Dyslexia screening
Identify students at risk for dyslexia and reading difficulties
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Screen students in under 40 minutes
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Identify students below the decoding threshold
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Guide intervention and MTSS decisions
What is Dyslexia?
Dyslexia is a neurobiological learning disability affecting word recognition, decoding, and spelling.
It affects 17% of K-12 students (Shaywitz, 2004), making it the most common reading disorder.
Dyslexia is not tied to intelligence – even high-achieving students may struggle with reading.
Many students develop compensatory strategies, making dyslexia harder to detect in later grades.
Dyslexia vs. general reading difficulties:
key differences
Reading challenges often emerge in later grades
Many students go undiagnosed in early grades
Early screeners focus on Grades K-2, but many struggling readers are not identified before 3rd grade.
Students may compensate by memorizing words, masking their decoding issues.
Why screening for dyslexia beyond grade 2 is crucial
Increased academic demands expose word recognition struggles.
Students with undiagnosed dyslexia often experience frustration, anxiety, and disengagement.
Late intervention can still be highly effective
Research shows structured literacy interventions help struggling readers at any age.
Identifying at-risk students early prevents long-term academic challenges.
Dyslexia screening shouldn't stop at grade 2 —ReadBasix screens students through grade 12.
Learn more in the new Research Brief!
How ReadBasix identifies dyslexia risk
ReadBasix assesses key word-level skills linked to dyslexia, including:
Word recognition & decoding
Identifies decoding deficits—a core dyslexia symptom
Vocabulary
Weak vocabulary may indicate long-term reading struggles
Morphology
Helps assess word structure processing skills
Key dyslexia risk indicators in ReadBasix results:
Decoding threshold
(Score <225) – Signals severe decoding struggles
Inefficient decoding patterns
Identifies students who struggle to decode new words
ReadBasix does not diagnose dyslexia, but provides a highly reliable risk assessment.
ReadBasix is a trusted screener
Developed by ETS researchers under the U.S. Dept. of Education's Reading for Understanding Initiative and backed by 20+ years of research.
Demonstrates strong concurrent validity with TOWRE-2, DIBELS ORF, and Minnesota, California, and Wisconsin state assessments.
Required in MN for students reading below proficiency in gr. 4–12, and approved in OH for dyslexia screening and HQSD data in gr. 4–9.
How ReadBasix ensures accurate screening
Uses real words, nonsense words, and pseudohomophones to assess decoding ability.
Tracks response time to measure reading fluency and efficiency.
Provides scalable, automated testing, reducing human error and bias in screening.
Ready to make a difference?
Book a personalized demo with our team today and discover how ReadBasix can empower your educators and students.
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