3. May 2026

What Should I Do to Prepare for a Dyslexia Assessment?

Once a dyslexia assessment is booked, it is natural to wonder whether there is anything you should do beforehand. The answer is yes, though the preparation involved is straightforward and manageable.

Get an Eye Test Done First

This is the single most important practical step to take before a dyslexia assessment. Visual difficulties can affect reading, and it is important that these are considered and (where necessary) addressed separately from dyslexia.

A dyslexia assessment is not the right tool for identifying visual difficulties. If an eye test has not been carried out recently, arranging one before the assessment date is a simple step that ensures the assessment findings are as accurate and meaningful as possible.

Additionally, if glasses have been prescribed, make sure your child is wearing them consistently in the weeks before the assessment — and brings them on the day.

Complete the Background Questionnaire Thoroughly

Before the assessment takes place, you will be asked to complete a background questionnaire. This covers developmental history, any previous concerns or assessments, school history, and the specific difficulties you are noticing at home or in school.

This information is genuinely valuable. It gives the assessor important context before the session begins and helps ensure that nothing significant is missed. Additionally, it means the assessment appointment itself can focus on the tasks and findings, rather than gathering background information on the day.

Take your time with the questionnaire and be as specific as possible. If you have noticed particular patterns — certain types of words your child struggles with, avoidance behaviours around reading or writing, or times of day when difficulties are more pronounced — include them.

Gather Any Existing Paperwork

It helps to gather any relevant documents before the assessment. This might include previous school reports, letters from teachers expressing concern, results of any dyslexia screeners already carried out, or any previous assessments or reports.

You do not need to bring all of this to the appointment — but having it available and summarised in your background questionnaire gives the assessor a fuller picture from the outset.

Talk to Your Child Beforehand

For parents bringing a child to assessment, a brief, calm conversation beforehand can make a real difference to how settled they feel on the day.

Let them know that the assessment involves a range of tasks that will feel different from school work. Reassure them that there are no right or wrong answers — the assessor is there to understand how they think, not to catch them out. Additionally, it can help to frame the assessment positively — as a way of finding out more about how their brain works, so that the right support can be put in place.

Avoid over-preparing or practising any specific skills beforehand. The assessment is designed to build an accurate picture of how your child performs naturally — and that picture is most useful when it reflects their everyday experience.

Make Sure Your Child Is Rested and Fed

This may sound obvious, but it is worth saying clearly. A well-rested, settled child will always engage more naturally and consistently than one who is tired or hungry. Where possible, avoid scheduling the assessment after a particularly long or demanding school day.

Additionally, if your child has any sensory sensitivities or finds new environments unsettling, it is worth mentioning this to the assessor in advance. A good assessor will take this into account and make whatever adjustments are helpful.

For Adults — Reflect on Your Own Experience

If you are being assessed as an adult, preparation looks slightly different. It is worth spending a little time reflecting on the specific areas of difficulty you want to make sure are explored — the contexts where difficulties are most noticeable, any coping strategies you have developed over the years, and any situations where those strategies have not been enough.

A good assessor will ask about all of this, but having thought it through beforehand means nothing important gets missed. Additionally, if you suspect that co-occurring difficulties such as ADHD or dyspraxia may be part of your profile, mention this at the outset. It helps the assessor approach the session with the full picture in mind.

A Final Word

Preparation does not need to be complicated. An eye test, a completed questionnaire, a calm conversation with your child, and a good night's sleep will cover most of what matters. The rest is the assessor's job — and a good one will make the process feel straightforward from the moment you arrive.

At Defining Dyslexia, I send a background questionnaire before every assessment and take time to answer any questions beforehand, so families and adults feel fully prepared. Face-to-face appointments are available across Sheffield and South Yorkshire and across Peterborough and Cambridgeshire, with remote assessments available nationwide.

If any of this sounds familiar, it's worth getting in touch. Sometimes the most important thing is simply having someone take the whole picture seriously.