Every Wednesday, we take you inside the AFS-Test, the standardized assessment that allows Certified Dyslexia Trainers to definitively diagnose and categorize dyslexia and dyscalculia. This is week 2 of 25.
This week: 3 Children in Every Classroom
It is estimated that about 15 percent of the world’s population is affected by dyslexia or dyscalculia. In a class of 20 students, that can mean 3 children who struggle with reading, spelling, or arithmetic even though they are intelligent and motivated. If dyslexia or dyscalculia already runs in the family, the probability of inheriting it is between 60 and 70 percent. These children do not need more pressure or more of the same homework. They need clarity first: a standardized assessment that shows exactly how they perceive and process information.
About the AFS-Test
The standardized Attention-Function-Symptom Test has been used worldwide for more than 25 years. It examines the attention span, the sensory perceptions, and the error symptoms of a child, and turns the results into an individualized training plan following the AFS-Method.
Find a Certified Trainer
Certified Dyslexia Trainers conduct the standardized AFS-Test in your area or remotely. Learn more and find a Certified Trainer near you: dyslexiatest.com
You can find all published articles of this series under the tag AFS-Test Series.
Every Tuesday, we open up one lesson of the Dyslexia Trainer Certification Program here on the blog, all 48 of them, one week at a time. Whether you are a teacher, a parent, or an education professional, this series shows you exactly what certified dyslexia trainers learn, and how the program works from the inside.
This week: Beyond Screenings and Assessments: Why Only Comprehensive Testing Reveals Dyslexia
A child can score average on an achievement test and still struggle every single day. This lesson explains why screenings, reading tests, IQ tests, and phonological assessments alone cannot diagnose dyslexia, and what comprehensive testing has to cover instead. Trainers learn to see what standard instruments miss, and why an incomplete assessment so often leads to the wrong kind of help.
What this lesson is about
Accurate identification is the foundation of effective dyslexia support, but not all assessments serve the same purpose. Screenings are valuable for highlighting children who may be at risk, but they do not provide a diagnosis and cannot guide an intervention plan.
Similarly, standardized reading and spelling tests, intelligence tests, and phonological assessments are often misused in dyslexia evaluation. These tools were never designed to diagnose dyslexia, and when applied in this way they frequently produce misleading or incomplete results. A child may test “average” on an achievement test while still struggling daily, or may score poorly on an IQ test and be misclassified as having low intelligence rather than dyslexia.
As trainers, it is crucial to understand both the possibilities and the limits of these tools. Recognizing their shortcomings not only prevents misdiagnosis but also ensures that no child is denied the support they need. This lesson introduces the most common screenings and assessments you will encounter in practice, while emphasizing the need for comprehensive evaluation methods that truly reflect the unique profile of dyslexic learners.
What you will learn in Lesson 5
What screenings can do, and where they stop
Why achievement and IQ tests are misused in dyslexia evaluation
What comprehensive testing has to cover
How incomplete assessment leads to the wrong help
About the Dyslexia Trainer Certification Program
Since 1997, more than 17,000 dyslexia trainers in 64 countries have been certified. The certification gives you more than knowledge: all the tools you need to actually work with dyslexic children are included as well. Worksheets, training programs, assessment materials, everything ready to use in your practice. You get the whole package.
The program is accredited by the American Dyslexia Association (ADA) and follows the training standards of the International Federation of Dyslexia and Dyscalculia Associations (IFDDA).
Catch up and start free
Lesson 1 is free for everyone. Register in a minute and see the program from the inside: dyslexiacertificate.com
You can find all published lessons of this series under the tag Lesson Series.
Every Wednesday, we take you inside the AFS-Test, the standardized assessment that allows Certified Dyslexia Trainers to definitively diagnose and categorize dyslexia and dyscalculia. This is week 1 of 25.
This week: What Is the AFS-Test?
Do you suspect dyslexia or dyscalculia? The AFS-Test (Attention-Function-Symptom Test) is a standardized, comprehensive pedagogical assessment that has been used worldwide for more than 25 years. It allows Certified Dyslexia Trainers to definitively diagnose and categorize dyslexia and dyscalculia by looking at the three areas where they show: the attention span, the sensory perceptions, and the symptoms (errors) a child makes when reading, spelling, or calculating.
