The SpLD Assessment Services (SAS) serves as a gateway to DAS programmes and intervention. SAS conducts close to 1000 SpLD assessments every year. Besides assessments, SAS also provides consultations and talks to support the ongoing development of people with specific learning difficulties, including those beyond dyslexia.
SAS believes in providing support to those who struggle with learning, regardless of their backgrounds.
We support all age groups, from preschool learners to working adults.
Our psychologists determine the learner's profile as each learner has his/her own unique profile with their individual strengths and weaknesses. For children who go on to receive learning support at the DAS, it is vital that SAS psychologists differentiate the child's learning needs even after the diagnosis. This enables DAS educational therapists to select appropriate educational goals that target the child's needs closely.
SAS also provides clarity to adults grappling with the challenges of specific learning difficulties through consultations to guide them on the next steps. In line with our belief that support should be accessible, bursaries are available for those who need them. Increasingly, we support students in higher learning, and it isn't uncommon for us to see students at this level seeking assessment services to support their successful learning journey.
We seek to profile the needs of every learner, and for them to discover and understand their potential.
Should you have any queries, please call our hotline at 64445700, or email us at enrol@das.org.sg.
TESTIMONIAL FOR SPLD ASSESSMENT SERVICES
I am writing to thank the Dyslexia Association of Singapore (DAS) for all you do for the special needs community in Singapore, and specifically, for my family.
Your testing services and experts helped set us on the right path to getting the assessment and help that my son needs. Before coming to DAS, my husband and I were at a loss as to where to seek reliable and professional help for my son. We weren’t even certain where to begin looking. Luckily for us, we were told to look up DAS.
We really appreciate the fact that we could refer our son to you for testing without needing another medical or educational professional to support the referral. The said professionals we consulted all neglected the signs that something was amiss.
Although the tests showed that my son was not dyslexic, they did surface some unusual results. Most importantly, your psychologist not only recommended that we consider having him tested for autism, but she also recorded that opinion in her official report. With that crucial recommendation in hand, we were able to secure a polyclinic doctor’s referral to the Child Guidance Clinic at the Health Promotion Board. The fact that DAS is a well-respected, non-profit organisation went a long way in ensuring that the polyclinic doctor took our son’s case seriously.
Our son was eventually diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, dyspraxia and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. This led to him receiving the therapy and educational accommodations he needs.
In short, although my son’s condition did not fall under the direct purview of DAS, your organisation and its people were pivotal for him to eventually get the support he needs.
And for that, my family and I are most grateful.
Yours faithfully,
Mrs Eileen Aung-Thwin
OUR PSYCHOLOGISTS
The SAS comprises a team of Registered Psychologists, Senior Specialist Psychologists as well as Specialist Psychologists who receive intensive training to ensure that they are well skilled to carry out psycho-educational assessments. Besides learners with SpLD, SAS psychologists contribute to the community with their work with professionals from different Social Service Agencies and organisations as well as parents to empower them. Our psychologists are also constantly undergoing professional development, such as attending related seminars/talks, conducting research, presenting at conferences, and inviting consultants to learn from their expertise. We also have a team of Referral Reading Officers (RRO) and Student Services Officers (SSO) who provide screening services and administrative support.
Specialist Psychologist
The Specialist Psychologist has a first degree in Psychology and his/her work is supervised by a Registered Psychologist. He/She is trained to assess for dyslexia at the DAS.
Senior Specialist Psychologist
The Senior Specialist Psychologist has a first degree in Psychology, has worked for more than 4 to 5 years in the capacity of a Specialist Psychologist at the DAS and his/her work is supervised by a Registered Psychologist. He/She may also have a Masters in the field of Psychology but has yet to attain registration status. He/She is trained to assess for dyslexia and other SpLDs at the DAS.
Registered Psychologist
The Registered Psychologist has been awarded a Masters or Doctoral degree in Psychology from a recognised institution. He/She is registered with a recognised national registration board (such as the Singapore Psychological Society).
Referral Reading Officer
The Referral Reading Officer has a degree or diploma in Psychology. He/She supports the processing of referrals to the DAS and is involved in the screening of students for dyslexia. Referral Reading Officers work closely with both the administrative colleagues and psychologists within the team.
