Is the informal LD dyslexia assessment tool designed for parents so that they in turn could arrive at a decision for formal evaluation?

Laura Doto wrote me several questions regarding the Learning Difficulty/Disability Assessment Tool and Informal Comprehensive Identification Tool. I will be responding to them over the next several days.

Hi Bonnie —

Congratulations! — I have a few questions about the pre-screening tool:

Is the informal assessment tool designed for parents so that they in turn could arrive at a decision for formal evaluation?

Yes, this is for parents as well as teachers so they can understand if their kids actually have a learning problem vs. laziness or behavior issues etc. Often a parent knows there child is struggling but doesn’t know why, they just know that schoolwork is really hard for them. Some parents recognize there is a problem but don’t know what to do about it or even how to describe it.

After going through the informal assessment tool, specific learning difficulties are identified. (Parents will understand why some things are hard and some not for their child.) Parents will also understand how the problems impact classroom performance. The informal assessment tool also lets them know if they should pursue formal testing what kinds of formal testing they should have done.

There is a section in the book that lists in-depth formal testing that is helpful when trying to figure out what kind of additional testing should be done. From the results of the informal assessment tool parents and teachers will have insight into which areas of processing need to be tested more with in-depth formal testing.

For instance, if the Informal Comprehensive Identification Tool shows that your child has a lot of visual processing difficulties, you will want to have an additional test done in that specific area. If it shows that your child has a lot of auditory processing difficulties, you will want to have an additional test done in that specific area. If it shows that your child has tactile/kinestietic difficulties, you will want to have an additional test done in that specific area.

The book lists multiple tests for each area of learning difficulty, which allows the tester to choose which test they prefer or are familiar with.

1. Visual Processing Difficulties [6 assessments to choose from]
2. Visual-Motor (Neuro-Sensory Integration) Assessments & Tactile/Kinesthetic

Assessments [18 assessments to choose from]

1. Visual Memory & Learning Assessments [7 assessments to choose from]
2. Auditory Memory & Learning Assessments [11 assessments to choose from]

Bonnie Terry, M. Ed., BCET

My next post will cover:

Is the Learning Difficulty/Disability Pre-Screening Tool and Informal Comprehensive Identification Tool designed for school personnel, and if so, how would you recommend it get used as part of pursuing a more formal evaluation?