(DESD) Decoding-Encoding Screener for Dyslexia

BY JOHN R. GRIFFIN, OD, MSED, HOWARD N. WALTON, OD, MS, AND GARTH N. CHRISTENSON, OD, MSED

The Decoding–Encoding Screener for Dyslexia (DESD) is a screening test that allows you to assess a student’s specific reading difficulties in less than 10 minutes. The DESD consists of three sections: Decoding, Encoding, and Letter Writing. The Decoding section provides a norm-referenced measure of sight-word recognition (Reading Standard Score). Additionally, qualitative indicators in the Encoding section allow you to distinguish deficits in sight-word recognition from deficits in phonetic analysis. The test identifies the specific skills that a child brings to bear on the task of reading words. This information makes it easier to detect and describe reading problems and to refer students for appropriate educational therapy.

The DESD allows identification of children who are at risk for dyslexia, so they can be referred without delay to special services. The early screening and intervention made possible by the DESD vastly improves the effectiveness of educational therapy and helps minimize the secondary emotional problems dyslexia can create. Standardized on a sample of 678 students in grades 1 through 8, the DESD can be administered and scored in 5 to 10 minutes.