What test for dyslexia diag. for K?

My son is 5 1/2 and also in kindergarten. He is being tested with the Weschler Preschool and Primary scale of intelligence and than the Brigance. I had to do some reading to understand them but they seem to be evaluations that help.
He is also going to have a speech and language evaluation.

My family is also heavily learning disabled so I requested as much of an evaluation as I could get. The school district here is less than cooperative. They said that all 5 and 6 year olds have trouble with letters, regardless of family history. I know that is total bull but that is how my school district is.

http://alpha.fdu.edu/psychology/CTOPP.htm

The website above list almost every test. I emailed Ron Dumont one of the Professor that runs the site and he answered me right away and was really helpful.

I know schools don’t like to be told what to do but to me it sounds like you need a better assessment for your son! Good Luck!!

Dawn

A developmental class will offer little benefit to your child if his difficulties are due to LD. Get an evaluation before you make a decision.

I would look at a program to help him develop the skills he needs.
www.audiblox2000.com This would have to be done at home.

Go to a clinic that specializes in dyslexia and have him tested if you really want to know. It is unlikely that the school will identify LD this early. As Anitya said, if he is dyslexic you need some different therapy than the developmental class will provide. That would mainly help kids who need another year of maturity before first grade. The school might not even have effective LD remediation anyway. If you can afford it, I’d always get an outside eval and not waste time with the school. Then you can always bring the outside eval and prove to the school that it is warranted for them to do an eval if you think they have services that would be worthwhile.

Janis

Got a letter from the Dyslexia teacher yesterday! Permission slip to further evaluate/test my son for dyslexia. I was thrilled, I guess his developmental test results were scattered. Sorry if I sound excited, I am! I just want him to get help early, he is such a sweet smart boy, he is just stumped by those darn letter and number symbols. I hope and pray they take him. They typically don’t look at Kinders, but I guess since I taught 1st grade so long they think maybe I know what I am talking about when I say something is not right. For all those parents who don’t know where to start, request the formal evaluation! It really makes the staff know you are serious and that you have real concerns. And they have to address your concerns by law. I really feel for those parents who don’t know the law, and have children who slip through the cracks. Please spread the word friends. From a former teacher and now an advocate for my children don’t be afraid to get involved and get your child what they need. I know the “squeaky wheel gets the grease”. (I used to quietly tell parents to request testing in writing, my principal would have been very upset had she known I did that.) The teachers are on your side also, just let them know that you are there to help in any way with your child, when that doesn’t work, they will stand behind you and work hard to document what they need to to get results. Thanks for all your advice. Hopefully we will get my son the help he needs soon.

testing

He may not understand that the phonemes represent sounds in our english language and he is compensating by using his visual skills to memorize things. Did he have any ear infections when he was little? What about his articulation? Did he have problems learning nursery rhymes and songs?

A speech and language evaluation should uncover what is stopping him from making connections…

Pattim can you tell me what all they are testing for in a speech and language eval. I am knew at this and every where people are asking about that same testing. Thanks Shari

Hi Pattim,
Yes he had some ear infections as an infant, but he was a 1st child and he was at the doctor anytime he sneezed.:-) They were not chronic by any means and we really stayed on top of them. His articulation is very good, rhyming gave him major problems until this year in K it clicked. He knows that the symbols have related sounds. Often times he will see a flash card for a letter and say,” R, rabbit, rrrrr” I don’t think he can get the “rrrr” without saying “r, rabbit…”
He rolled over both ways at 6 weeks of age, crawled at 4 months and walked at 8 months. He had too many words to list by 15 months and at 18 months said a five word sentence. His fine motor is poor, he exhibits a “club grip” on his pencil. ALWAYS has HATED coloring, writing, etc. even with pretty markers, cool paper etc. He said it was too hard. During his developmental testing the other day, apparently they asked him to name some animals and his response (according to him) was cobra, wooly mammoth, wooly rhinocerous, and sabre tooth tiger. This is a very typical response for him. He is very articulate, conventional answers for him are not the norm. He is a deep thinker, often daydreams, describes things as if he is seeing pictures in his brain. He actually almost paints a picture with the words he uses. He drew a picture of a time machine in his journal the other day and described in detail where the power pack was and they way it worked. He is an unusual child, as a former 1st grade teacher of 8 years I have had a tough time pinpointing what he is all about. My guess, twice exceptional. Gifted dyslexic. Now let’s see if the school can figure it out.