Identifying children at risk for dyslexia

A series of epidemiological surveys within India indicate the prevalence of dyslexia to be 10.23% among 5-8-year-old children, which increases alarmingly to 32% among 8-16 years age group. The steep increase in prevalence occurs due to the lack of early literacy skills and emphasis on rote learning within the educational curriculum. As academic struggles take precedence over extra-curricular activities, a dyslexic child’s limitations prevent him/ her from excelling in studies. The child feels isolated and distressed, resulting in low self-esteem. In some cases the child also becomes an object of ridicule by his/ her peers.

Pearson Clinical Assessment (PCA), under the brand Psychcorp, has developed a series of psychological tests known as the Raven’s Progressive Matrices and Dyslexia Screening Test (DST) for educators and mental health professionals. These tests can be administered on children to assess their level of intelligence and identify those who are at the risk for dyslexia. 

The series of Raven’s Progressive Matrices and Dyslexia Screening Tests assesses children on a series of tasks, which target to evaluate their accuracy and fluency in reading, writing, and spelling. In addition, tasks also focus on motor coordination, attention span, reasoning ability and vocabulary. These tasks appear interesting to children as they involve the identification of pictures, solving puzzles, and answering simple questions. 
    
PCA conducts workshops in Bangalore to educate general and special education teachers on how to assess children at risk for dyslexia.