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An interesting question - but I would suggest it's too early to draw any significant conclusions although some key points for comparison can be identified. There is no doubt that computerised assessment/diagnosis will make a meaningful contribution in time, but, in my opinion, we are not there yet. It is the responsibility of test constructors to demonstrate that their products are both reliable and valid, otherwise there is a high risk of inconsistency and misleading diagnoses. Andi Sanderson's evaluation of StudyScan [Dyslexia, 2000, vol. 6, pps 284-290] should be read by anyone who is thinking of purchasing this software. Anderson concludes that "...more work needs to be undertaken if StudyScan and QuickScan are to be used with confidence." [This was two years ago.] One of the issues addressed by Anderson, and picked up by Philip Teares [[author of Instines] in the following issue of Dyslexia, is that of the time it takes to work through StudyScan [can be hours], plus the volume of paperwork [i.e. the printout]. Students I've seen have who have used StudyScan have made exactly the same point and I heard recently about one Irish university which has stopped using StudyScan. An important point made by Philip Teares is the need to have age-related norms. If these are not provided I would not go anywhere near the test. For example, a score of 37 on the WAIS Symbol Search subtest would result in an average score for an 18-year-old student but a score more than one standard deviation higher for a 58-year-old student [I see quite a few mature students.] Until a publisher of a test can offer evidence on test-retest reliablity, clinical data, and age-related norms, I would advise that the use of any computerised form be treated for what it is: a product in development. It would also be helpful if developers could bear in mind the issue of students with English as a second language [a real issue for many universities. For example, I believe that about 30% of South Bank University studensts have ESL], plus the severely dyslexic. David David Grant, PhD., Chartered Psychologist dyslexia diagnosis - a specialist service for students 3 Rosebank Road Hanwell London W7 2EW Tel: 020 8579 1902 e-mail: [log in to unmask] ---------- >From: Peter Hill <[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Computerised dyslexia screening >Date: Mon, Dec 9, 2002, 6:17 pm > >Hi > >I asked the following on another forum recently - but the response was >alittle muted. So... (apologies to those who received it elsewhere)... > >I wonder if anyone has had the opportunity to compare up-to-date >versions of computerised adult dyslexia screening tests such as >Quickscan, Instines and LADS. > >Any info gratefully received. > >Regards > >Peter Hill > >-- >01527 500324 >[log in to unmask] >www.study-pro.com > >Dyslexia Consultancy and Resources