{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,14]],"date-time":"2026-08-14T16:42:06Z","timestamp":1786725726106,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":86,"publisher":"Wiley","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2018,3,25]],"date-time":"2018-03-25T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1521936000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/termsAndConditions#vor"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Dyslexia"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2018,5]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>Research findings and positions concerning the nature of the dyslexia construct are currently diverse and increasingly complex. The ability of assessor practitioners to operationalize such knowledge and categorically diagnose dyslexia in any reliable and consistent way is being questioned. This study aimed to explore the way in which diverse and complex research findings are operationalized in the dyslexia diagnostic assessment of UK higher education students. The perspectives of 118 professional assessors of dyslexia working within the sector were collected using a questionnaire and some interviews. Data were analysed both quantitatively and qualitatively, as appropriate, and then integrated. The results confirmed critics' concerns about the consistency and reliability of the construct as currently diagnosed within the higher education context. Key controversial aspects of practice that emerged included the contextualized interpretation of literacy difficulties, a general commitment to discrepancy concepts, scepticism about the face validity of prescribed psychometric tests, and a related reliance on professional observation and experience above test results. The findings pointed to the need for a more informed nuanced understanding of the dyslexia label and a more cautious and responsible attitude towards its use.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1002\/dys.1582","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2018,3,26]],"date-time":"2018-03-26T03:49:36Z","timestamp":1522036176000},"page":"109-127","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":18,"title":["What's in a name? Perspectives of dyslexia assessors working with students in the UK higher education sector"],"prefix":"10.1002","volume":"24","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9349-991X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Denise","family":"Ryder","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Graduate School of Education University of Exeter  Exeter UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Brahm","family":"Norwich","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Graduate School of Education University of Exeter  Exeter UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"311","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2018,3,25]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_2_7_2_1","first-page":"13","article-title":"Literacy assessment in the 16\u201325 age range","volume":"162","author":"Arnold C.","year":"2017","journal-title":"DECP Debate"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_3_1","volume-title":"G is for genes","author":"Asbury A.","year":"2014"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_4_1","unstructured":"Bishop D.(2012 July).Specific language impairment and developmental dyslexia: Syndromes memes and illusions. Paper presented at 2012 British Psychological Society Annual Conference. Retrieved frompodcasts.ox.ac.uk SSL+specific\u2010language\u2010impairment\u2010and\u2010developmental\u2010dyslexia\u2010syndromes\u2010memes\u2010and\u2010illusions"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_5_1","unstructured":"BishopBlog(2014 March 20).My thoughts on the dyslexia debate. [Blog post]. Retrieved fromhttp:\/\/deevybee.blogspot.co.uk"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_6_1","unstructured":"British Dyslexia Association (BDA)(2016).Definitions. Retrieved from:http:\/\/www.bdadyslexia.org.uk\/dyslexic\/definitions"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_7_1","volume-title":"Dyslexia, literacy and psychological assessment: Report by a working party of the division of educational and child psychology of the British Psychological Society","author":"British Psychological Society","year":"1999"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_8_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ridd.2016.01.006"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_9_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/dys.181"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_10_1","unstructured":"Cooper R.(2004).An idea that spells inequality. The times higher education supplement. 17 September p.17. Retrieved 16 July 2011 fromww.timeshighereducation.co.uk"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_11_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/9780470742259.ch4"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_12_1","volume-title":"Assessment of dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia and attention deficit disorder (ADD) in higher education","author":"Department for Education and Science (DfES)","year":"2005"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_13_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neuron.2004.10.019"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_14_1","volume-title":"The Routledge companion to dyslexia","author":"Elbeheri G.","year":"2009"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_15_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1017\/CBO9781139017824"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_16_1","unstructured":"Emerson Dickman J. D.(2017).Do we need a new definition of dyslexia?[online]. Retrieved March 12 fromhttps:\/\/dyslexiaida.org\/do\u2010we\u2010need\u2010a\u2010new\u2010definition\u2010of\u2010dyslexia\/"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_17_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1348\/000709900158001"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_18_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/158037042000225245"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_19_1","volume-title":"Dyslexia and inclusion: Assessment and support in higher education","author":"Farmer M.","year":"2002"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_20_1","volume-title":"Dyslexia and stress","author":"Fawcett A. J.","year":"2004"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_21_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/(SICI)1099-0909(199912)5:4<192::AID-DYS144>3.0.CO;2-N"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_22_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1108\/S0735-004X(2010)0000023013"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_23_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.4324\/9780203857960","volume-title":"That's the way I think: Dyslexia, dyspraxia and ADHD explained","author":"Grant D.","year":"2010"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_24_1","unstructured":"Grove J.