Tests of Dyslexia (TOD)
Further information and extra resources
- TOD overview
- TOD kits: Screener, Early, Comprehensive, and Combination
- Benefits and what sets it apart
- Who can use the TOD
- TOD online training
- Order now
- Extra resources
Introducing the Tests of Dyslexia (TOD)
The Tests of Dyslexia (TOD™) is the most comprehensive assessment of dyslexia and related skills and abilities. Linking dyslexia assessment to targeted interventions has never been more efficient and effective.
The TOD includes three test batteries (available separately or as a combined kit):
- the TOD-Screener, three tests that can be administered to groups of students or to individuals, available in a paper or digital format.
- the TOD-Early, designed for the early identification of students aged 5-9 years (5 years, 0 months–9 years, 3 months).
- the TOD-Comprehensive, designed for examinees aged 6-89 years (6 years, 0 months–89 years, 11 months).
Watch the introductory video to learn more about the TOD™
How to use the TOD
Assessment areas covered:
- Phonological Awareness
1. Rhyming
2. Blending
3. Segmenting - Phonics Knowledge
- Rapid Automatised Naming
- Letter and Word Recognition
- Sight Word Acquisition
- Vocabulary Knowledge
- Reading Comprehension & Efficiency
Reading Fluency
- Decoding
1. Real Words
2. Nonsense Words - Spelling
- Reasoning
- Basic Reading Skills
- Listening Comprehension
- Orthographic Processing
- Auditory Working Memory
- Visual–Verbal Paired-Associate Learning
The TOD features:
- Indexes designed to indicate the risk and probability of dyslexia.
- Composites and tests that measure reading skills (untimed and timed), spelling, specific linguistic risk factors (phonological awareness, orthographic processing, rapid automatised naming, and working memory), and vocabulary and reasoning abilities.
- Self, parent, and teacher rating scales designed to capture qualitative indicators of dyslexia, such as a family history of reading problems and early difficulties with speech and language.
- The Dyslexia Interventions and Recommendations guide to help examiners develop IEPs and targeted intervention plans to address specific skill weaknesses.
TOD-Screener
The TOD-S paper and pencil kit includes a copy of the TOD manual, response booklets, scoring sheets, and unlimited online scoring, and enables the administrator to screen groups or individuals from age 5 and above in-person.
The TOD-S can also be administered remotely, using online forms. For the online-only version of the TOD-S, please see under the ‘Electronic’ tab on the TOD page of our webshop.
The TOD-S is included in the TOD-E, the TOD-C and the Combination kit.
TOD-Early
The TOD-E kit includes the TOD-S as well as the TOD manual, stimulus materials, response booklets and scoring sheets for pre-school and younger children, online rater forms, and unlimited access to the online scoring – everything needed to assess dyslexia in younger children 5 years – 9 years 3 months face to face.
Why TOD-E? TOD-E is intended for children who are not yet reading connected text. This allows the assessor to gather the information they require, with testing materials at the correct skill level for the child.
TOD-Comprehensive
The TOD-C kit includes the TOD-S as well as the TOD manual, stimulus materials, response booklets and scoring sheets for both school children and adults, online rater forms and unlimited access to the online scoring. This kit includes everything needed to assess those from age 6 years old and above face to face.
TOD-Combination
This Combination kit includes all 3 paper and pencil kits: the TOD-S, the TOD-E and the TOD-C.
This kit does not include the TOD-S Online, only the paper and pencil version of the TOD-S kit.
Benefits of the TOD:
- The first Comprehensive Dyslexia Assessment to include interventions tied to the assessment data.
- Suitable for all ages, the TOD offers age and grade-based tests, indexes, and composite scores.
- The screener provides a Dyslexia Risk Index score in 10-15 minutes.
- This brief assessment can be given individually or in a group format by teachers or other professionals.
- Includes a detailed and evidence-based Dyslexia Interventions and Recommendations Companion Guide.
- The assessment includes Co-Normed Rating Scales.
- Allows for the identification and targeting of an individual's difficulties in acquiring literacy skills.
- Includes tests of reasoning for comparison with reading and spelling.
- Stand-alone tests allow for an individually tailored evaluation.
What sets the TOD apart from other reading assessments?
- The TOD eliminates the need to cobble together results from different tests with different norm groups by covering a wide age range and including the major components that are needed for a comprehensive dyslexia assessment.
- The reading and linguistic abilities that are most relevant to the diagnosis of dyslexia. The TOD includes measures of word recognition (untimed and timed), phonics knowledge, reading fluency, and comprehension efficiency (the ability to comprehend text under time pressure). The TOD also includes linguistic risk factors (e.g., phonological awareness, rapid automatised naming) that can help you determine the factors that are affecting reading development.
- Measures of vocabulary and reasoning to help you determine if the reading problem is specific and/or unexpected in relation to abilities that do not require reading.
- Rating scales to help standardise the process of collecting information from parents, teachers, or individuals being assessed.
- A guide to interventions to help you develop an instructional plan.
Who can use the TOD?
- The components of the TOD can be used by a variety of clinicians and educators. For example, a classroom teacher may administer the TOD-Screener and complete the Teacher Rating Scale.
- Reading specialists, specialist teaching assessors, psychologists, and speech and language therapists are best suited to administer the TOD-Early or the TOD-Comprehensive due to their advanced coursework and experience with standardised tests.
- Interpreting test results requires a higher level of skill. For that reason, while a broader range of individuals can administer the test, interpreting results requires a knowledge of dyslexia and formal training in test administration, scoring, and interpretation.
Examiners should use only those tests for which they have the appropriate training and expertise. See Hogrefe's guidelines here.
TOD online training
Register now for this accompanying TOD video training programme. The course is online for self-study at your convenience and includes videos and associated digital support materials on the WPS Professional Learning Center (WPS ProLearn).
British English TOD-S forms
Hogrefe supplies the TOD with British English TOD-Screener Print Response Booklets (note that the TOD-Screener Online is available in US English only). Please see the British English user guide (UK recommendations PDF) for full information and guidance.
Extra resources
Case studies
Videos
Accompanying TOD audio file
Related articles
All about TOD: Using the Screener in remote Tests of Dyslexia assessment
With the TOD now authorised by SASC (as of 07/05/24), many assessors are asking: can I use the TOD remotely? And if so, what does that look like?
Capturing the dynamic nature of dyslexia: The Delphi Definition
Last month, the landmark Delphi Definition of dyslexia was published after several years of collaborative research. This article looks at why a new definition was needed, explains the methodology behind the research, and breaks down how the Delphi definition differs from previous definitions.