Student Services Officer
Student Services Officers support the administrative functions within the team, such as the processing of referrals, scheduling of appointments, and supporting the screening process. They work closely with the team to ensure the smooth provision of services by the team.
What is an assessment?
A psycho-educational assessment is an evaluation of an individual's cognitive abilities, academic skills and/or behaviours to determine their areas of strengths and weaknesses. Such assessments can serve to ascertain if a and individual has a learning or neurodevelopmental difficulty, as well as to identify areas of learning needs. Findings from a psycho-educational assessment can help to identify suitable avenues of support as well.
Screening Tests
A psycho-educational assessment is different from a screening test. For parents who have sent their child for screening prior to this application, please be aware that results from these screenings only yield an at-risk indication and cannot be taken to be confirmation of having a specific learning difficulty Such a diagnosis can only be obtained through a formal assessment by a psychologist, psychiatrist, occupational therapist, and/or speech and language therapist, depending on the nature of the concern.
What Do We Assess For?
SpLD Assessment Services (SAS) aims to be a one-stop assessment centre, where various referral concerns can be addressed. Psycho-educational assessments are conducted for struggling learners ranging from preschool age to tertiary level students. Assessments and consultations are also available for adults with literacy concerns.
We offer the following range of assessments:
Assessment Type |
Age group |
|
| Dyslexia | a specific learning difficulty in reading, spelling and writing | All age groups - from children to adults. Children who are at least 6 years old (For children who are 6 years old, it is recommended that they receive at least 6 months of phonics intervention prior to the assessment) |
| Dyscalculia | a specific learning difficulty in Mathematics | Children who are at least 7 years old |
| Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) | a neurodevelopmental disorder where there is increased inattention, disorganisation and/or hyperactivity/impulsivity | |
| Autism Spectrum Disorder | a neurodevelopmental disorder where there are deficits in social communication and interaction, as well as the presence of restricted and repetitive patterns of behaviour and interests | |
| Intellectual Disability | a disorder where there are deficits in intellectual and adaptive functioning | Children who are at least 6 years old |
| Giftedness | where an individual shows exceptionally well-developed intellectual abilities | Children who are at least 5 years old |
| School Readiness | whether a preschooler is ready to access mainstream primary school education Consultation | Children who are 5 and 6 years old only |
Other Services |
|
| Consultation |
Speak to our registered psychologist regarding your concerns and address any queries you have. Working adults are strongly recommended to consult our registered psychologists before proceeding with an assessment. Please note that an hourly rate will be charged. |
| Supporting letters | Parents can request letters supporting the application of access arrangements for assessments conducted by DAS psychologists, within 3 years of the assessment date. The first supporting letter following assessment will be written at no cost, and subsequent letters will be chargeable at prevailing rates. Please note that request for a supporting letter will be evaluated on a case by case basis. |
What can I expect from an assessment?
Depending on the type of psycho-educational assessment to be conducted, the tests administered and session duration will differ. The follow details a typical diagnosis process:
One password-protected soft copy psychological report will be provided for each assessment.
Clients can also request for additional copies of the report that can be provided at no charge within a month of the original report sent date, limited to the following quantity:
1) One additional soft copy (i.e. one additional email)
2) Up to two hard copy reports within a month of the date that the initial report was sent.
The provision of additional reports will be chargeable at prevailing rates, if the above-mentioned number of reports have been provided, or if requests are made one month after the date on which the original report was sent.
SpLD Assessment Services Fees
Prices will vary depending on the type/number of areas for investigation, citizenship, or preference of the psychologist.
| wef 1 Jul 2023 | ||
| Areas of Investigation | Singapore Citizen | Singapore PR/Foreigner |
| Dyslexia | From $1,417.40 | From $1,700.90 |
| Dyslexia Review Assessment | From $1,063.05 | From $1,275.68 |
| Adult Dyslexia | From S$2,123.55 | From S$2,548.25 |
| ADHD | From S$1,592.66 | From $1,911.19 |
| Dyscalculia | From S$1,857.98 | From S$2,229.56 |
| School Readiness / Giftedness / ID | From S$1,417.40 | From S$1,700.90 |
| Autism Spectrum Disorder | From S$2,831.05 | From S$3,397.25 |
Example of bursary recipient
John is a 14-year-old student. His parents brought him to the DAS as they were concerned with his difficulties in reading and spelling. John's parents and his teachers did not report any other difficulties. An assessment of dyslexia costs approximately $1,417.40. John's family applied to DAS for a bursary and based on their family income, they were awarded a 50% bursary. They, therefore, paid only $708.70 for the dyslexia assessment.
