Mississippi Dyslexia Evaluation Center - Oxford, MS

09/03/2026

Why evaluating Working Memory (Visual and Verbal) is Vitally Important in Dyslexia Testing, ADHD Testing and other Educational Evaluations:

Working memory is the brain's temporary workspace where information is held and manipulated for brief periods, functioning like a mental desk where you actively sort and use information rather than simply storing it away. Working memory is what you're using right now in the present moment to think, reason, and problem-solve, unlike long-term memory, which is like a filing cabinet where facts and experiences are kept for later retrieval.

Consider what happens when a child encounters an unfamiliar word like "bedtime" while reading a sentence. The child must hold the first syllable "bed" in mind while decoding the second syllable "time," then blend those two pieces together to form the complete word, all while remembering how that word fits into the sentence they started reading seconds earlier. If working memory is strong, the child smoothly blends the word, understands its meaning, and continues reading with the sentence's context intact.

If working memory is weak, the child might successfully decode "bed" but lose it by the time they finish "time," forcing them to start the word over. Or they might blend the word correctly but then have no memory of what the sentence was about, requiring them to reread from the beginning. The information slipped away before it could be integrated into meaning, and reading becomes a frustrating cycle of decoding and forgetting rather than a smooth path to comprehension.

Dyslexia evaluations should assess both verbal and visual memory because reading requires these two systems to work together, and understanding which one is struggling helps us pinpoint exactly why a child is having difficulty.

Verbal memory allows a child to hold the sounds of a word in mind while blending them together; for example, when sounding out "fantastic," the child must remember the "fan" sound while decoding "tas," then hold both while decoding "tic," and if verbal memory is weak, those earlier sounds slip away before the word is complete.

Visual memory supports the ability to recognize letter patterns and distinguish between similar words at a glance; for instance, a child needs to instantly see the difference between "where" and "were" without consciously analyzing each letter, and if visual memory is weak, these words get confused repeatedly even when the child can sound them out correctly. When we understand which system is compromised, we can design therapy and interventions that target the actual source of the struggle.

If we skip assessing working memory in a dyslexia evaluation, we risk designing interventions or therapy that target the wrong underlying cause, leading to frustration and limited progress.
A child might spend months in phonics instruction when their real bottleneck is visual memory that cannot hold letter patterns steady enough for word recognition, or conversely, they might struggle to benefit from phonics because verbal memory cannot hold the sound sequences together long enough for blending.

Without this data, teachers and parents often misinterpret the child's slow progress as lack of effort, poor attention, or resistance to intervention, when the child is actually working incredibly hard against a cognitive limitation we never identified. We lose the opportunity to match our support to how the child's brain actually processes information, and the child internalizes a damaging message that something is wrong with them rather than understanding they simply learn differently and need different tools.

Call us today to schedule a thorough evaluation. 662-270-0003

09/01/2026

This! Call us today to schedule your child’s evaluation. 662-270-0003.

They ARE trying. 💙 As both a teacher and a parent of a child with dyslexia, I think this is something we need to remember.

Dyslexia is not a lack of effort, motivation, or intelligence. Research has shown differences in how the reading network is activated in people with dyslexia, and some language and reading tasks can require significant effort and the recruitment of additional brain resources.
That effort doesn't necessarily end when the school day does.

For some students, an assignment that takes another child 20 minutes may take much longer. Reading the directions, decoding the text, organizing thoughts, spelling, writing, and checking their work can all add to the load.

By the time they get home, they may be exhausted. We might see frustration, avoidance, shutting down, tears, or even meltdowns.

I see this with my own son. After a full day of school, homework can sometimes feel like climbing a mountain after already running a marathon.

As teachers, it's worth thinking about how much homework we are assigning and how long it may actually take that particular student to complete it.

As parents, sometimes what our children need most at the end of the day is patience and understanding.

Richards et al., 1999
Shaywitz et al., 2002
Shaywitz, Lyon, & Shaywitz, 2006

08/29/2026

📚

08/26/2026

Know before you go! This link is to the MS Dept of Education: https://licensure.mdek12.org/Public/Search. You can quickly search any person who is evaluating your child for Dyslexia. (In MS, that must be a Psychometrist, Speech/Language Pathologist or Psychologist). This link will tell you what areas they are are certified in by the MDE. Make sure they are licensed, so that the reports and/or services provided are accepted by schools and colleges. Dyslexia Therapists are normally not Licensed Psychometrist and CANNOT provide a Dyslexia Diagnosis unless they are also a Psychometrist, SLP or Psychologist. They can do screeners - that is NOT the same as a Comprehensive Evaluation. Please make sure your person doing the testing is Licensed to DIAGNOSE.

08/25/2026

Teachers, start planning your Fall 2026 field trips! 📚🎵

Thanks to Atmos Energy, Mississippi student groups can experience GRAMMY Museum Mississippi with FREE admission beginning this fall!

From music history to interactive exhibits, a visit to the Museum gives students a chance to learn, explore, and discover the stories behind the music.