Over the next 25 weeks, we will walk you through every part of the test: the attention test, all eight sensory perception areas, the symptom tests for reading, spelling, and arithmetic, and everything that happens after testing, from the detailed evaluation to the educational report and the individualized training plan.
About the AFS-Test
The standardized Attention-Function-Symptom Test has been used worldwide for more than 25 years. It examines the attention span, the sensory perceptions, and the error symptoms of a child, and turns the results into an individualized training plan following the AFS-Method.
Find a Certified Trainer
Certified Dyslexia Trainers conduct the standardized AFS-Test in your area or remotely. Learn more and find a Certified Trainer near you: dyslexiatest.com
You can find all published articles of this series under the tag AFS-Test Series.
Every Tuesday, we open up one lesson of the Dyslexia Trainer Certification Program here on the blog, all 48 of them, one week at a time. Whether you are a teacher, a parent, or an education professional, this series shows you exactly what certified dyslexia trainers learn, and how the program works from the inside.
This week: Understanding Dyslexia Diagnostics: Levels, Procedures, and Case Histories
When a child struggles in school, parents often face a confusing journey between teachers, psychologists, and doctors, each looking at the problem from a different angle. This lesson brings order to that confusion: it explains the three diagnostic levels, what each one can and cannot tell you, and why the pedagogical-didactic level is so often the missing piece. Trainers learn to read case histories and to recognize when behavior is a consequence of years of being overwhelmed, not the cause of the problem.
What this lesson is about
When a child struggles with reading, writing, or arithmetic, parents often feel overwhelmed and unsure where to turn. As a result, their first point of contact may be a teacher, a psychologist, or a medical doctor, each of whom approaches the problem from a different angle. This can lead to confusion, conflicting explanations, and long diagnostic journeys that may overlook the most important level of support: the pedagogical-didactic level. To understand the child’s real needs, certified dyslexia trainers must be familiar with all three diagnostic levels and the role each one plays in assessing learning difficulties.
In many cases, behavioral symptoms such as restlessness, avoidance, frustration, or inattentiveness are interpreted as the cause of school difficulties, when in reality these behaviors often emerge only after years of being overwhelmed. Misinterpretation can lead to unnecessary psychiatric labels or medical treatments while the child’s underlying difficulties with sensory perception, attention, and symbol processing remain unaddressed. This lesson helps trainers distinguish between symptoms rooted in genetic predisposition (primary dyslexia/dyscalculia), symptoms caused by lack of recognition and repeated failure (secondary dyslexia/dyscalculia), and acquired reading/spelling or arithmetic differences caused by external life events.
To support families effectively, trainers must know how to conduct a proper case history interview, interpret testing results, and communicate findings clearly and compassionately. Starting with this lesson 4 and continuing with lessons 5 through 7, the focus is to equip trainers with a complete diagnostic roadmap: from the first conversation with parents, to testing, to analysis, to planning targeted interventions. By understanding the three diagnostic levels, and by staying anchored in the educational-didactic perspective, you can guide families toward the right support while avoiding unnecessary detours.
What you will learn in Lesson 4
The three diagnostic levels and what each one can tell you
How to work with case histories
Why behavior problems are often the consequence of school struggles, not the cause
When to involve teachers, psychologists, or physicians
About the Dyslexia Trainer Certification Program
Since 1997, more than 17,000 dyslexia trainers in 64 countries have been certified. The certification gives you more than knowledge: all the tools you need to actually work with dyslexic children are included as well. Worksheets, training programs, assessment materials, everything ready to use in your practice. You get the whole package.
The program is accredited by the American Dyslexia Association (ADA) and follows the training standards of the International Federation of Dyslexia and Dyscalculia Associations (IFDDA).
Catch up and start free
Lesson 1 is free for everyone. Register in a minute and see the program from the inside: dyslexiacertificate.com
You can find all published lessons of this series under the tag Lesson Series.
