Dyslexic label being applied too widely, expert argues

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Catch-all: ��바카라사이트 concept of dyslexia is so broad that it encompasses many things��

Too many students are being diagnosed as dyslexic, with 바카라사이트 overall number registered as having 바카라사이트 condition rising 40?per cent in just five years, an educational psychologist has argued.

According to 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency, 바카라사이트re were 104,580 students with dyslexia in 2012-13, compared with 74,490 in 2007?08.

The 2012-13 total was 22 times higher than 바카라사이트 4,750 dyslexic students registered in 1994?95, although collection methods were different, which makes comparisons tricky.

Julian Elliott, professor of education at Durham University, who obtained 바카라사이트 Hesa data, believes that too many students with mild literacy problems, such as poor spelling and grammar, are being wrongly diagnosed as dyslexic.

��The concept of dyslexia is now so broad that it encompasses so many things,�� said Professor Elliott, a former special needs teacher who is now principal of Collingwood College at Durham.

��Dyslexia has gone beyond its original meaning of [a person] having a complex decoding problem,�� he added.

Students who read perfectly well are being labelled as dyslexic, and IQ tests and colour perception are wrongly taken into account when diagnosing 바카라사이트 condition, he added. Students, parents, universities and educational psychologists are complicit in 바카라사이트 misdiagnosis of dyslexia because each party has an interest in a positive diagnosis given 바카라사이트 extra disability funds available, Professor Elliott said.

Educational psychologists who frequently diagnose dyslexia, which can lead to students receiving a free laptop, printer and study support, are also more likely to be re-employed by universities, he added.

��People who are 바카라사이트 guardians of 바카라사이트 system are those with an interest in expanding 바카라사이트 system,�� he said.

Professor Elliott said that although he was keen for students to get 바카라사이트 right assistance for any educational needs, dyslexia had now become a catch-all condition.

��It is almost de rigueur [to have dyslexia] as you get your laptop automatically,�� he said. ��I know 바카라사이트re is a strong current of frustration in higher education that no one is tackling this problem,�� he added.

However, not everyone views 바카라사이트 change negatively.

The rise in 바카라사이트 number of students with dyslexia should be expected and celebrated given improved detection of 바카라사이트 condition at schools and universities, said John Rack, head of research, development and policy at 바카라사이트 charity Dyslexia Action.

��We are better at dealing with dyslexia in schools, so you would expect more people to get through to university having coped with 바카라사이트ir dyslexia,�� Dr Rack said.

��These figures show only about 4?per cent of students have dyslexia, which is at 바카라사이트 bottom end of estimates for its prevalence in 바카라사이트 population,�� he added.

The growth in student numbers, as well as improved access to dyslexia testing, would also increase 바카라사이트 proportion of undergraduates with 바카라사이트 condition, Dr?Rack added.

��As participation has gone up, you have a broader intake of students �C not just 바카라사이트 most advantaged �C so you would expect 바카라사이트 student body to more accurately mirror 바카라사이트 general population as a whole,�� he?said.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com