WAITING TIME
Our current average wait time is approximately *^6 to 10 weeks.
* The average waiting time will vary from period to period as the DAS receives referrals from our clients on a daily basis. This applies where no additional information/documents are required, barring the discovery of additional pertinent information during the course of the assessment.
^ Waiting time updated as of 25 October 2022.
^ Waiting time updated as of 25 October 2022.
PROVISION OF PSYCHOLOGICAL reports
One password-protected soft copy psychological report will be provided for each assessment.
Within one month from the original report date, clients can request one additional soft copy and up to two hard copy reports at no charge. Otherwise, the provision of additional reports will be chargeable at prevailing rates starting from $64.80.
PROVISION OF SUPPORTING LETTER
Request for a supporting letter may be made for valid psychological reports (within 3 years from the last assessment date).
The first copy (softcopy only) will be free and subsequent request(s) will be chargeable at the prevailing rates.
All fees are inclusive of the prevailing GST of 8%.
FROM JULY 2023
**DAS will be revising the fees for our assessment services from 1 July, 2023. DAS has kept our fees affordable for our parents over the years. This increase is necessary for DAS to reduce the financial deficit caused by increasing operational costs as we strive to maintain quality programmes and services.
Although the DAS assessment service is not funded by any government agency, DAS provides full or partial waiver of fees for students from less resourced families through donations from generous donors. For Singaporean families who need financial assistance, bursaries ranging from 33% to 100% will continue to be available. Each year, DAS has to raise around over $2.3 million in donations to provide bursaries for needy students attending non-government funded programmes and services, and the past pandemic year has been especially difficult for fundraising.
Kindly note that assessment applications submitted before 30 June 2023 will not be affected by the fee revision if the assessment is completed before 31 December 2023.
For example:
| Assessment application submission | 30 June 2023 or earlier | 1 July 2023 and thereafter |
| Assessment conducted | 16 August 2023 | 16 August 2023 |
| Assessment fee | Based on existing fees | Based on revised fees |
We value our parents’ faith in us to deliver the absolute best services for our children. We seek your understanding and support to move forward together for the educational success of our children.
For parents/caregivers who have submitted applications for assessments, our team will be in touch with you as soon as we can. We seek your patience and understanding as we work to ensure that assessments are conducted safely.
When planning for an Assessment please take note of the following:
Kindly fill up this form only if you wish to apply for a psychological assessment to be conducted for your child.
As part of the application for a psychological assessment, this form is to be submitted together with the following documents:
- Learning Difficulties Checklist (attached)
- Teacher’s Questionnaire (attached)
- Copies of your child’s national and school exam result slips
- Examples of your child’s work
- Copy of your child’s B/C
- Reports are provided by a psychologist, occupational therapist or speech and language therapist (if any)
Kindly note that no refunds will be given once our psychologist has commenced the assessment.
For parents who have sent their child for screening prior to this application, please be aware that results from these screenings only yield an at-risk indication and cannot be taken to be confirmation of having a specific learning difficulty. Such a diagnosis can only be obtained through a formal assessment by a psychologist, psychiatrist, occupational therapist, and/or speech and language therapist, depending on the nature of the concern.
Our current average wait time is approximately 10 – 12 weeks*^
However, if you require an urgent assessment, you may want to consider our DAS International Assessment Services that are offered to clients who request for the assessments and/or reports to be expedited. Learn more about our DAS International Assessments here.
You can contact us at 6444 5700 for more information about this.
* The average waiting time will vary from period to period as the DAS receives referrals from our clients on a daily basis.
^ Waiting time updated as of 21 June 2022
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the Dyslexia Association of Singapore (DAS)?
DAS is a one-stop centre that provides a full range of services to help individuals with dyslexia. We are composed of a multi-disciplinary team of psychologists, speech & language therapists and educational therapists. This group integrates with the team of lecturers, marketing and operations teams to educate professionals, teachers and parents on dyslexia and how to support a dyslexic individual. This approach ensures that the physical, social, psychological, emotional and even financial needs of the DAS students are looked into.
