Labels describe groups of characteristics- but we work with people

I have been asked as a clinician "So does he have Dyslexia or not?" ( or ADHD; DCD; ASD).

Sometimes this can be very hard to answer as the diagnosis should never be made by one test.

We need to take into context other factors in that person's lives such as their educational background e.g. have they attended school; moved around, their medical history  e.g. has the individual had a head injury that could have affected their ability to focus?What is their SES background?What opportunities have they had for good consistent teaching and support at home and school? All these factors are important in determining the answer and even then it can be 'greyish'. 

All these factors are important in determining the answer and even then it can be 'greyish'.  Terms like Dyslexia and ADHD are descriptive and not categorical, and so a decision to say a child or adult has A or B is made on gathering the history and then drawing conclusions. The most important thing of all is that the 'formula' should result in support and guidance ( where needed) for that individual person, and not the label..

Osler once said "Medicine is a science of uncertainty and an art of probability.The good physician treats the disease; the great physician treats the patient who has the disease. 

It can be important to ask questions such as :

Why is the diagnosis important now... what resources/help/support will it provide? Will it provide a means of explanation to others?

Can it be constraining or defining - as others see you are dyslexic rather than someone with dyslexia.

The benefits of  having conversations about using terms such as 'neurodiversity' allow a conversation about strengths as well as challenges. It also means we describe people in the context of their lives, both past and present.

See www.doitprofiler.com for more on this...

As Osler said: "The value of experience is not seeing much but seeing wisely"