Interesting article on (and beyond!) social difficulties and

I particuarly liked the correlation between dyslexia and social skills deficits. Many practitioners have pointed to my son’s social skills deficits as evidence of NLD, despite the fact that academically and cognitively he seems more dyslexic. So its very helpful for us — thanks!

From what I’ve read, dyslexia seems to be much broader in scope than most people (including myself!) realize.

My daughter has visual and auditory processing delays, SI problems (hypersensitive to light and sound), motor planning problems, short term memory problems, spatial issues, ADD, sequencing problems, etc. .

Is she dyslexic? Probably. “Dyslexia” doesn’t tell me what to do to address her deficits. I consider it the “cloud”, with all the different and varied “disorders”, the raindrops.

We attack the raindrops.

Often times when speaking with others, I will say my daughter is “dyslexic” in lieu of LD. Mostly b/c “dyslexia” is much more in vogue now that many movie stars are coming out of the closet of “dyslexia” and it tends to put her in a “better light” with peers and UNinformed people. (“WOW, you mean like Tom Cruise, Cher and Charles Schwab”?!

I often, after get the typical response of “Oh, I’m sorry” when I tell someone she’s dyslexic, (like she has a terminal disease Urrr!), go on to explain that “dyslexics” CAN learn to read and be as successful sometimes more, than the average person b/c of their creative minds. They always seems astounded!

I’ll get off MY soapbox now. !

I also use the word dyslexic, and then if I’m speaking with someone really knowledgable will admit that he’s not technically dx as dyslexic, but in fact has a variety of deficits.

However, I ‘ve found the word is socially acceptable (as you’ve noted), most people have some idea of what it means, and my son likes it. For him its better than “reading problem” which sounds negative.

DYSLEXIA - Another reason why evaluators don’t use the “D” word is because they are specifically and legally told NOT to by their school districts who are their employers. Public school districts that do not provide any remediation or services for dyslexics shy away, big time, from the “D” word. Once they acknowledge the ld as dyslexia they open themselves up to having to provide “real” services for the child (instead of mickey-mouse inclusion). It is much easier for them not to walk down that path and wait for the 1 in 1,000 of parents who will force the issue and request true remediation. At that point, the parent (if he wants his child to progress) is usually forced to sue the district and place the child in a private school for dyslexics and pay for it themselves for 2-3 years while the district basically fights over the child’s dyslexia.

Yes, I’ve heard that too, and did talk with a local person who sued the school district in order to get services for her kids (all three were dyslexic - two severely!).

I too prefer using the term dyslexic because it doesn’t require as much explanation as something like SID. Also, try explaining SID and people think you’re a little crazy.

And yet, I’ve noticed a lot of people have some interesting assumptions about dyslexia. For example, I’ve been asked if my son sees every word “backwards.”