What Increases Your Risk

A person is more likely to have dyslexia if his or her parent or sibling has it. Also, a person is more likely to have it if he or she had a speech or language delay as a child.

When to Call the Doctor

If your child struggles with language, reading, and sounding out words, you may want to have your child checked for dyslexia. You can also speak with your child's pediatrician, teacher, or school counselor if you believe your child's reading or other language skills are not advancing or your child seems motivated but is performing below his or her potential.

If you have dyslexia and are concerned that your child may have some of the signs of dyslexia, you may want to talk to your doctor or to school personnel because your child is at increased risk for having the condition.

Exams and Tests

A single test can't diagnose dyslexia. Rather, your doctor or a school professional (such as a reading specialist) will ask you what signs of dyslexia you and your child's teachers have seen. He or she will ask your child questions too.

Reading tests and other types of assessments may be done to help find out more about your child's skills. For example, tests may include those that focus on your child's personality traits, learning style, language and problem-solving skills, and intelligence quotient (IQ).

It takes a team to diagnose dyslexia. School professionals or learning specialists in your area will assess academic skills and abilities. Your child's doctor can assess your child's general health and cognitive development. A complete medical, behavioral, educational, and social history may be taken to rule out other conditions (such as a brain injury) that can also interfere with the ability to read or memorize words.

It must be clear that your child does not have another problem that could cause him or her to struggle with reading, such as a condition that affects cognitive development.

Dyslexia is only diagnosed when:

• There is evidence of a severe reading problem.
• The problem is not due to low intelligence, a visual or hearing deficit or other physical conditions, or a lack of educational opportunity.

To qualify for special education assistance, federal law requires that a child have tests to help check his or her language and math skills.