Visit us at: 155 B Ave, Suite 200 Lake Oswego, OR 97034

Facebook Instagram Linkedin
(503) 387-6116
Facebook Instagram Linkedin
(503) 387-6116

Does My Child Have Dyslexia?

Reading struggles don't define your child. The right answers set them free. If you suspect your child or teen is having difficulty with reading, spelling, or decoding, our comprehensive evaluations are designed to provide clarity.

Contact us if you would like a thorough evaluation to help your child or teen uncover how they can thrive.

Schedule Today Book a Free Consult
Illustration of a child with butterfly wings representing growth and potential
Self-Assessment

Dyslexia Symptoms Checklist for Kids and Teens

This questionnaire is designed to help identify whether your child may be showing signs of dyslexia. It is not a clinical diagnosis. Answer all 15 questions, then review your results.

Based on criteria developed by the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities and the DSM-5.

0
out of 45 points

Ready to take the next step? Reach out to learn more about our dyslexia evaluation process and schedule an appointment.
(503) 387-6116  •  hello@thewholecc.com
Contact Us
What to Expect

Our Dyslexia Evaluation Process

Our evaluations are conducted by licensed child psychologists with specialized training from renowned children's hospitals and medical settings. From your first call to your final feedback session, every step is designed to give your family clear, actionable answers.

  1. 1
    Contact Us
    Fill out our contact form. We will reach out to answer your questions and schedule your intake, testing, and feedback appointments.
  2. 2
    Diagnostic Intake Interview
    A thorough conversation with parents and/or the teen to understand history, reading concerns, and goals for the evaluation.
  3. 3
    Evaluation and Testing Sessions
    In-depth testing appointments using standardized assessments for reading, spelling, phonological processing, and cognitive abilities.
  4. 4
    Record Review
    We review school records, prior evaluations, and relevant history to build a complete picture of your child's learning profile.
  5. 5
    Outside Collaboration
    We gather parent and teacher rating scales and coordinate with outside providers as needed to ensure nothing is missed.
  6. 6
    Comprehensive Written Report
    We produce a detailed, family-friendly written report summarizing findings, diagnosis, and evidence-based recommendations including targeted reading interventions.
  7. 7
    Feedback Session
    We meet with parents and/or the child or teen to walk through results and connect your family with the right support inside or outside our clinic.
Parent and child reviewing dyslexia evaluation results with a specialist
Why It Matters

The Difference an Accurate Diagnosis Makes

When dyslexia goes unidentified, children often spend years believing they are not smart enough. Early, accurate identification changes that story and opens the door to interventions that actually work.

Targeted Support From the Start

A correct diagnosis means your child receives interventions designed specifically for dyslexia, such as Orton-Gillingham-based reading instruction, rather than years of general strategies that may not address the root cause.

School Accommodations and Learning Plans

A thorough evaluation provides the documentation needed to access IEPs, 504 plans, extended time, classroom accommodations, and support from school-based specialists who understand how your child learns.

Confidence and Self-Understanding

Children who understand their learning difference stop blaming themselves. A clear diagnosis replaces confusion and shame with self-knowledge and a real, personalized path forward to thriving.

Frequently Asked Questions

Your Dyslexia Testing Questions, Answered

Dyslexia testing can be conducted as early as age 5 or 6, but evaluations tend to be most reliable once a child has had formal reading instruction, typically around age 7 and up. At our group practice, we work with children, teens, and college-age young adults. If you are unsure whether your child is ready for an evaluation, we encourage you to reach out so we can help determine the right timing.
Common early signs include difficulty learning letter-sound relationships, trouble sounding out unfamiliar words, slow or labored reading compared to peers, inconsistent spelling, and avoidance of reading activities. Some children may also struggle with rhyming, following multi-step directions, or recalling the correct word during conversation. If these patterns persist despite classroom support, a comprehensive dyslexia evaluation can help clarify what is going on.
Several conditions can look similar to dyslexia, including ADHD, anxiety, auditory processing difficulties, and visual processing challenges. A child who is inattentive during reading may appear to have a reading disorder when attention is actually the primary concern, or anxiety about school performance may cause avoidance that mimics dyslexia. That is why our group practice takes an integrative approach, evaluating the full range of cognitive, academic, and emotional factors rather than looking at reading skills in isolation.
A comprehensive dyslexia evaluation involves much more than a single screening tool. At Whole Child Collective, our process includes a parent intake session, in-depth testing sessions that assess reading, spelling, phonological processing, cognitive abilities, and related areas, followed by a feedback meeting where we walk your family through the results. This personalized approach ensures we understand how your child learns, not just where they struggle.
Children with mild dyslexia are often high-functioning and may go undiagnosed for years because they develop strong compensatory strategies. They might read at or near grade level but require significantly more effort than their peers, struggle with spelling more than reading, or perform inconsistently depending on the complexity of the text. These children are frequently described as bright but underperforming, and a thorough evaluation can reveal the underlying reading difference driving that gap.
The hallmark of dyslexia is a significant difficulty with accurate and fluent word reading that is not explained by a child's overall intellectual ability. In other words, the child is clearly capable and smart, yet reading, decoding, and spelling remain disproportionately hard. Our evaluations are designed to measure this discrepancy carefully and determine whether dyslexia, another learning difference, or a combination of factors is at play.
While formal dyslexia testing is most reliable after a child has begun structured reading instruction, early screenings can identify risk factors in younger children, such as difficulty with rhyming, letter recognition, or rapid naming tasks. Our group practice primarily works with children ages 7 and up, though we do accept referrals for slightly younger children on a case-by-case basis. Contact us to discuss your child's needs and we can guide you on the best path forward.
A dyslexia diagnosis is appropriate when a child's reading difficulties are persistent and cannot be explained by other factors such as limited instruction, intellectual ability, or sensory impairment. Many families seek an evaluation after noticing that their child is not responding to typical classroom reading interventions, or when a teacher flags ongoing concerns. There is no single right moment, but earlier identification generally leads to earlier access to the targeted support that makes a real difference.
Three of the most common warning signs are difficulty decoding or sounding out words, noticeably slow reading fluency compared to same-age peers, and persistent spelling errors that do not improve with practice. These signs may show up differently depending on a child's age and grade level, which is why our evaluations are tailored to each child's developmental stage and academic demands rather than relying on a single checklist.
A formal dyslexia diagnosis provides families with far more than a label. It unlocks access to targeted interventions such as specialized reading instruction and tutoring, helps schools develop appropriate learning plans and accommodations, and gives parents a clear understanding of how their child's brain processes language. At Whole Child Collective, our evaluation results include actionable recommendations specific to your child, so your family leaves with a concrete path forward rather than just a diagnosis on paper.
Whole Child Collective dyslexia testing and evaluation services in Lake Oswego and Portland, Oregon

Whole Child Collective

At Whole Child Collective, we help children and teens in the Portland and Lake Oswego areas discover their superpowers. Through expert psychological evaluations and personalized, evidence-based therapy, our collaborative team partners with families to understand the whole child, turning insight into action and challenges into strengths.

Every Child Deserves to Thrive

We look forward to the opportunity to work with your child or teen to help them realize their potential. The right answers are out there, and we are here to help your family find them.

Schedule Today Book a Free Consult

If your child is experiencing a mental health crisis or is in immediate danger, please call 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) or go to your nearest emergency room. This page describes outpatient evaluation services and is not a substitute for emergency care.

Whole Child Collective

Our Office

155 B Ave, Suite 200
Lake Oswego, OR 97034

(503) 387-6116

Get Directions →
Scroll to Top