number of neurodivergent people, the picture is more layered than that. Dyslexia, ADHD, and dyscalculia are three of the most common neurodevelopmental conditions in the UK. They are often treated as separate concerns, assessed in i

Why traditional careers advice often gets this wrong. For years, people with dyslexia and ADHD were told to focus on their weaknesses. Be more organised. Try harder. Pay more attention. Work on your spelling. Sit still. Fit the system. After 23 years in education, and working as a dyslexia assessor and coach, I’ve realised something important: Many neurodivergent individuals are not failing because they are incapable. They are struggling because they are in environments that

Quick tip: If you notice several of the signs below, a specialist assessment can give you clarity, a formal diagnosis, and a roadmap for support. Why symptoms matter Dyslexia is a specific learning difference that mainly affects reading, writing and spelling. It does not reflect intelligence. Spotting the early signs helps families, teachers and employers intervene before the challenges become entrenched. Common symptoms across ages Symptom What it looks like Typical age wher

If you've typed "where can I get a dyslexia assessment in Kent" into a search engine recently, you're probably not just curious. You're worried. Maybe your child is struggling at school and nobody has a clear answer. Maybe you're an adult who has spent years wondering why certain things feel harder than they should. Either way, you need practical information, not another list that leaves you more confused than when you started. This guide gives you exactly that: who provides

Getting a dyslexia assessment is one of the most clarifying decisions a family or adult can make. Yet for most people, the path to that decision is tangled with uncertainty: Where do I even start? Who is qualified to assess? What will actually happen on the day? And how do I know if the report I receive will be worth anything? This guide answers all of those questions in plain terms. It covers how to compare providers, how to prepare yourself or your child, and what to expect

Dyslexia assessments around the world Getting a dyslexia assessment for your child is a big decision at any time. When you live outside the UK, it can feel even more daunting. How do you know the assessment will be recognised? Will the process actually work remotely? And will someone on the other side of a screen truly understand what your child is going through? These are the questions families contact This Is Dyslexia with every week, from Dubai, Singapore, Australia, Canad

Online dyslexia assessment Deciding to pursue a dyslexia assessment is a significant step. Once that decision is made, a second question quickly follows: should it happen online or face-to-face, and which provider is actually the right fit? The answer is not the same for everyone. A university student needing a report for Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) has different requirements from a parent booking for a nine-year-old, or an adult seeking clarity about lifelong struggle

Dyslexia support for South East England. Dyslexia affects an estimated one in ten people in the UK. Yet according to the British Dyslexia Association's 2026 report Lost in the System, fewer than 2% of local authorities can say how many dyslexic children live in their area. Around 900,000 children in English schools are thought to have dyslexia, roughly three in every classroom, and the majority will leave without ever receiving a formal diagnosis. The national picture is one

When you need answers quickly and what to do next If you’re searching for a last minute dyslexia assessment, it’s rarely a casual decision. Something has reached a tipping point. An exam is approaching. A deadline has appeared. Support is needed now. Or you’ve realised you can’t keep waiting. Whatever has brought you here, there is a way forward. And in the right circumstances, you can get clarity far sooner than you might expect. Written by Laura Gowers, APC-qualified Dyslex