Dyslexia in kids - how to address
Discussion
My daughter (now 10) was diagnosed as having severe dyslexia a couple of years ago - school didn't pick up on it and we had to address it ourselves so took her to an Educational Psychologist who did a full assessment
Soon after we moved house and changed school - school were great, very supportive with extra help etc and we were happy with the progress.
Took her back to the Ed-Psych this week and nothing has changed - over the last two years the gap between where she should be in terms of reading and spelling against her attainment has stayed the same.
The other tests indicate that she's a perfectly bright, above average kid.
The recommendation from the Ed-Psych is that she urgently needs targeted intervention from a dyslexia specialist - and that we should apply to get her a statement of special educational needs to address this. Or we send her to a private dyslexia specialist school.
Everyone we have spoken to has said there is no way on earth we will get a statement for her from the local authority to get the school additional funding.
There is no dyslexia specialist school anywhere near us - the only option would be to send her to board which she would not deal with at all well (a weekend away at the grandparents often results in an emotional meltdown) and, whilst this isn't a particular PH admission, we simply cannot afford to do that with 3 kids and one salary.
We are going to go through the process of trying to get a statement - and we are speaking with the school to demand, as far as we can, that they bring in a specialist - but I suspect that this will very much be an uphill struggle.
Anyone else gone through something similar? It would be great to get some advice..
Soon after we moved house and changed school - school were great, very supportive with extra help etc and we were happy with the progress.
Took her back to the Ed-Psych this week and nothing has changed - over the last two years the gap between where she should be in terms of reading and spelling against her attainment has stayed the same.
The other tests indicate that she's a perfectly bright, above average kid.
The recommendation from the Ed-Psych is that she urgently needs targeted intervention from a dyslexia specialist - and that we should apply to get her a statement of special educational needs to address this. Or we send her to a private dyslexia specialist school.
Everyone we have spoken to has said there is no way on earth we will get a statement for her from the local authority to get the school additional funding.
There is no dyslexia specialist school anywhere near us - the only option would be to send her to board which she would not deal with at all well (a weekend away at the grandparents often results in an emotional meltdown) and, whilst this isn't a particular PH admission, we simply cannot afford to do that with 3 kids and one salary.
We are going to go through the process of trying to get a statement - and we are speaking with the school to demand, as far as we can, that they bring in a specialist - but I suspect that this will very much be an uphill struggle.
Anyone else gone through something similar? It would be great to get some advice..
The only advise I can give is don't keep talking about it in front of the child. Don't use it as a badge for the child, be there for them. Give the praise for all the positives. Focus on the talent they hold.
Great people have been dyslexic! Including me.
Im 40 now and still can't remember my b's and d's. I can read a book cover to cover in a record time but I can't read it out loud. I was always put down at school by teachers told I would be nothing. I paid my mortgage off by the time I was 28 and now live in a £525k house.
Even my mum made me feel stupid. No one knows I'm dyslexic at work I've hidden it well. Spell check has been a life saver as has google.
I wish you every luck, but you and your daughter will find an amazing talent and be able to work on that strength.
Great people have been dyslexic! Including me.
Im 40 now and still can't remember my b's and d's. I can read a book cover to cover in a record time but I can't read it out loud. I was always put down at school by teachers told I would be nothing. I paid my mortgage off by the time I was 28 and now live in a £525k house.
Even my mum made me feel stupid. No one knows I'm dyslexic at work I've hidden it well. Spell check has been a life saver as has google.
I wish you every luck, but you and your daughter will find an amazing talent and be able to work on that strength.
Hi there is hope, my son is dyslexic it took a while to fully recognise as he suffered from glue ear. We were told once his ears are sorted he would pick up. This didn't happen and that's when they tested him for dyslexia. This was in year 5, the school then suggested the statement root for extra funding. We were initially horrified at the statement label, but after looking into it, it was the right thing to do. We got a lot more say in choosing the right high school. All the extra intervention has paid off, he's now 15 and on target for decent grades. All the teachers know, generally support in the class room, extra time for exams, he gets a reader, uses a chromebook. He's won awards every year for outstanding reports he's had to work dam hard mind. The progress he has made he has been taken off the statement. Home, school and education authority have to all work together, but when you get them all on side it reallys works. There will be fights do your research.
I did some work for a solicitor whose speciality was suing local authorities on behalf of kids needing such special ed help. She has a very nice (expensive) house; it's a big thing these days. Seems like a lot of things today there is the help you need out, and of course in theory it exists for everyone who needs it, but in reality there isn't half enough to go around and gaining access to it can be a fight. Good luck. Oh and as said it's normally a 2 sided coin, focus on the things shes really good at.
