What is the emotional experience for parents of receiving a Dyslexia diagnosis for their child?

We would like to invite you to take part in a research study, which aims to understand more about the emotional impact for parents of going through, and receiving, their child’s Dyslexia diagnosis. The research findings will help inform counsellors and psychotherapists about the experience, to help them provide support to parents in the future.

Please find below further information about the project, which is being carried out at the University of Roehampton. 

If you think you could help explore this important topic, please get in touch with the researcher, Andrea Luff at Luffa@roehampton.ac.uk or 07867 780131.

What are you trying to find out?

This piece of research aims to understand more about the emotional impact for parents going through, and receiving, a Dyslexia diagnosis for their child.

Why are you doing it?

This topic is of personal interest to Andrea, as a parent of a child with Dyslexia herself. Having personally gone through working towards getting an assessment and receiving a diagnosis for her son, she would like to understand more about the emotional impact that this has had on others. Her hope is that this research will inform counsellors and psychotherapists about parents’ experiences and that this deeper understanding will help them to better provide support to clients in a similar situation in the future.

This research project forms part of a Masters programme in Integrative Psychotherapy and Counselling, at the University of Roehampton.

Why do you need me?

We would like to gain an in-depth understanding of individual, personal perspectives and emotional responses of parents who have gone through the process of reaching a Dyslexia diagnosis for their child. To do this thoroughly, we would like to speak to people with this experience, who are willing to share their thoughts and feelings about it.

Who can take part?

We would like to speak to parents who, within the last six months, have received a Dyslexia diagnosis for a child who is 16 or under and based in the UK.

What would I need to do if I chose to take part?

You would be invited to an interview with me between January and February 2025. These interviews will last for approximately 45-55 minutes and will take place either in your own home, at the Helen Arkell Centre in Farnham, at the University of Roehampton, or online.

What will happen during the interview?

We will be asking you a series of questions, covering different aspects of your experience. This will include how the Dyslexia assessment came about, what you knew about Dyslexia before this process and how you felt about your child’s diagnosis when you received it.

We will be audio-recording the interviews, so that I can fully and accurately capture what is said.

Will the interviews be confidential?

Everything you say will be treated confidentiality. However, there is a limit to this: if you disclose a risk of serious harm then we may need to take appropriate action, which adheres to the BACP Code of Ethics for Conducting Research (2018).

After the interview, we will transcribe it in full and will remove any identifying details about you.  While extracts from the interviews may appear in my report and in any publications arising from it, all personal information will be completely anonymised.

The final research piece will be submitted to the School of Psychology at the University of Roehampton in June 2025. The dissertation would be available to you, should you wish to receive a copy on completion.

Can I change my mind?

There is absolutely no obligation for you to participate in this study. If you do decide to take part, but then change your mind, you can withdraw from the study without needing to provide a reason. If you withdraw from the study before 1st March 2025, then your data can be removed. After this point, data will be anonymised and will no longer be identifiable, therefore the data may not be erased but will only be used in an anonymised form as part of an aggregated dataset.

Will I get paid to take part?

No, no gratuity will be offered to participants by way of an incentive. Unfortunately, a reimbursement of expenses or compensation cannot be provided.

What do I do if I wish to get involved?

Please contact, Andrea Tara Luff: Luffa@roehampton.ac.uk or 07867 780131.

Who can I speak to for more information?

If you have any questions about participating in the study, or would like to discuss the project further, please get in touch with Andrea, using the contact details above.

If you have any concerns, please contact the research supervisor at the University of Roehampton: Kay.capaldi@roehampton.ac.uk

If you would like to contact an independent party, please contact the Dean of Psychology at the University of Roehampton: Yannis.fronimos@roehampton.ac.uk