My 7 year old son was diagnosed with ADHD and Language based disabilies. Noone has told me what the exact disability is and because he failed to cooperate with the tester we are not sure if it is Dyslexia. He did not cooperate well with the neuropyschologist during his testing this year so alot of the results had to be tossed out. I am planning on having him retested in about 6 months with someone who comes highly recommended by several people. I just am not sure if he is dyslexic or not but from my readings he seems to have alot of the symptoms. Is there another way to tell rather them having him sit through those tests which are very challenging to him and causes him to shutdown. Any input would be much appreciated.
Re: Dyslexia, How do I know?
Kids usually cooperate when they can do something so the fact he wouldn’t cooperate is telling to me. So I would just presume he is dyslexic and go from there. Now you may not be able to get the kind of help you might want from the school without a more definitive diagnosis but I can tell you, from experience, that it usually isn’t enough anyway. I would immed. start working with him yourself using something like Reading Reflex (can be bought at bookstore) or hire a tutor who uses a multisensory approach.
Beth
Re: Dyslexia, How do I know?
Just a quick note. Two indicators to look for with a reading disability are low test scores in phonemic awareness and/or rapid naming. But regardless of this, it never hurts to start working with a good reading program like Reading Reflex.
Re: Dyslexia, How do I know?
A language based learning disability in a child who isn’t reading the way they should is dyslexia in practical terms. You’ll need to remediate those difficulties whether it has an official name or not so time spent there isn’t wasted.
My DS was never diagnosed formally with dyslexia , but was found to meet the criteria for admissions at a school that only accepts kids with language based LD. So I say, call it what you like, but move forward like its dyslexia and you’ll be ahead of the game.
Re: Dyslexia, How do I know?
Agree with the above posts. The dyslexia diagnosis is irrelenant. It means reading disorder. If he is behind in reading, it could be due to the ADHD (if he wasn’t on meds at the time he was being taught to read) or processing problems. Regardless, I’d use something like Reading Reflex to work on it. It would be effective with either issue, as long as the ADHD is under control now.
Janis
Re: Dyslexia, How do I know?
Thanks for your help. We did have my son tutored over the summer using the Orton Gillingham method which I have heard has great success with kids with reading problems. My son during the school year is in an adaptive class for most of the day. I am not sure what method they are using but I know that they do use the Orton Gillingham method on many occasions. I have thought about having him tutored during the school year but by the time he gets home from school he barely wants to do his homework. I try to work with him as much as I can but my patience level is not great. Although the school he is in (public) is accomendating his needs sometimes I wonder if that is enough. Basically he hates to read and that is because he is struggling with it so. When he was recently tested he was reading at the end of Kindergarten level. He is now entering 2nd grade and although he is only really one year behind, I don’t want him to get further behind. I am rambling any input. I think we are doing almost everything possible but maybe we aren’t?
Re: Dyslexia, How do I know?
I recommend Sally Shaywitz’s book ” Overcoming dyslexia” for lots of information on reading disabilities and remediation.
the one thing I took away from this book was the need for intensive remediation - 3 times a day for 2-3 years if I remember correctly, in order for a child to catch up with his /her peers.
When our child was in the mainstream we tutored him after school, over holidays, and for a brief period took him out of school to do Lindamood Bell, which I also recommend.
If there is anyway for you to tutor, even if it means missing the end of the school day, that may be worth it. I know parents that have done this. Anything you do, even going to a private LD school, means some level of compromise.
Re: Dyslexia, How do I know?
The homework versus remediation thing:
He *cannot* do the homework. If he could do it by himself, you wouldn’t be here, right?
So you fight and fight and fight with him trying to make him do something he can’t do, a losing battle. Then you end up doing more than half of it for him because well, he can’t. Both of you end up wrung out, and what has been gained? If he has learned anything at all out of this, it is to hate and fear schoolwork and the written word; it is very unlikely that he has learned any reading or writing.
Basically you want to replace this counterproductive homework battle with the same amount of time spent on effective remediation. LATER, when he can read and write, then he can get back into doing the same homework as everybody else.
If you have a good and concerned teacher, you can talk to her and explain that you want to spend his homework time doing alternate assignments that are suited to his achievement level. Then of course she will say that she just can’t provide a whole different curriculum for just him (true, she can’t double her workload and teach two grades, reasonable), and then you offer to provide materials and tutoring, which you are doing anyway, and you say that you will do whatever is needed, just that you don’t want him to lose marks and fail because he is working to catch up. With luck she’ll allow him credit for his time working with you, especially if you offer to show proof (you can bring in finished workbooks, etc. for his homework grades)
Yes, you are right, he is “only” a year behind, but that year is a hugely important year, the one where basic literacy is established, going from essentially non-reader to fairly independent reader, like the difference in speech between age 1 1/2 and 2 1/2; there is no way he can presently cope with those assignments.
If you’re halfway lucky you will have a teacher who can’t be bothered fussing over the homework and who will just pass him through as long as he’s quiet. Then you can just do your own thing.
If you’re really unlucky you’ll get a stickler who wants everyone in the same lockstep and who values students by pounds of paper handed in. In this case, well you’re helping him anyway, forget fighting to make him do above-level homework on his own, dictate to him the answers he can’t do, get it over with quickly and then do the effective remediation.
I’ve just sent out more batches of my how-to-tutor notes. Feel free to contact me at [email protected] and I will send you a set the next time I get organized.
Re: Dyslexia, How do I know?
It would seem to me that having a psychologist who is familiar with special education testing work with your son to find out what his exact problem is would be a good idea. They can perhaps talk with him before they do any testing to find out what your son is thinking and what he (your son) feels is happening.
Also, when an evaluation is done, there has to be two forms of the evaluation. One way can be to do formal testing, but there are many other options as well. The special education director in your district should be able to help you with options.
Hope this helps!
Sandy
www.ldperspectives.com
All those tests, unfortunately, are the way you get a definite diagnosis. Menawhile you can start right away getting him good reading tutoring — in school if you’re lucky, from a private tutor, or doing it yourself. Read up on effective tutoring methods (ask for my notes — I’m sending out another batch this weekend) and programs, and get going; you don’t have to let him drown for another year.