"Beyond Words" Event (30 Oct 2025) Q&A: Question 1

At our live events we usually have a Questions Box. Anyone attending the event can (anonymously) write down a question and we share all the questions and answers with everyone afterwards. This format allows people who don't want to stand up and ask a question in front of everyone to still be able to get answers to questions they may have.

Question:

What type of specialist will be best to diagnose dyslexia? It took us 4 years to get it diagnosed. Educational psychologists insisted on ADHD and medication to start immediately. Fortunately we have the right diagnosis today.

Answer:

I'm not an educational psychologist and don't operate in the world of formal diagnoses, so unfortunately I cannot answer this question directly. My programmes were developed from years of experience working with students who made certain types of mistakes. Only later did I realise that most of (if not all) the students I had been working with were dyslexic and that I actually developed a programme that successfully teaches dyslexics how to read and spell.

But ask yourself, what is your motive behind wanting "the right" diagnosis?

Is it simply to know what's going on?

Is it to qualify for concessions? For a certain period in a child/teenager's school years concessions may be valuable, especially if achieving certain marks is crucial. But I generally don't advocate for concessions - especially readers and scribes - because they ignore the problem of reading and spelling and therefore worsen the problem.

How would children who had someone read/write tests for them function in the adult world? I prefer to face the problem and teach individuals how to read and spell independently.

A dyslexia diagnosis is not necessary to start my programmes; only struggling to read and spell is.

Concerning ADHD:

When I was a conventional teacher in the 80s and 90s, children were quickly labeled with ADHD; with the solution that medication is necessary. These days ADHD diagnoses are even more common.

ADHD symptoms often co-occur with dyslexic symptoms, but often ADHD symptoms are simply a result of children with dyslexia not understanding how their brains work, being frustrated in class (because no matter how hard they try, they can't make lasting progress) and therefore being disruptive or struggling to pay attention.

I've had some students whose ADHD symptoms disappeared once they overcame their dyslexia.