(2014 March 6).Dyslexic label being applied too widely. Expert argues. Times Higher Education Supplement. Retrieved fromhttps:\/\/www.timeshighereducation.com\/news\/dyslexic\u2010label\u2010being\u2010applied\u2010too\u2010widely\u2010expert\u2010argues\/2011802.article"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_25_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tine.2016.10.001"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_26_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/1467-9817.00017"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_27_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/0829573512437021"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_28_1","unstructured":"Higher Education Funding Council for England(2015).Support for higher education students with specific learning difficulties. York Consultancy and University of Leeds. Retrieved fromhttp:\/\/www.hefce.ac.uk"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_29_1","unstructured":"Higher Education Statistical Agency (HESA)(2017).Free online DATA table 2000\/2001\u20132015\/2016. Retrieved from:https:\/\/www.hesa.ac.uk\/data\u2010and\u2010analysis\/students"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_30_1","volume-title":"Developmental disorders of language learning and cognition","author":"Hulme C.","year":"2009"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_31_1","unstructured":"Jones A. &Greenwold L.(2010).Diagnostic assessment reports\u2014Patoss guidelines on best practice. InPATOSS Bulletin 2010. Retrieved fromwww.patoss-dyslexia.org\/assets\/Documents\/PatossAssessmentGuidanceArticle.pdf?1344185010"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_32_1","volume-title":"Dyslexia assessing and reporting: The PATOSS guide","author":"Jones A.","year":"2013"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_33_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/dys.1495"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_34_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/9781118323373"},{"issue":"1","key":"e_1_2_7_35_1","first-page":"37","article-title":"Can there be a single definition of dyslexia?","volume":"1","author":"Miles E.","year":"1995","journal-title":"Dyslexia: An International Journal of Research and Practice"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_36_1","volume-title":"Dyslexia: The pattern of difficulties","author":"Miles T. R.","year":"1993"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_37_1","volume-title":"Fifty years in dyslexia research","author":"Miles T. R.","year":"2006"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_38_1","volume-title":"Dyslexia a hundred years on","author":"Miles T. R.","year":"1999"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_39_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s11881-003-0016-2"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_40_1","volume-title":"The dyslexic adult in a non\u2010dyslexic world","author":"Morgan E.","year":"2000"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_41_1","volume-title":"Manual of developmental psychopathology","author":"Morton J.","year":"1995"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_42_1","volume-title":"Dyslexia: Developing the debate","author":"Nicolson R. I.","year":"2016"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_43_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.7551\/mitpress\/9780262140997.001.0001"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_44_1","volume-title":"The Routledge companion to dyslexia","author":"Norwich B.","year":"2009"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_45_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1146\/annurev.psych.60.110707.163548"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_46_1","volume-title":"Support for learning differences in higher education","author":"Price G.","year":"2007"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_47_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/00222194030360050701"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_48_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/1467-9817.00021"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_49_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/brain\/awg076"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_50_1","volume-title":"The dyslexic brain: New pathways in neuroscience discovery","author":"Ramus F.","year":"2006"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_51_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/brain\/awu295"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_52_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/17470210701508822"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_53_1","volume-title":"Developmental dyslexia in adults: A research review","author":"Rice M.","year":"2004"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_54_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/19620210600804301"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_55_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s10734-006-9014-8"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_56_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/0829573512437171"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_57_1","volume-title":"Identifying and teaching children and young people with dyslexia and literacy difficulties: An independent report","author":"Rose J.","year":"2009"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_58_1","first-page":"1","article-title":"When diagnosis is uncertain: Variation in conclusions after psychological assessment of a six\u2010year\u2010old child","volume":"1","author":"Russell G.","year":"2012","journal-title":"Early Child Development and Care"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_59_1","unstructured":"Ryder D. T.