For many people who are new to dyslexia, it might get overwhelming. You’ll want to learn more about dyslexia, find help, etc.
The first thing you’ll want to do, however, is to get your child formally tested for dyslexia.
Why it’s important to get tested for dyslexia
I always advise potential clients who suspect their kids to have dyslexia to get them formally assessed by a registered psychologist, if possible.
This is because a formal assessment not only confirms whether or not the child has dyslexia (or might be at risk of it), but also indicates what their strengths and weaknesses are. These details are important for specialists who will be or are working with your child.
Furthermore, getting the test results will bring you some peace of mind. I know it sounds ironic, but the psychologist will be able to offer solutions, including referrals to specialists who can help your child.
Finally, having a formal report means you can apply for access arrangements like having extra time or a prompter during an exam. This can be super helpful for struggling learners.
But first, before deciding which psychologist to go with, there are a few things you need to consider.
What to look out for when deciding on a psychologist
Psychologist’s credentials
The most important factor is that the psychologist must be trained and qualified. He or she must be registered with the Singapore Psychological Society. Also, take note of how many years of experience the psychologist has, where they have worked at before, and what additional qualifications they might have.
Reputation
Reputation through word of mouth is a good indicator of whether quality service has been consistently delivered by the psychologist. Check Google reviews and online forums, see what people are saying about the place or person.
Your own comfort level
It is always a good idea to shortlist some places, then call them up for a chat. The first reason is to find out more about the assessment process. The second reason is to determine whether or not the place has good vibes that your child can connect with. It can be difficult for your child to stay focused in an environment that he or she does not like, and that may affect test results.
Price and waiting time
You’ll want to consider prices too. Most non-governmental organisations will charge $1300 – $4000, so expect to pay roughly that amount. Of course, lower prices also mean a longer waiting time as they tend to attract more people.
Private psychologists whom we work with and trust wholeheartedly
| Psychologist | Why we love them |
|---|---|
| The Gifted Lab | The team is reassuring and pleasant, and their centre has warm, cosy vibes. |
| Bloom Child Psychology | Very friendly and warm team that gives back to the community. |
| Firm Foundation Psychological Practice | Ex-DAS staff who have contributed much to the research of dyslexia in Singapore. |
| Mind.Space | Many years of experience working with children with learning difficulties. |
Even if you know what to look out for, still there are many psychologists in Singapore and it can get overwhelming deciding which one is best. Which is the most reliable? How do you know you’re getting your money’s worth?
Over the years, Swords & Stationery has worked with a number of reliable psychologists. We often hear good things about them, about their professionalism and ethics. They also have reasonable price points. As such, we often refer clients to them, and vice versa.
These are people we can wholeheartedly vouch for if you need a trustworthy psychologist to assess your child:
The Gifted Lab
The Gifted Lab is comprised of a small team that provides a variety of services, including psychological assessment for dyslexia. They are based at One-North Gateway, in the southern part of Singapore.
So far, we have heard nothing but good things about them from our clients. Their principal psychologist, Dr Wilson Chan, is a very earnest gentleman who has many years of experience in this field. Dr Chan has also worked a number of years in MOE schools and lecturing at NIE. Working alongside him is Ms Polene Lam, the principal of The Gifted Lab itself. Ms Polene herself is also an NIE-trained educator, and she always does her best to assuage parents’ fears.
I even once had a student (who had been assessed by Dr Chan years ago) excitedly come to me and say, “Hey Teacher Shaun, do you remember Ms Polene from Gifted Lab? Do you know she offered me a job to work part-time as a facilitator for the younger students there?”
Talk about building rapport with clients!
TGL’s reports are also very professionally written, in that they usually have a lot of feedback on how parents and teachers can help support the child. Dr Chan and Ms Polene are also always ready with helpful advice, so you can just approach them if you have any questions or concerns.
Do note that their waiting time can be a bit longer than other private practices, depending on the time of year, as some months are busier than others. It is best to give them a call or drop them an email to find out more about their wait-list.
Price: From $1300 nett onwards.
Waiting time: Moderate, roughly 2 weeks to a month.
Website: https://thegiftedlab.com
Address: 7 One-North Gateway, #01-16, Singapore 138642
Bloom Child Psychology
Bloom Child Psychology has a team of trained and highly experienced psychologists. Dr Vivien Yang, the principal psychologist and founder of Bloom, has over twenty years of experience assessing and helping children with learning difficulties.