What is the SpLD Assessment Services (SAS)?
The SAS is a department that manages admissions into the Dyslexia Association of Singapore. Administratively, the team reviews applications for assessments and placements and advises parents on suitable next steps. The SAS also comprises a team of Registered Psychologists and Specialist Psychologists who have been trained to assess for dyslexia. The team of Registered Psychologists is also able to assess for other learning differences such as dyscalculia, as well as assess for difficulties in attention and social skills.
What is done in an Assessment?
The main aim of the assessment is to find the best way of helping you/your child. During the assessment, various tests that assess areas of intellectual functioning, literacy skills, phonological processing skills, attention, handwriting and/or social skills will be used to find out you/your child’s areas of strengths and weaknesses, according to the referral query and areas of needs. If the person to be assessed is a school-going individual, we will also be obtaining information from parents and teachers to better understand the individual’s difficulties in the home and school environment.
What happens after an Assessment?
After an assessment, our psychologists will have a feedback session with you to explain to you/your child’s assessment results. During this time, the psychologists may also share strategies that may be helpful in working with the areas of weakness. This will be followed by a written report. The DAS assessment report is recognised by most Singaporean organisations and government bodies such as the Ministry of Education. Please note that these reports are only valid until three years after the date of the first assessment.
If your child is found to have dyslexia, then a recommendation will be made for our Main Literacy Programme (MLP).
What is the Main Literacy Programme (MLP)?
The Main Literacy Programme (MLP) provides a comprehensive and quality curriculum to support dyslexic students facing literacy challenges. The MLP Curriculum integrates key essential learning components that are crucial in remediating students with learning difficulties. Depending on your child’s needs and progress, the following components may be covered in the curriculum:
- Phonemic Awareness and Phonics
- Reading Fluency
- Reading Comprehension
- Vocabulary
- Writing
Click here for more details.
How much does an assessment cost?
To view all fees, click here for more details.
Is there any financial assistance available?
Yes, DAS offers bursaries to families to offset the cost of assessments and/or educational therapy. Please speak to the Customer Service Officer at 6444 5700 or visit www.das.org.sg for more information.
What are the qualifications of the DAS Psychologists?
Specialist Psychologist
The Specialist Psychologist has a first degree in Psychology and his/her work is supervised by a Registered Psychologist. He/She is trained to assess for dyslexia at the DAS.
Senior Specialist Psychologist
The Senior Specialist Psychologist has a first degree in Psychology, has worked for more than 4 to 5 years in the capacity of a Specialist Psychologist at the DAS and his/her work is supervised by a Registered Psychologist. He/She may also have a Masters in the field of Psychology but has yet to attain registration status. He/She is trained to assess for dyslexia and other SpLDs at the DAS.
Registered Psychologist
The Registered Psychologist has been awarded a Masters or Doctoral degree in Psychology from a recognised institution. He/She is registered with a recognised national registration board (such as the Singapore Psychological Society).
Referral Reading Officer
The Referral Reading Officer has a degree or diploma in Psychology. He/She supports the processing of referrals to the DAS and is involved in the screening of students for dyslexia. Referral Reading Officers work closely with both the administrative colleagues and psychologists within the team.
Student Services Officer
Student Services Officers support the administrative functions within the team, such as the processing of referrals, scheduling of appointments, and supporting the screening process. They work closely with the team to ensure the smooth provision of services by the team.
How long is the waiting time for assessment or placement?
The waiting time for assessments varies over the course of the year. Please refer here for the current waiting time. The waiting time for placement is 3 weeks.
How do I apply for an assessment/programme for my child?
You may apply for our assessment through our online Main Application Form here
What happens after I submit my application?
After we receive your application and payment of the administrative fee has been made, we will be in touch with you within 1-2 weeks to follow-up with the next steps in your child's application for assessment. Please refer to here for more information regarding what to expect next.
How long is the assessment?
The duration of the session depends on the type of assessment. Most assessments are conducted within 2-4 hours and sometimes, an assessment may take more than one session. Further details will be provided when we get in touch with you regarding your application.