Qualifications And Assessment

[The Lurker]

What qualifications should a person have to be able to assess for dyspraxia and what sort of "tests" should I expect at such an assessment?

[AlleyCat]

Hi and welcome to the forum! I was assessed for dyspraxia by a psychologist. If you are assessed this way, it is very important that the psychologist is qualified, which is why I always recommend people find a psychologist by using the search facility on the British Psychological Society website:

http://www.bps.org.uk/bpslegacy/dcp

Only qualified psychologists are allowed to register with them (the qualifications they're likely to have are a degree in psychology from a recognised university, as well as often having an appropriate postgraduate qualification). The assessment I did was the WAIS (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale), which is a series of tests to assess how your brain actually processes information. As well as tests of memory and verbal and non-verbal abilities, the assessment includes tests of a person's ability to write at speed, which is particularly useful in helping the psychologist recognise people who are having co-ordination problems.

[joy]

That would depend whether you go through the NHS or pay for a private consultation ,A private consists of many tests for reflexes balance and co=ordination,hearing tests to see whether you have hearing loss and to see which is your dominant ear,lots of different eye tests to see whether you have any eye dysfunctions or any astigmatism,nystagmus,squint and all the other eye conditions to see if your eyes yolk together.Cross laterally testing to see if you have mixed dominance in doing everyday tasks.
Many tests for different reflexes one being that you are asked to crawl like a baby they watch your pattern and movement as many dyspraxics never go through the process of crawling and inhibit developing reflexes from becoming fully mature resulting of balance and co-ordination becoming affected.They usually bottom shuffle along the floor or many have just been put in those baby walkers missing out on crawling they are saying now that it is essential to let your child crawl on the floor to let them develop naturally ,although with us it wouldn't have made any difference.

[The Lurker]

Hi and welcome to the forum!

Thanks for the welcome, but I've been a member since 2007

[The Lurker]

Thanks for the replies

[AlleyCat]

Thanks for the welcome, but I've been a member since 2007

I see that now, lol! When I was typing out a response I had it in mind that you were new because I wasn't looking at your profile and I couldn't recall seeing your posts before. Out of interest, I was wondering if you were asking about being assessed for dyspraxia because you think you may have it but have never been assessed?

[Willr0490]

My original diagnosis was by an educational psychologist as well as an occupational therapist.

[The Lurker]

My original diagnosis was by an educational psychologist as well as an occupational therapist.

That's the kind of personel I would have expected. Were you a student at the time?

[susan jones]

A specialist teacher with the APC (practising certificate) can also assess dyspraxia for the education area. I had an assessment done recently by Annette Dickens (Jan 2013) and she managed to get me extra time and helped with a DSA application for university. Her website is www.dyslexia-annette-dickens.co.uk I was impressed wth her professional report and she gathered lots of evidence to support her diagnosis. She recommended lots inthe report I can do at home too.

[nickye]

Hi Susan, I can't believe that because I'm going to have an assessment with Annette next week, and have just been speaking to her on the phone yesterday! She sounds lovely.

I have not been getting very far on the NHS, so I decided I would take the plunge and go private. I'm starting to see things more positively now.

Hope you are getting on well - she sounds like a great help.

I'll keep you posted and let you know how it goes. I'm a bit nervous, but not so nervous now I've spoken to her. I'm more worried about the journey there, and whether I will get hopelessly lost - but she very kindly said there is no hurry, don't worry if I'm late!! She must know dyspraxic people well!

[susan jones]

Hi Nicky, Annette put me at ease immediately and although the tests lasted for 3 hours, she explained them all so well. Now I have got an assessment I feel much better. I had lots of things different from other people and it made me think I was weired and made me not confident. Having the assessment done has opened up my eyes that there is a name for what I have got. Have started some of the things Annette suggested - only a few minutes a week - and I feel more confident now I know what it is. I went to the doctor but got no where with him. let me know how you get on.

[nickye]

Thanks Susan. Annette sounded lovely when I spoke to her on the phone, and I felt really confident that she knew a lot about dyspraxia. I'll let you know how I get on. I'm more nervous about getting there - my sense of direction is terrible! I think hopefully my husband will be able to take me as he works not too far from where Annette is. He took me over there today to show me where it is!

Yes, I can so relate to what you say about feeling different to other people. I've always lacked confidence and it's been great to find out about dyspraxia, because I so relate to everything on this website. I was worried that i may not get the diagnosis, but I strongly suspect I am dyspaxic. Anyway, at least I will know soon.

Hope you're getting on OK.

[Willr0490]

My original diagnosis was by an educational psychologist as well as an occupational therapist.

That's the kind of personel I would have expected. Were you a student at the time?

Well yes and no. At the time of my original diagnosis (1997) I was still in primary school. The educational psychologist half of the diagnosis was carried out by the one that liased with the school I was attending at the time, and the occupational therapist worked for the children and young person's department of my local council.

My most recent re-diagnosis was when I was a student - carried out last year by a specialist working at the college I was attending at the time.

[nickye]

Finally - I have a diagnosis of dyspraxia! I feel quite tired and emotional now, so can't write too much! But I saw Annette (who Susan mentioned in her post) and she was absolutely brilliant. I only went for the tests yesterday (and although they lasted three hours I did find it was quite relaxed and I felt that Annette took a lot of tme listening to me). She's already sent me two e-mails and I'll get a full report in next 7-10 days and she will give me some suggestions how to improve things.

I felt really pleased to get the results (over the moon more like - as I dreaded I was going to be told there's nothing wrong with me and then where would that leave me!) but today I feel exhausted and quite tearful. I feel frustrated because it's so hard to explain to people about dyspraxia and it can often sound like I'm making excuses and/or I can't explain it properly.

But on the whole I think it is positive, and I'm so pleased to have been able to see Annette, who really knows what she's talking about.

Good luck to everyone else. (I actually have written quite a bit considering I said I couldn't write much - but that's me! I can write and talk for England!)

Nicky

[joy]

Glad you finally got your assement at least it will give you peace of mind for the way you are .although it doent make any difference to how you react but I believe it does make a difference psychologically..