Tests of Dyslexia (TOD)

Now SASC-authorised and available from our webshop

Overview
How to use the TOD
What the TOD measures
TOD features
TOD kits: Screener, Early, Comprehensive, and Combination
Benefits
What sets the TOD apart
Who can use the TOD
New! TOD online training
Order now
Extra resources: Flyer, FAQs, videos
Manual sample chapters
Case studies
Related articles

Overview

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).

Information on British English TOD-S Response Booklets

Following consultations with UK distributors and SASC, Western Psychological Services – the publisher of the new Tests of Dyslexia – will be printing ‘British English’ versions of the TOD Screener Print Response Booklets. This decision was made in order to ensure the best possible testing experience for UK-based SpLD assessors; however please rest assured that continuing to use the forms originally supplied will not affect the results of an assessment. Please see more below about using the provided UK recommendations PDF.

The new Screener response forms are anticipated to be available in autumn 2024, and every one of our TOD customers can opt to receive new versions of the booklet free of charge – we will reach out when the new forms are ready. Until that time, assessors are welcome to continuing purchasing and using the TOD in its current format, and can benefit from the UK recommendations PDF. In the future all TOD print kits will automatically include British English TOD-S forms. Please note that there are no new norms – the normative data and all other TOD materials will not change.

The online version of the TOD-S will continue to be available only in US English; please have a look at the British English User Guide to fully understand the changes and implications in choosing between the online US English or paper British English versions of the test.

If you have any questions, please contact us to discuss.

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.

Order on our webshop

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.

Order on our webshop

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.

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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.

Order on our webshop

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.

New! TOD online training

Register now for this new accompanying 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).

Find out more and register here