The impact of dyslexia on assessments
According to scientists, 3 to 5 percent of the population in the Netherlands is dyslexic. This means that around 1 in 20 people has dyslexia. So it's no wonder that our advisors and test developers are regularly asked: How does dyslexia affect candidates' performance when conducting assessments? Before answering this question, let's dive into the definition of dyslexia and review the scientific background.
What is dyslexia?
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), dyslexia is a disorder where people experience difficulty reading, spelling, and writing. For example, they have trouble reading comprehension or spelling words correctly. This is not caused by other neurological and/or psychological disorders. People with dyslexia may experience problems that hamper their academic performance, work-related tasks, or daily functioning.
The definition of dyslexia is still evolving in science. Various studies show little difference in performance between children with dyslexia and children without dyslexia in different tasks. In addition, analyses of neurological imaging techniques, such as fMRI scans, show no significant differences in brain activity between people with dyslexia and those without dyslexia. There is also no strong relationship between a person's IQ and dyslexia. So it has nothing to do with intelligence.
Studies therefore show that no clearly defined differences have yet been found between people with and without dyslexia; dyslexia seems to be mainly characterized by a different performance on reading and spelling tasks.
Dyslexia and IQ measurement
IQ is a general term for the ability to solve problems and recognize important patterns. To measure a person's IQ, Ixly offers the General Intelligence Adaptive Capability Test (ACT) on. The ACT consists of three subtests - numerical, abstract and verbal - that together measure the domain of intelligence.
The verbal subtest, which uses the “verbal analogy” task, appears to mainly raise questions among our customers who are dealing with dyslexic candidates. In the verbal subtest, candidates must find a relationship between two words, based on two examples of the connection. For example: table-chair, plate-fork,? -?.
As mentioned earlier, dyslexia is mainly related to reading tasks and has no proven influence on intelligence. The verbal subtest is mainly about recognizing connections between four words, not so much about a reading assignment. In addition, all candidates can read the instructions without a time limit prior to the actual test. As a result, it seems unlikely that people with dyslexia have a disadvantage when filling in verbal questions in intelligence tests compared to people without this disorder. However, it is important to discuss this thoroughly with the candidate and to make sure that they feel comfortable. If there is significant added stress on the candidate, you can apply an adapted version, for example by giving extra time for the verbal components in the ACT test.
Minimal impact on IQ tests
There is still intensive research into the relationship between dyslexia and intelligence. Scientific analyses have so far shown little difference in performance between dyslexic and non-dyslexic individuals. The impact of dyslexia on IQ tests appears to be minimal. Nevertheless, the candidate's experience remains central to completing an assessment. To improve the experience for candidates with dyslexia and make it more enjoyable, adjustments may be necessary.
If you have any questions or would like more advice about the options, please get in touch with Ixly.
