More Than Just Reading Trouble: Why Comprehensive Dyslexia Evaluations Matter
I’ve had countless conversations with parents who are doing everything they can to help their child succeed—and still feeling like something important is being missed. Maybe a teacher has flagged concerns about reading. Maybe your child is working with a tutor or using a program that claims to support learning differences. But you’re still seeing signs of frustration, low confidence, or unexplained academic struggles. If that’s where you are, you’re not alone.
Over the years, I’ve worked with many families in the same boat—hardworking kids with bright minds who are misunderstood or misdiagnosed because the assessments they received only looked at part of the picture. That’s why I’m so passionate about comprehensive dyslexia evaluations. Not the quick screeners, not the one-size-fits-all tests—but evaluations that truly explore the depth and complexity of how your child learns and processes information.
This blog post aims to shed light on dyslexia testing, why it’s vital to understand your child's specific needs, and how a comprehensive dyslexia evaluation can help you move from frustration to clarity and progress. If you’ve been wondering whether dyslexia could be the cause of your child’s difficulties, this is the perfect place to start.
Understanding the Full Scope of Dyslexia
Dyslexia isn’t just a reading issue. It’s a language-based learning difference that affects the brain’s ability to process, organize, and retrieve language. At its core, it impacts a person’s ability to decode words by matching sounds to letters, making fluent and accurate reading more difficult. And that’s where many explanations stop. But in my work, I’ve seen time and time again that the story is much more layered.
Brain imaging studies show that children with dyslexia activate different regions of the brain while reading. While fluent readers rely on the back parts of the brain that specialize in decoding and word recognition, children with dyslexia tend to overuse frontal regions that aren’t as efficient for reading. In everyday terms, it’s like running a marathon in shoes that don’t quite fit—possible, but clunky, exhausting, and frustrating.
And it’s not just reading. Dyslexia can affect spelling, writing, verbal communication, comprehension, and more. Many children and teens I evaluate:
Struggle to find the right words when speaking
Have difficulty organizing their thoughts in writing
Understand a story while it’s being read aloud but have trouble explaining what it was about afterward
This makes sense when we look at the bigger picture. Dyslexia often co-occurs with other learning and processing challenges:
Many children with dyslexia also experience receptive or expressive language difficulties, with one study finding up to 71% of children with dyslexia having a developmental language disorder (DLD), highlighting the significant overlap between dyslexia and language impairments.
Roughly 20-50% have significant challenges with working memory, making it harder to follow directions, organize information, or recall what they’ve just read.
Research shows that many children with dyslexia also struggle with rapid automatized naming (RAN), which affects how quickly they can retrieve familiar information like letters, words, or math facts. This often shows up as “memory problems,” when in reality, it’s about the speed and coordination of information retrieval.
This is why it’s so important that we don’t reduce dyslexia to just “struggles with reading.” If we only screen for phonological awareness or decoding, we risk missing the broader constellation of challenges that are deeply affecting your child’s learning and self-confidence.
Why a Comprehensive Dyslexia Evaluation Matters
Many parents are initially given brief, surface-level screenings that focus on just one or two reading skills. While these can be helpful as a starting point, they often miss the deeper, more complex factors influencing your child’s learning. A comprehensive dyslexia evaluation goes beyond the basics to assess how different parts of the brain work together—and how those patterns impact your child in the real world.
At Webb Psychological Services, our evaluations explore:
How your child processes language, memory, attention, and information
Expressive and receptive language skills
Retrieval, organization, and working memory
Executive functioning and task management
How all of these abilities show up in classroom learning and daily life
This depth matters because kids are complex. I’ve worked with students who were labeled “poor readers” but were actually struggling with underlying language delays. Others had strong decoding skills but couldn’t retain what they read long enough to make sense of it. And some had a dyslexia diagnosis, but their challenges were more related to co-occurring ADHD or executive functioning issues.
This is why a thoughtful, full-scope evaluation isn’t just helpful—it’s essential. It gives us a clearer picture of your child’s unique strengths and needs, so we can move forward with confidence, not guesswork. From there, we can create targeted, meaningful recommendations that support real progress—not just more trial and error.
What You Can Expect With A Comprehensive Dyslexia Evaluation
When a family chooses to work with me, I take that commitment seriously. I know you’ve likely already tried a lot—talked to teachers, experimented with tutoring, read the books, and maybe even done testing that left you with more questions than answers. That’s why I’ve built a process that’s different. As a trained psychologist, I bring a high level of clinical rigor to every evaluation. But just as important is how I show up—as a compassionate partner who takes the time to see the whole child. My approach is grounded in curiosity, empathy, and a deep belief that every learner deserves to be truly understood.
This isn’t about rushing through a checklist or handing over a confusing report. It’s a thoughtful, collaborative process designed to provide you with meaningful answers, clear recommendations, and a pathway forward. Here’s what that process looks like:
Consultation Call: We start with a conversation. I want to hear your concerns, learn more about your child, and answer your questions. You’ll also get a sense of what it’s like to work with me before making any commitments.
Intake Session: In this structured session (often virtual), we explore your child’s history, strengths, challenges, and educational experiences. Your insights are invaluable, and we’ll ensure that nothing important is missed.
One-on-One, Comprehensive Evaluation: Your child will work directly with me—not an assistant—for the entire evaluation process. Over two or more sessions totaling 6+ hours, I assess key areas such as:
Reading, writing, and spelling
Phonological and language processing
Attention, memory, and executive functioning
Processing speed, reasoning, and learning style
The experience is supportive and empowering—not stressful. Many kids leave feeling proud of their effort and relieved to be understood.
Personalized Report: I create a clear, clinically rigorous report that is easy to understand. You’ll receive:
A detailed explanation of your child’s learning profile
Visuals and simple descriptions of results
Diagnoses (if appropriate) with context and compassion
Practical, personalized recommendations for home and school
Feedback Session & Next Steps: We’ll go through the report together, discuss your questions, and ensure you feel confident about the path ahead. I’ll also provide referrals, school support guidance, and recommendations for interventions and accommodations.
Ongoing Support: I’m available for follow-up consultations, to collaborate with school teams, or simply to discuss the next steps. My goal is to ensure you never feel alone in this process.
This process is intentionally designed to be both clinically robust and personally meaningful. It’s not just about identifying challenges; it’s about ensuring your child feels seen, supported, and positioned for long-term success.
Moving Forward with Confidence: Comprehensive Dyslexia Evaluation in WA & OR
If you're reading this and thinking, “This sounds like my child,” I want you to know there is a path forward. A comprehensive dyslexia evaluation goes beyond a diagnosis; it helps us understand your child’s unique learning profile, so we can create a roadmap to support both their learning and self-confidence.
Dyslexia may present challenges, but it doesn’t define your child’s potential. With the right support, tailored to their needs, your child can thrive. A thorough evaluation gives us the insights we need to pinpoint strengths and challenges, so we can implement strategies for lasting success.
If you’re ready to take the next step, Webb Pychological Services is here to help. Serving families in Washington and Oregon, we offer comprehensive dyslexia evaluations that provide the clarity and support your child deserves. Schedule a free consulation today, and let’s work together to create a plan for your child’s success.
