Dyslexia Assessment and Diagnosis
A careful assessment to understand your child's difficulties — and their strengths. The start of the path to an effective intervention plan.
The diagnosis that opens the way
Assessment is the first and most important step. Without understanding what is happening — and why — it is impossible to intervene effectively. A child who struggles with reading deserves more than generic strategies: they deserve a plan made to measure.
Our assessment combines validated psychological and educational tools with careful clinical observation. The goal is not just to confirm (or rule out) dyslexia — it is to understand the child's complete learning profile, including their strengths.
Who it's for
Children, teenagers and adults with reading and writing difficulties
The three steps of the assessment
Assessing dyslexia is not about running a single test and handing out a label. It is a careful journey, in which we always follow three steps to reach a sound diagnosis:
- Understand the nature of the reading difficulty, always taking into account the child's age and school year.
- Gather evidence that the difficulty is "unexpected" — that it does not match what the child can do in other areas, where they show solid abilities.
- Identify a specific weakness in processing the sounds of speech (a phonological weakness), while the child's other language functions remain preserved.
It is this combination — a difficulty focused on reading, unexpected and phonological in nature — that sets dyslexia apart from other causes. That is why a rigorous assessment matters so much.
One team, several perspectives
The assessment does not rest with a single person. It is carried out by a multidisciplinary team, in which each professional brings their own perspective on the child:
- Psychologist — assesses cognitive skills, reading, writing and the learning profile.
- Specialist teacher — observes school performance and everyday reading and writing skills.
- Paediatrician — follows the child's development and helps to rule out difficulties that may co-occur (known as comorbidities).
To do this, we use a battery of tests that analyse reading, spelling and language. These are validated tools, applied calmly and tailored to each child.
Who we support
We welcome families from mainland Portugal and the islands, and also from other Portuguese-speaking communities — including Brazil and the Portuguese-speaking African countries (PALOP).
And, online, we support families anywhere in the world. Wherever you are, we will help you work out the next step.
How it works
First conversation
We listen to the family's story and the parents' concerns, calmly and without judgement.
Psychological assessment
Validated tools to assess reading, writing, memory and attention.
Educational assessment
Observation of school skills and performance in reading and writing tasks.
Report and plan
We deliver a full report and a feedback meeting to explain the results and the next step.
More confidence, less frustration
- Understand your child's unique learning profile.
- A clinical report to present to the school and access formal support.
- Know exactly where to begin the intervention.
- Rule out other causes and identify any co-occurring needs.
Related services
Dyslexia or Dyscalculia Intervention
An intensive re-education programme using scientifically proven methods.
Psychology Consultation
Psychological support for children, teenagers and adults, focused on emotional wellbeing.
Paediatrics Consultation
Diagnosis and treatment of developmental and behavioural difficulties in children and young people.
Assessment is where change begins
The sooner you start, the better the results. Get in touch and we'll help you work out the next step.