(2016).Dyslexia assessment practice within the UK higher education sector: Assessor lecturer and student perspectives. (Doctoral dissertation). Available fromhttps:\/\/vpnsecure.exeter.ac.uk\/repository\/handle\/10871\/ DanaInfo=ore.exeter.ac.uk SSL+21908"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_60_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0006-3223(02)01836-X"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_61_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/002221949202501001"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_62_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/002221949903200405"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_63_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/dys.305"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_64_1","volume-title":"Dyslexia in higher education: Policy, provision and practice; Report of the national working party on dyslexia in higher education","author":"Singleton","year":"1999"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_65_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1467-9817.2008.01386.x"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_66_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/09541440340000024"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_67_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ridd.2016.12.011"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_68_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/17470210701508830"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_69_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1469-7610.2011.02495.x"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_70_1","first-page":"39","volume-title":"Understanding difficulties in literacy development: Issues and concepts","author":"Soler J.","year":"2009"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_71_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/0022219409338746"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_72_1","unstructured":"SpLD Assessment Standards Committee(2015).Guidance for diagnostic assessment reports proforma\u2014October 2015. Retrieved fromhttp:\/\/www.sasc.org.uk"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_73_1","unstructured":"SpLD Assessments Standards Committee(2015a).A Guide for consistency across issuing bodies who evaluate Assessment Practising Certificates renewal applications. Retrieved from:http:\/\/www.sasc.org.uk\/SASCDocuments\/SASC\u2010Structure\u2010for\u2010review\u2010of\u2010APC\u2010Revised%20October%202015.pdf"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_74_1","unstructured":"SpLD Test Evaluation Committee(2016).Suitable tests for the assessment of specific learning difficulties in higher education(Revised March 2016). Retrieved frohttp:\/\/www.sasc.org.uk\/SASCDocuments\/REVISED%20guidelines\u2010March%202016%20a.pdfmSpLD Assessment Standards Committee (2015)"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_75_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2307\/747729"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_76_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/002221949903200408"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_77_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2307\/1593604"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_78_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3102\/00028312039002469"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_79_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3102\/0034654309350931"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_80_1","unstructured":"Tanaka H. &Hoeft F.(May 2017).Time to revisit reading discrepancies in twice exceptional students.The Examiner. Retrieved fromhttps:\/\/dyslexiaida.org\/time\u2010to\u2010revisit\u2010reading\u2010discrepancies\u2010in\u2010twice\u2010exceptional\u2010students\/"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_81_1","volume-title":"Developmental dyslexia","author":"Thomson M. E.","year":"1989"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_82_1","volume-title":"The psychology of dyslexia: A handbook for teachers","author":"Thomson M. E.","year":"2009"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_83_1","volume-title":"Comprehensive test of phonological processing (CTOPP)","author":"Wagner R.","year":"1999"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_84_1","volume-title":"Contemporary intellectual assessment: Theories, tests, and issues","author":"Watkins M. W.","year":"2005"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_85_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/002221940103400501"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_86_1","unstructured":"Wolf M.(2014).Marcus Aurelius and the continuing dyslexia debate [Online]. Retrieved May 10. 2015 fromhttps:\/\/eida.org\/marcus\u2010aurelius\u2010and\u2010the\u2010continuing\u2010dyslexia\u2010debate"},{"key":"e_1_2_7_87_1","volume-title":"International classification of disability and health","author":"World Health Organisation","year":"2001"}],"container-title":["Dyslexia"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/api.wiley.com\/onlinelibrary\/tdm\/v1\/articles\/10.1002%2Fdys.1582","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1002\/dys.1582","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2023,9,18]],"date-time":"2023-09-18T10:57:05Z","timestamp":1695034625000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/10.1002\/dys.1582"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2018,3,25]]},"references-count":86,"journal-issue":{"issue":"2","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2018,5]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1002\/dys.1582"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/dys.1582","archive":["Portico"],"relation":{},"ISSN":["1076-9242","1099-0909"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1076-9242","type":"print"},{"value":"1099-0909","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2018,3,25]]},"assertion":[{"value":"2017-03-31","order":0,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}},{"value":"2018-01-19","order":1,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}},{"value":"2018-03-25","order":2,"name":"published","label":"Published","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}}]}}