You've completed the assessment, and now you have a results page in front of you with terms like symbol imagery and concept imagery, along with a set of scores that may or may not mean much to you on their own. This is where a lot of parents feel a bit stuck — the hard part of scheduling and completing the assessment is done, but understanding what it actually tells you is a different challenge entirely.
A Quick Recap of What's Being Measured
A Lindamood-Bell Assessment looks specifically at two underlying skills: symbol imagery, the ability to visualize letters and sounds within words, which supports accurate reading and spelling; and concept imagery, the ability to form a mental picture from language, which drives comprehension. These are different from basic decoding accuracy, which is why this assessment can reveal things a standard reading test might miss.
What Your Specific Results Are Telling You
If your child's results show weaker symbol imagery, this typically points toward difficulty with reading fluency, spelling, and accurate word recognition, even if basic decoding seems okay on the surface. If results show weaker concept imagery, this typically points toward difficulty with comprehension — understanding and remembering what's read or heard, even when word reading itself is accurate.
Signs and Symptoms That Often Match Each Pattern
- Weaker symbol imagery often shows up as: slow, effortful reading, inconsistent spelling, difficulty with reading fluency
- Weaker concept imagery often shows up as: reading words accurately but struggling to explain what was read, difficulty following multi-step directions or longer stories
How Parents Can Understand Their Child's Specific Profile
Ask the person who conducted the assessment to walk you through exactly which specific area showed the most significant difficulty, and what that means in practical, everyday terms — not just the technical scores. A good explanation should help you recognize the pattern in your child's actual daily reading behavior, not just on paper.
Common Problems and Possible Solutions
A common mistake is treating all reading difficulties as the same and applying a generic reading program regardless of what the assessment actually showed. The value of a Lindamood-Bell Assessment specifically is that it points toward a targeted program matched to the actual skill gap, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
What Parents Can Do at Home
- Ask for a plain-language summary of the results if the report itself feels too technical
- Notice which everyday reading behaviors match the specific pattern identified in the assessment
- Avoid assuming general reading practice alone will address a specific symbol or concept imagery gap
- Keep the results on hand for any future conversations with teachers or specialists
What Kind of Professional Support May Help?
If symbol imagery is the primary gap, our Seeing Stars® program is built specifically to strengthen it. If concept imagery is the primary gap, our Visualizing and Verbalizing® program addresses that directly. You can learn more about our full Lindamood-Bell® program offerings as well.
How Long Can Improvement Take?
This varies by child and by the specific pattern identified, but many families notice meaningful movement within a few months of consistent, targeted instruction matched to their child's actual assessment results.
How The Learnability Can Help
At The Learnability, we're happy to review Lindamood-Bell Assessment results completed elsewhere and explain exactly what they mean for your child, along with a specific program recommendation matched to those results. Reach out to us to talk through your child's results.
About The Learnability and Founder Laila Madhani
The Learnability was founded by Laila Madhani, who leads our approach to individualized, evidence-informed learning support for children and families. You can learn more about our story and approach on our About Us page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my child have weaknesses in both symbol imagery and concept imagery?
Yes, and when this is the case, a combined or sequential approach addressing both may be recommended.
Do I need to redo the assessment if I already have results from elsewhere?
No, existing results can typically be reviewed directly to determine the right next step.
What if the results seem inconsistent with what I see at home?
This is worth discussing directly with a specialist, since real-world behavior and formal testing can sometimes differ for various reasons.
Does my child need a diagnosis in addition to this assessment?
Not necessarily. This assessment can guide next steps on its own, without a separate formal diagnosis.
Can the follow-up program be delivered online?
Yes, Lindamood-Bell-based programs can be delivered effectively online, one-on-one.
Conclusion and Next Step
Assessment results are only useful once you understand what they mean and act on them. Contact The Learnability to talk through your child's results and the right next step.
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The Learnability is not affiliated with, certified, endorsed, licensed, monitored, or sponsored by Lindamood-Bell® or its founders. Lindamood-Bell® does not endorse or monitor the services provided by The Learnability.