Dyslexia is a learning difficulty which makes it difficult for certain people to learn to read, write and spell correctly. Dyslexia can only be accurately diagnosed by an educational psychologist who can identify the severity of the problem and offer expert advice on remedial efforts. It is also worth getting your child’s hearing and sight tested to rule out any audio or visual impairments.
If you feel that your child may have dyslexia, you should meet with your child’s teacher to see if they are aware of any issues and to request that an assessment be carried out thtough the Department of Education and Science's pyschological service, the National Educational Pyschological Service (NEPS). There are a certain amount of allotted free assessments available through your child’s schools but if your child’s school has already recommended a number of children for assessment then there may be a considerable waiting period. Should you need to schedule a private assessment this will cost in the region of €400, but there may be tax relief allowable via the MED1 form. A full list of registered psychologists can be found on the Psychological Society of Ireland's website.
Upon receipt of your child’s assessment report, it is important to ensure that you fully understand the outcome of the results of the tests as the reports can contain alot of medical jargon. Your child’s school may be able to help you with this or you can speak to a member of the Dyslexia Association of Ireland. Children with dyslexia can avail of learning support either as part of an in-class basis or as a small group external to class. The school may offer additional support but this depends on what resources it has. There are four designated ‘reading schools’ for students with specific learning disabilities in Ireland. The Dyslexia Association of Ireland (DAI) runs after school workshops for students with dyslexia in many different locations acros the country and many branches also run summer schools. To find out more, see the DAI website.
If you feel that your child may have dyslexia, you should meet with your child’s teacher to see if they are aware of any issues and to request that an assessment be carried out thtough the Department of Education and Science's pyschological service, the National Educational Pyschological Service (NEPS). There are a certain amount of allotted free assessments available through your child’s schools but if your child’s school has already recommended a number of children for assessment then there may be a considerable waiting period. Should you need to schedule a private assessment this will cost in the region of €400, but there may be tax relief allowable via the MED1 form. A full list of registered psychologists can be found on the Psychological Society of Ireland's website.
Upon receipt of your child’s assessment report, it is important to ensure that you fully understand the outcome of the results of the tests as the reports can contain alot of medical jargon. Your child’s school may be able to help you with this or you can speak to a member of the Dyslexia Association of Ireland. Children with dyslexia can avail of learning support either as part of an in-class basis or as a small group external to class. The school may offer additional support but this depends on what resources it has. There are four designated ‘reading schools’ for students with specific learning disabilities in Ireland. The Dyslexia Association of Ireland (DAI) runs after school workshops for students with dyslexia in many different locations acros the country and many branches also run summer schools. To find out more, see the DAI website.