For more than 25 years, the standardized AFS-Test has been the pedagogical assessment behind individualized dyslexia and dyscalculia training worldwide. Developed by Dr. Astrid Kopp-Duller, the test allows Certified Dyslexia Trainers to definitively diagnose and categorize dyslexia and dyscalculia.
AFS stands for Attention, Function, and Symptom, the three areas in which dyslexia and dyscalculia show. The test examines the attention span when working with symbols, eight sensory perception areas (visual recognition, visual memory, visual sequencing, auditory recognition, auditory memory, auditory sequencing, spatial orientation, and body perception), and the concrete error symptoms a child makes when reading, spelling, or calculating.
Unlike screenings that look through one small window, the AFS-Test takes the comprehensive route. The results are turned into a detailed graphical evaluation, an educational report, and an individualized training plan following the AFS-Method, so training starts exactly where the child needs support.
The AFS-Test is available exclusively to Certified Dyslexia Trainers accredited by the American Dyslexia Association (ADA). This way, every test is conducted and interpreted by a qualified professional, in person or remotely.
A long-term study conducted between 2001 and 2006 with 3,370 participants confirmed the effectiveness of the AFS-Method: 85 percent of the participants continuously improved their reading, spelling, and arithmetic skills over the two-year observation period.
“Parents do not need another label. They need a starting point,” says Dr. Livia R. Pailer-Duller, Director of the Dyslexia Research Center USA. “The AFS-Test shows precisely how a child perceives and processes information, and turns that knowledge into training that measurably works.”
The test is currently available in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian and a dozen other languages, so children can be tested in the language they learn in.
Educators who want to conduct the AFS-Test themselves can become Certified Dyslexia Trainers through the Dyslexia Trainer Certification Program: 48 self-paced lessons, offered since 1997, with more than 17,000 trainers certified in 64 countries. The program is accredited by the ADA and follows the training standards of the International Federation of Dyslexia and Dyscalculia Associations (IFDDA). Lesson 1 is free at dyslexiacertificate.com
Find a Certified Dyslexia Trainer and request an AFS-Test at dyslexiatest.com
Every Tuesday, we open up one lesson of the Dyslexia Trainer Certification Program here on the blog, all 48 of them, one week at a time. Whether you are a teacher, a parent, or an education professional, this series shows you exactly what certified dyslexia trainers learn, and how the program works from the inside.
This week: A Guide to Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, and Sensory Processing
Two children can show almost identical difficulties in reading or math, for completely different reasons. This lesson teaches the crucial distinctions: primary, biologically based dyslexia and dyscalculia, secondary manifestations that develop when challenges go unsupported, and acquired reading, spelling, or arithmetic differences. Only trainers who recognize these differences can choose the right kind of support, because each one calls for a different approach.
What this lesson is about
Dyslexia and dyscalculia are often misunderstood as uniform conditions, yet in reality they represent complex patterns of perception, attention, cognitive processing, and life circumstances. Trainers frequently encounter children whose learning difficulties look similar on the surface but arise from completely different causes. For this reason, it is essential to understand how primary, biologically based dyslexia differs from secondary dyslexia and how both differ from acquired reading and spelling differences (RSD) or arithmetic differences (AD). Only by recognizing these distinctions can trainers select the correct approach, whether targeted educational training, sensory perception support, or referral to additional specialists.
While primary dyslexia and primary dyscalculia originate from a genetic and sensory-perceptual predisposition, secondary manifestations develop when these challenges go unrecognized and unsupported. Children who repeatedly fail, experience constant frustration, or feel misunderstood often begin to display emotional or behavioral symptoms such as impulsivity, restlessness, aggression, withdrawal, or depression. These reactions are not “bad behavior”, they are natural responses to sustained stress and unmet needs. Trainers must be able to identify early signs of escalation to prevent secondary dyslexia from forming or worsening.
