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Helpline: 
ReciteHow do I find out if I’m dyslexic? Though some people ask about ‘diagnosing’ dyslexia, we prefer to say ‘assessing’ or ‘identifying’ dyslexia. Contact the Dyslexia Scotland Helpline to speak with an adviser about how to find out if you are dyslexic.
Getting a child assessed for dyslexia
Visit our page on assessing dyslexia in children and young people.
Getting assessed for dyslexia in adulthood
This quick guide takes you through the process of dyslexia assessments for adults. If you’d like to discuss getting assessed, contact our Helpline.
Frequently asked questions about dyslexia
How can I find out if I am dyslexic?
There are some ways to check if you have characteristics of dyslexia.
Dyslexia Scotland has a list of recommended assessors who can carry out assessments for dyslexia in Scotland. Contact our Helpline to request the list.
How much does a dyslexia assessment cost?
An assessment of dyslexia by a trained professional can cost anywhere from £300+.
For adults, or young people aged 16-18 years not in education, there are no free dyslexia assessment services available in Scotland at the moment. Currently, the only available option is to pay for a private assessment.
Dyslexia Scotland holds a list of recommended assessors located in different areas of Scotland. Contact our Helpline to obtain a copy.
Assessments for adults
Dyslexia Scotland has a small fund to help adults (16+) who aren’t in education get assessed for dyslexia. If you can’t afford an assessment and meet our requirements, we might cover the cost. If you want to apply, fill out our Eligibility Form.
Are you a Scottish farmer or crofter and have never been assessed? A free assessment can be discussed with Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RSABI).
The British Dyslexia Association can now offer subsidised dyslexia assessments to the Institute of Civil Engineers (ICE) members and their dependents.
You can also search for grants through the Turn2Us grant search.
What is involved in a dyslexia assessment?
An assessment of dyslexia can last anywhere between 2 – 6 hours and can happen over a couple of sessions. It explores a person’s educational and development history. It also includes a range of standardised assessments. This process helps an assessor understand your abilities and attainment in literacy skills.
Dyslexia screening tools and checklists
There are no free routes for a dyslexia assessment but these screeners and checklists can give you an indication of whether you might be dyslexic.
Why is a dyslexia assessment better than a screening tool?
A screening tool will only suggest that you might have dyslexia.
An assessment for dyslexia can help you find out:
- Why you experience challenges in certain areas of your learning and/or work
- What your individual strengths are
- what support you might need in further and higher education
- what you might need for support in the workplace – dyslexia is considered a disability under the law, so you might be entitled to ask for reasonable adjustments
- how your manager, tutor or others can support you
- how you think and learn.
Dyslexia assessments for students in Further or Higher Education
In the first instance, we would recommend that you speak with your University or College Student services/Disability Service. The Team there should be able to give you advice about how they can support you and/or if they can help with an assessment.
