A number of students do not realise that they are dyslexic until they reach university. When marking student assignments, typical signs of dyslexia might be:

• A marked discrepancy between a student's oral and written ability. He or she may perform well in seminar groups, but find it difficult to articulate ideas in written format.
• Proof-reading errors, ie. Missed words, inaccurate spellings.
• Difficulties with grammar and punctuation.
• Long and/or poorly constructed sentences.
• Repetition of ideas.
• Difficulties with the structure of the piece. The order in which points are made may not seem logical or sequential.
• Paragraphs may seem overly long and not link to the previous or following paragraph.

A student may show just one or all of these signs. If you suspect that a student might be dyslexic, then you could suggest that he or she visit the AccessAbility Centre and book an appointment with a Study Adviser.

The Study Adviser will talk to the student about any difficulties that they are experiencing, and may decide to carry out a screening test to establish whether the student is at risk of having dyslexia. Students may then be referred to an Educational Psychologist or specialist assessor for a full assessment.

If the full assessment suggests that the student is dyslexic, the Psychologist or assessor may recommend:

• Extra time in exams
• One-to-one support from a Study Adviser in the AccessAbility Centre
• Technological support, ie. A computer, specialist software, and/or dictaphone.

Home students are often eligible for a Disabled Students' Allowance which provides funding for the above support. The Disabled Students' Allowance is provided by the student's Local Education Authority.