At the same time, many children demonstrate learning problems that are not rooted in genetic predisposition at all, but emerge from physical, psychological, or environmental events such as illness, trauma, divorce, prolonged school absence, or developmental delays. These acquired differences require a different kind of intervention. This lesson provides you with a comprehensive framework to distinguish among all these forms, recognize the role of various sensory perceptions, and understand how reading, writing, and arithmetic difficulties evolve. This foundational knowledge will allow you to make accurate educational assessments and plan individualized, effective support for each child.
What you will learn in Lesson 3
The difference between primary and secondary dyslexia and dyscalculia
How acquired reading, spelling, and arithmetic differences fit into the picture
Behavioral warning signs that point to escalation
Why the right classification changes the right kind of support
About the Dyslexia Trainer Certification Program
Since 1997, more than 17,000 dyslexia trainers in 64 countries have been certified. The certification gives you more than knowledge: all the tools you need to actually work with dyslexic children are included as well. Worksheets, training programs, assessment materials, everything ready to use in your practice. You get the whole package.
The program is accredited by the American Dyslexia Association (ADA) and follows the training standards of the International Federation of Dyslexia and Dyscalculia Associations (IFDDA).
Catch up and start free
Lesson 1 is free for everyone. Register in a minute and see the program from the inside: dyslexiacertificate.com
You can find all published lessons of this series under the tag Lesson Series.
Every Tuesday, we open up one lesson of the Dyslexia Trainer Certification Program here on the blog, all 48 of them, one week at a time. Whether you are a teacher, a parent, or an education professional, this series shows you exactly what certified dyslexia trainers learn, and how the program works from the inside.
This week: Exploring Dyslexia: Definition, Genetics, and the Gift Within
Dyslexia has been studied for more than a century, and for decades it was misunderstood. Today, research confirms that it is a hereditary difference in how the brain processes symbols, sounds, and sensory information, passed on through the genes. This lesson traces that story and introduces the mindset behind modern dyslexia training: instead of asking what is wrong with a child, we ask how this child perceives the world and how we can support exactly that.
What this lesson is about
Understanding dyslexia begins with understanding its story, a story shaped by more than a century of research, debate, misconceptions, breakthroughs, and evolving perspectives. From the first neurological case descriptions in the late 1800s to the complex genetic studies of today, dyslexia has traveled a long path through medicine, psychology, education, and neuroscience. Each field contributed pieces of knowledge, yet no single discipline could fully explain why intelligent children struggled so profoundly with reading, writing, or spelling. As a result, dyslexia was misinterpreted for decades, labeled as a disease, an attention problem, a social issue, or even a lack of intelligence. Only slowly did a clearer picture emerge.
In recent decades, scientific progress has finally confirmed what early researchers sensed intuitively: that dyslexia is a hereditary difference in how the brain processes symbols, sounds, and sensory information. This understanding marks a powerful shift away from the deficit-based view of the past and toward an educational, perceptual, and student-centered approach. Instead of asking “What is wrong with the child?” we ask, “How does this child perceive the world, and how can we support that?” This mindset is at the heart of modern dyslexia training.
For certified dyslexia trainers, this historical and scientific foundation matters deeply. You will meet parents who are confused by conflicting information, educators who still view dyslexia through outdated lenses, and children who blame themselves for challenges they never caused. By understanding where our knowledge comes from, what science now confirms, and why misconceptions still persist, you can guide families with clarity, confidence, and compassion. This lesson equips you with the grounding you need to speak about dyslexia not merely as a condition, but as a perceptual learning difference, one that requires understanding, respect, and targeted support.
What you will learn in Lesson 2
How more than a century of research shaped what we know about dyslexia
What genetics tells us: heredity, chromosomes, and information processing
Why the deficit-based view is outdated, and what replaces it
The strengths-based mindset behind modern dyslexia training
About the Dyslexia Trainer Certification Program
Since 1997, more than 17,000 dyslexia trainers in 64 countries have been certified. The certification gives you more than knowledge: all the tools you need to actually work with dyslexic children are included as well. Worksheets, training programs, assessment materials, everything ready to use in your practice. You get the whole package.
The program is accredited by the American Dyslexia Association (ADA) and follows the training standards of the International Federation of Dyslexia and Dyscalculia Associations (IFDDA).
