Delphi Dyslexia Replication Study

A recent UK based Delphi expert study of beliefs about dyslexia and its assessment, leading to a definition and guidelines for professional practice, has received significant attention. Noting that none of the experts involved were publicly funded educational (school) psychologists (EPs), who typically have deep experience of work with struggling readers, we ran the concluding part of the survey with 475 volunteer EP respondents, across the UK. Very similar responses to those of the expert group were found with one, albeit with key, exception. Examination of respondent comments indicated widespread dissatisfaction with the nature and formulation of the survey items and concern that it was difficult to adequately present their true views. We further examine the recommendations for assessor practice that followed the expert survey, identifying problematic guidance that often appears to have little relation to the survey items or to extant scientific understandings. The expression of EP concern during survey completion appears to reflect a recognition that the measure was steering them towards an approach to identification and assessment that was recommended in the final report but to which many would not subscribe.