Having visited their centre in Concorde Shopping Centre a few times over the years, I’ve always been impressed by how cosy and conducive it is. Dr Yang is very approachable and genuine about wanting to help the community. I also got to meet some of the other members of her team, including Minnie, Jallene, and Sylvie, and you can really tell that they all share the same passion.
I’ve also had a lot of positive feedback from parents whose children were assessed at Bloom Child Psychology. Their reports are written in a way that makes them very readable, easily understood by a layman. They also go the extra mile to identify additional underlying issues, not just rush the assessment to certify whether or not the child is dyslexic.
Finally, Dr Yang also runs a voluntary initiative called Uncommon Minds. Uncommon Minds aims to embrace neurodiversity by sharing the stories of Singaporeans with learning challenges. All this is done with the aim of giving back to society, which should tell you a lot about Dr Yang’s vision and modus operandi.
Price: From $2400 nett onwards.
Waiting time: Short, roughly 1-2 weeks.
Website: https://www.bloomchildpsy.com
Address: 317 Outram Rd, #02-01 Concorde Shopping Centre, Singapore 169075
Firm Foundation Psychological Practice
Firm Foundation Psychological Practice is run by Jae and Lois, who were part of the DAS’s psychological assessment services team for many years. I have worked closely with both of them since my time in the DAS, and I can confidently say that they are highly trained professionals with a good heart for children with learning challenges.
In fact, I used to attend their training sessions back when I was still new in the DAS. Both Jae and Lois are very knowledgeable about specific learning difficulties, and I’ve learned a lot from talking to them and attending their training sessions over the years. They have also contributed a lot to research literature on dyslexia in Singapore.
Besides assessment services, Firm Foundation also conducts workshops and supervision for professional development. They also offer very good advice post-assessment for parents to better help their children at home.
Price: From $1600 nett onwards.
Waiting time: Short, roughly 2-3 weeks.
Website: https://www.firmfoundationpsych.com/
Address: Mountbatten Square, 229 Mountbatten Road, #03-06G, Singapore 398007
Mind.Space
Mind.Space is a small centre located at Thomson Road. One of its co-founders, Serena, is a registered and trained psychologist who has had many years of experience working at IMH Child Guidance Clinic. I’ve known Serena for a while and I like her frankness and dedication to providing her clients with good feedback. The waiting time at Mind.Space is also quite short, so if you need a quality report done quickly, Serena / Mind.Space is a reliable choice to go with.
Price: From $2200 nett onwards.
Waiting time: Short, roughly 1-2 weeks.
Website: https://mindspace.sg
Address: 275 Thomson Rd, #01-23 Novena Regency, Singapore 307645
Getting a formal assessment for dyslexia through other places
The Dyslexia Association of Singapore (DAS) has been doing very good work for the dyslexic community. The reason why they’re listed here rather than in the above section is because I haven’t worked with them in years, but I know a number of psychologists from their Assessment Team, and I can say that they produce quality reports. Their prices start from $1430.50, so they aren’t exactly cheap, but lower income households can apply for a fee waiver. That being said, their queue is very long, so you might have to wait for up to half a year for the assessment, and then another few weeks for the report.
If you’re not able to get a fee waiver from DAS and cost is a consideration, try James Cook University’s (JCU) Psychology Clinic as it offers very affordable assessment services at only $300.
Another affordable option is to see a polyclinic doctor and request for a referral to a psychologist from Health Promotion Board’s Child Guidance Clinic.
Or, you can simply speak to your child’s form teacher and have them submit a request for an MOE educational psychologist to assess your child.
Note that while these options are easier on your wallet, unfortunately they may have very long waiting times, so that is the downside.
Concluding words: send your child for an assessment ASAP
If price isn’t a consideration and/or you need a report urgently, go with one of our private recommendations above:
- The Gifted Lab
- Bloom Child Psychology
- Firm Foundation Psychological Practice
- Mind.Space
If price is a consideration and/or you don’t need a report urgently, consider going the non-private route or with JCU or the DAS.
But avoid taking too long to consider your options. Should you suspect your child to have dyslexia, send them for an assessment ASAP. The sooner you get an assessment done, the sooner you can start to get help for your child.