Catch up and start free
Lesson 1 is free for everyone. Register in a minute and see the program from the inside: dyslexiacertificate.com
You can find all published lessons of this series under the tag Lesson Series.
Every Tuesday, we open up one lesson of the Dyslexia Trainer Certification Program here on the blog, all 48 of them, one week at a time. Whether you are a teacher, a parent, or an education professional, this series shows you exactly what certified dyslexia trainers learn, and how the program works from the inside.
This week, it all begins: Building Brighter Futures
Lesson 1 is the free introductory lesson of the program, and it sets the tone for everything that follows. It shows you what dyslexia is, why individualized support matters, and how certified dyslexia trainers work in real-world practice. You will not just learn about dyslexia. You will learn how to assess it with the standardized AFS-Test, interpret the results, and build individualized training plans that work.
What this lesson is about
Unlike many programs that focus only on theory, this certification combines scientific foundations with a strong emphasis on practical application. From the very first lesson, the focus is on what you will actually do as a trainer: diagnose dyslexia, interpret data, create individualized training plans, and facilitate dyslexia training with real children and adults.
The lesson also introduces the mindset that carries the entire program. Dyslexia is not a defect. It is a different way of perceiving and processing information, and people with dyslexia can learn to read, spell, write, and calculate when their individual profile is recognized and supported. That is precisely the job of a certified dyslexia trainer.
What you will learn in Lesson 1
What dyslexia is, and what it is not
Why individualized support beats one-size-fits-all approaches
How certified dyslexia trainers work in real-world practice
How assessment with the AFS-Test, training plans, and ready-to-use materials fit together
About the Dyslexia Trainer Certification Program
Since 1997, more than 17,000 dyslexia trainers in 64 countries have been certified. The certification gives you more than knowledge: all the tools you need to actually work with dyslexic children are included as well. Worksheets, training programs, assessment materials, everything ready to use in your practice. You get the whole package.
The program is accredited by the American Dyslexia Association (ADA) and follows the training standards of the International Federation of Dyslexia and Dyscalculia Associations (IFDDA).
Start with Lesson 1, free
Lesson 1 is free for everyone. Register in a minute and see the program from the inside: dyslexiacertificate.com
New here? You can find all published lessons of this series under the tag Lesson Series.
Have you heard of the Dyslexia Trainer Certification Program yet? If you work with children who are bright, curious, and full of ideas, yet struggle with reading and spelling, it might be exactly what you have been looking for.
Since 1997, more than 17,000 people in 64 countries have become certified Dyslexia Trainers. Teachers, tutors, therapists, and parents, all of them successfully working with dyslexic children and adults in their own communities today. And they all share one discovery that changed the way they teach:
Dyslexia is not a defect. It is a different way of processing information.
Officially, dyslexia is still often described in medical terms. The WHO’s ICD-10/11 even lists it as a “disease.” But spend one afternoon with a dyslexic child and you will see something very different: above-average creativity, surprising problem-solving, and a mind that makes connections others miss. Leonardo da Vinci and Albert Einstein did not succeed in spite of their dyslexia. They succeeded because they saw the world differently.
When you start from strengths instead of deficits, everything changes. Children stop feeling broken. They gain confidence, they stay motivated, and real progress follows. That is the foundation the entire certification is built on, and it is why our trainers get results.
Accredited by the American Dyslexia Association
This is what sets the program apart. The Dyslexia Trainer Certification Program is accredited by the American Dyslexia Association (ADA) and follows the training standards of the International Federation of Dyslexia and Dyscalculia Associations (IFDDA). When you earn this certification, you are not just collecting a certificate. You are joining a recognized, standards-based profession that families and schools can trust.
More than a philosophy: a complete toolkit
As a certified Dyslexia Trainer, you work with the standardized AFS-Test and a complete package that takes you all the way from assessment and diagnosis to individualized training, including ready-to-use materials for your sessions. It is an approach that has proven itself in practice for 30 years.
Your first lesson is free
No credit card needed. Register and get access to your own student portal, where you can check everything out for yourself: the first lesson, the materials, and how the program works. No risk and no obligation.
