Reading Assessment
Do you have concerns about your child’s reading abilities—or perhaps your own? Reading is a complex skill that encompasses various components, including recognizing and sounding out letters and blends, reading words accurately and quickly, and understanding what has been read. At the Possibilities Clinic, our Reading Assessment is designed to evaluate these fundamental aspects of reading in a 90-minute testing session. This assessment aims to identify specific areas of strength and difficulty, providing valuable insights to guide effective interventions and support.
Our Reading Assessment begins with a 20-minute Intake Interview with our Director of Academic Services, Tara Doherty, who will consider your concerns, outline the assessment, and ensure it’s the right fit for you. After this initial meeting, a 90-minute testing session will take place with an examiner. When the results have been compiled, you will meet during a 30-minute Feedback session with the Director of Academic Services to review the findings and discuss the next steps. If you have chosen Psychology to be involved, a Psychologist/Psychological Associate will meet with you for a 50-minute Feedback session instead, after reviewing the findings.
You will receive a 2-page report of the assessment results after Feedback.
Our Reading Assessment examines several key areas:
- Sound-Symbol Knowledge: The ability to recognize letters and associate them with their corresponding sounds.
- Untimed Word Reading: The ability to read a list of words without time constraints, focusing on accuracy.
- Phonics Knowledge: Pronouncing nonsensical words, which indicates an understanding of phonetic rules.
- Reading Comprehension: The ability to understand and interpret the meaning of written text.
- Reading Fluency: The speed and accuracy of reading, critical for overall reading proficiency.
- Placement Testing for Intervention Programs: Identifying suitability for evidence-based Direct Instruction programs such as Reading Mastery, Corrective Reading, or REWARDS, which are designed to improve specific reading skills and offered through our Rewire 4 Reading program.
Here are some questions we are often asked about our Reading Assessment, along with our answers:
The assessment is administered by trained psychometrists and academic interventionists with experience in testing reading skills.
No, this Reading Assessment alone does not provide a formal diagnosis of a Reading Disability or Dyslexia. For a comprehensive evaluation that includes cognitive assessment and the potential for a formal diagnosis of a Learning Disability, our Signature Psychoeducational Assessment would be appropriate.
Yes, psychology involvement is available upon request. This option allows for additional professional insight and guidance, particularly if further evaluation or intervention is being considered. With this option, a Psychologist/Psychological Associate would offer feedback regarding the assessment findings, as well as suggestions for next steps. Please note, however, that a Learning Disability diagnosis cannot be made by a Psychologist/Psychological Associate based on the results of this assessment. If you wonder whether a Learning Disability is present, our Signature Psychoeducational Assessment would be required.
No, a referral is not necessary to access our Reading Assessment services.
The Reading Assessment is $295, or $595 if you request that a Psychologist/Psychological Associate review the findings and discuss them with you.
No, the Reading Assessment is not covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). However, some private insurance plans may offer coverage for assessment services. We recommend checking with your insurance provider for details.
At Possibilities we offer a complimentary 20-minute session with a member of our Next Steps Navigation Team. Members of this team are professionals from education and healthcare. During this session a member of the Navigation Team will listen to your questions, discuss your needs, and help you clarify your next steps. If you would like to book an appointment with the Navigation Team, please begin by completing our Intake Form. If you have already completed an Intake Form, please contact us at info@possibilitiesclinic.com or 1-833-482-5558 so we can assist you in booking a Navigation Team appointment.
If you would like to book a Reading Assessment, or a session with our Next Steps Navigation Team, you can get started by filling out our Intake Form. If you have already completed an Intake Form, please contact us at info@possibilitiesclinic.com or 1-833-482-5558.