Thanks for all the advice folks.
My daughter is well aware of her Dyslexia and how much it effects her - it was her who flagged it too us when she was 7 as she noticed that she couldn't spell or read as well as the other kids in her school - I've always told her that she cannot use it as an excuse for anything and she is very good about dealing with it - but she is also bright enough to realise how much it disadvantages her.
I do tell her of course about the litany of great minds who have been dyslexic, frankly I think that makes me feel better about it than her. As she will be going to secondary in a couple if years it's a real worry - she will invariably be streamed by ability and fall into the bottom set due to her dyslexia, exams will be a real problem for her as she will struggle to read and understand the questions - and then to write down legible answers that are largely devoid of vowels - and complete any of it in the allotted time.
A statement (EHCP as it is now) would be hugely helpful in enabling the school to bring in specialists - but the consensus from everyone in the know seems to be 'not a cat in hells chance'.
Boarding at a specialist school isn't really an option - it would be very expensive but more to the point she wouldn't deal well with being sent away so that would cause a lot of angst for a 10 year old girl - and both myself and my wife.
We'll fight to get an EHCP as it seems to be out only option - otherwise she will be left to struggle on which is heartbreaking to see.
Kids eh?
My daughter is well aware of her Dyslexia and how much it effects her - it was her who flagged it too us when she was 7 as she noticed that she couldn't spell or read as well as the other kids in her school - I've always told her that she cannot use it as an excuse for anything and she is very good about dealing with it - but she is also bright enough to realise how much it disadvantages her.
I do tell her of course about the litany of great minds who have been dyslexic, frankly I think that makes me feel better about it than her. As she will be going to secondary in a couple if years it's a real worry - she will invariably be streamed by ability and fall into the bottom set due to her dyslexia, exams will be a real problem for her as she will struggle to read and understand the questions - and then to write down legible answers that are largely devoid of vowels - and complete any of it in the allotted time.
A statement (EHCP as it is now) would be hugely helpful in enabling the school to bring in specialists - but the consensus from everyone in the know seems to be 'not a cat in hells chance'.
Boarding at a specialist school isn't really an option - it would be very expensive but more to the point she wouldn't deal well with being sent away so that would cause a lot of angst for a 10 year old girl - and both myself and my wife.
We'll fight to get an EHCP as it seems to be out only option - otherwise she will be left to struggle on which is heartbreaking to see.
Kids eh?
Mr Gearchange said:
I do tell her of course about the litany of great minds who have been dyslexic, frankly I think that makes me feel better about it than her. As she will be going to secondary in a couple if years it's a real worry - she will invariably be streamed by ability and fall into the bottom set due to her dyslexia, exams will be a real problem for her as she will struggle to read and understand the questions - and then to write down legible answers that are largely devoid of vowels - and complete any of it in the allotted time.
She should be able to use a computer to do her exams. If necessary she can even have someone read the questions to her and write her answers! I was diagnosed as severely dyslexic in the 1970's and I used a computer to do O' level and A levels in the 1980's. It was a real fight to be allowed to to do this then.With the introduction of the Equality Act in 2010 it's a far simpler process as the exam boards have duty to ensure everyone is treated fairly. I used to do some tutoring with dyslexic kids on computer skills before they were widely taught in schools. The course work I used is available as an online course called Touch Type Read And Spell. If she hasn't already done this course I would highly recommend it. It's used by the British Dyslexia Association and was developed with their help.
My daughter was diagnosed with Arlenes syndrome (similar to dyslexia) and dyspraxia about 3 months before her GCSE's.
If you speak to the SEN person at school they will arrange extra time in exams in our daughter was allowed to use a laptop too.
being picked up late her forecast grades at GCE were a few c's but mostly D's and E's. She got 8 A's and 2 B's.
She was also prescribed some yellow tinted glasses which she said stopped the letters jumping about on the page.
Because it was picked up late (Grammar school) and she was doing poorly at school, she now has massive self esteem issues and this has lead on to all sorts of mental health issues. I therefore urge you to get all the help from school and professionals as early as you can. In our experience you have to push and push and push.
If you speak to the SEN person at school they will arrange extra time in exams in our daughter was allowed to use a laptop too.
being picked up late her forecast grades at GCE were a few c's but mostly D's and E's. She got 8 A's and 2 B's.
She was also prescribed some yellow tinted glasses which she said stopped the letters jumping about on the page.
Because it was picked up late (Grammar school) and she was doing poorly at school, she now has massive self esteem issues and this has lead on to all sorts of mental health issues. I therefore urge you to get all the help from school and professionals as early as you can. In our experience you have to push and push and push.
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