If one has done any internet reading related to dyslexia, they likely have encountered the name "Susan Barton" of "Bright Solutions for Dyslexia."  Ms. Barton is often touted as "one of the leading authorities on dyslexia and ADD in the country;" however, it is often Ms. Barton and her own organization that makes these claims.  Ms. Barton has created a company (Bright Solutions) that provides education about dyslexia to parents, teacher and professionals; she has also developed a reading program that is based on research supported strategies and is designed specifically for parents to use at home (The Barton System).  For these achievements, Ms. Barton is to be commended.

However, one of the services provided by Bright Solutions is to "certify" individuals to be "Dyslexia Testing Specialists."  It is unclear what criteria Ms. Barton uses to determine whether someone ‘passes' their test evaluation, or what her qualifications for diagnosing dyslexia (much less teaching others to diagnose dyslexia), as she does not have a doctoral degree and is not a licensed professional.  The process for becoming ‘certified' is quite simple.  Attend a 6-day seminar (described as being "the equivalent of a semester-long graduate-level course") taught by Ms. Barton (only 2 days of which actually cover ‘testing'), test one child, submit a report to Ms. Barton for review, and, if Ms. Barton approves, certification is granted.  Per documents obtained on the internet, individuals need not e licensed or even have a college degree in order to become certified.

Comparing the qualifications and ‘training' of a "Dyslexia Testing Specialist" certified by Susan Barton to the qualifications and training of a licensed psychologist quickly reveals drastic differences.  Licensed psychologists not only have an undergraduate college degree, they also have a doctoral degree in psychology, meaning they have completed years of advanced education.  During the course of this doctoral training, students conduct numerous evaluations (typically 1 to 3 a week) over the course of several years (typically 4 to 6 years).  Before being allowed to practice independently, psychologists must also pass state requirements, including post-doctoral training, written exams, and interview, to ensure they are appropriately qualified.

Although one would expect that someone with the title "Certified Dyslexia Testing Specialist" would be providing a comprehensive evaluation, promotional material for this training specifically states, "Technically, this is an ‘informal screening.'"  This is particularly problematic as professionals emphasizing this ‘certification' do not state that the evaluation is only an ‘informal screening.'  Perhaps most concerning about this process is the fact that those doing the testing have no training in psychological assessment, learning disabilities other than dyslexia, language disorders, nonverbal processing disorders, and developmental delays.  By doing tests related to dyslexia in isolation (i.e., without other cognitive measures), parents may learn whether the child has weaknesses in the areas tested, but it does not give them any information about other areas, or problems other than dyslexia may be causing the difficulties.  Thus, problems may be ‘missed' or ‘misdiagnosed,' both of which can be detrimental to the child.

Certainly not all psychologists specialize in testing, and of those that do testing, not all are knowledgeable about diagnosing dyslexia.  It is imperative that parents talk to professionals prior to scheduling an evaluation, to ensure that the provider is qualified to meet the child's needs.