🚌 Make GRAMMY Museum Mississippi your next field trip destination!
👉 Book here:

https://grammymuseumms.org/education/student-tours-workshops/

08/23/2026

08/20/2026

Comprehensive dyslexia evaluations are costly, but much less than the cost of an X-box. Why? Because they require hours of direct, one-on-one assessment time across multiple domains of functioning, administered by specially trained specialists who must then integrate findings into a detailed report with individualized recommendations.

The investment becomes worthwhile because a quality evaluation tells you exactly where your child's reading system breaks down and, more importantly, what to do about it. Without this specificity, intervention becomes guesswork-you might spend years trying programs that don't address your child's particular profile, watching them fall further behind while their confidence erodes. A good evaluation pinpoints the core issue as well as any secondary issues and then documents accommodations your child is entitled to receive, such as extended time, audio textbooks, or reduced spelling demands, which can be implemented immediately while intervention addresses the underlying skills.

Perhaps most importantly, the evaluation provides an explanation that helps your child understand their own mind. Children with dyslexia often internalize beliefs that they are unintelligent or lazy, and having a clear, strength-based explanation of their learning profile can be transformative for their self-concept and motivation.
The evaluation also gives you, as a parent, a roadmap and a vocabulary to advocate effectively across educational settings and throughout your child's schooling. When you consider the cost of ineffective interventions, lost educational opportunities, and the emotional toll of undiagnosed reading difficulties, families often find that a comprehensive evaluation pays for itself many times over in targeted support and peace of mind. A proper evaluation is literally life-changing for your child and their future!

(Realize, that a thorough evaluation examines phonological processing, orthographic awareness, rapid naming, working memory, reading fluency, decoding skills, spelling, and includes an intelligence test, visual and verbal memory testing, processing speed, listening comprehension, oral expression, math, and written expression. Additional hours for scoring, analysis, and report writing follow. This depth is what distinguishes a proper dyslexia evaluation from the brief screenings schools can offer.)

Call us today to schedule your child's evaluation. We accept all forms of payment and will work with families in need on a payment plan. 662-270-0003

08/12/2026

Parents: if you are planning to have your child evaluated for Dyslexia PLEASE ask the following questions of the clinic you choose?

1. Credentials & training of the evaluator. (MS Law requires specialized training to diagnose Dyslexia, being a Psychometrist is not enough- special training is required. House Bill 1037 (b)
“Subsequent comprehensive psycho-educational evaluations. as authorized under Section 37-173-16, may be administered by dyslexia diagnosticians with additional training in the
diagnosis of dyslexia and other licensed professionals.”

2. What areas are evaluated to determine the diagnosis?

These areas should be evaluated:

Phonological Processing
*Phonological Awareness
* Phonological Memory
*Rapid Naming
*Letter Knowledge
*Sound/Symbol Recognition
*Word Recognition
*Word Attack
*Oral Reading Fluency
*Reading Rate and Accuracy
*Spelling
*Reading Comprehension
*Written Expression
*Cognitive Ability – IQ Testing
*Working Memory
*Verbal Memory
*Nonverbal Memory
*Processing Speed
*Math Calculation
*Math Problem Solving
*Oral Language :
*Oral Expression
*Listening Comprehension
*Visual-Motor
*Orthographic Fluency
*Orthographic Processing
*Attention
*Auditory Processing Screener
*Visual Processing Screener

Your child’s strengths and weaknesses should be evaluated to help tailor the accommodations.

3. Expect to complete a checklist of background information pre-interview and also have one for the teacher to complete. This offers a wealth of information.

4. Expect results at the end of the evaluation. You should allow up to an hour after the evaluation for a consultation to go over these results and ask questions.

5. Ask how long before you receive the full report. You should receive a detailed report with several accommodations listed for every single area of deficit identified in your child. Reports generally take about 2 weeks to be completed as we often spend 3-4 hours tailoring the report specifically to your child.

The report should also include how the deficits interact and impact your child in parent friendly language.

6. Ask for the cost of the evaluation and realize that the time and materials, not to mention the costs of the instruments needed to evaluate each of these areas all have to be factored in.

7. Choose a facility that supports you after the evaluation and is willing to take your calls once the full report is received.

08/03/2026

We have all heard that the definition of Dyslexia begins that it is neurobiological in nature. What exactly does that mean?

"Neurobiological in nature" simply means that your child's dyslexia originates in how his brain is structured and how it processes information-it is a physical difference in his brain wiring, not a result of how he was taught, how hard he tries, or his environment.

Think of it like this: just as some children are born with eyes that need glasses to see clearly, Your child was born with a brain that processes written language differently. The neural pathways-the information highways in his brain-that connect sounds to letters and store word patterns don't function as efficiently as they do in other children. This is why dyslexia runs in families; it is passed down genetically, just like eye color or height.

This distinction is important because it helps explain why your child cannot simply "try harder" to make his dyslexia go away. His brain is not broken or damaged-it is just wired differently for reading.

After a comprehensive evaluation and diagnosis, with the right intensive instruction, his brain can build new connections and strengthen existing pathways, which is exactly what dyslexia therapy aims to do. The underlying difference in how his brain processes language will always be there, which is why he will benefit from accommodations throughout his education.

Call us today to schedule your child's evaluation and let's build a roadmap for success! 662-270-0003 or email me at [email protected]

08/02/2026

This says it all!