2 years ago my 8 year old son was diagnosed with ADD. Now that he is in the 2nd grade and is still having problems at school I am wondering if it is at all posible that he could have been misdiagnosed. Last year I spoke with the principal and his teacher and they both told me that it was too early to discuss testing him for possible dyslexia. (I feel it could be dyslexia because of a strong immediate family history & the symtoms that he shows). Now that the school year is half over and his problems in school are mounting. I am going to ask for another evaluation and fight it this time if they say that it is too early. My concerns are coming from he continously is writing letters backwards, had difficulty in pronouncing and spelling words that he should already know, and he is just getting so frustrated at school that he just doesn’t want to go anymore. I need some help with this. Even if it’s advice on how to go about fighting the school system to test him. Thanks to all that respond!!!!
Re: ADD or Dyslexia
Hi, sounds a little familiar!!! My daughter is 8 years old and in the third grade. She is dyslexic/capd-school also thought she was add! I fought the school when allison was in the middle of first grade-did’nt get anywhere. I then called for her to be tested outside of school(my insurance covered it) but could’nt get her in until fall of her second grade year. After I had her tested and found out that she was’nt add-just dyslexia/capd-I learned that legally that if you request that your child be tested in writing, they have honor that and have your child set up for it in 30 days. Obviously they are’nt going to tell you that!!! At least that is how it is here. My daughter is in the resource room for about one hour a day and speech class 2 days a week. I had her tutored last summer and this past fall she had made a remarkable improvement! It is very frustating when you have to fight the school- but finally I did get somewhere and things are going great this year!! Good luck!
Tammy
Re: ADD or Dyslexia
I believe that Tammy is correct. If a parent requests an evaluation, I think they have to at least meet to consider it. I would put the request in a letter with a copy to the principal and the special ed. director and send it certified mail so they have to sign for it and you have proof of the date of receipt. (That is if you think they won’t comply just from an oral request.) There are time lines that must be followed by law.
But it is not an either/or situtation. Your child may be ADD or may not. He may be dyslexic, or he may not. It is true that some kids are misdiagnosed ADD when it is really Auditory Processing Disorder. Some of the symptoms are similar. Medication wil not solve APD, where it may have a positive effect on ADD. Your child does have symptoms of dyslexia, though, and if it were me, I would immediately request a full evaluation including a speech/language evaluation. APD and dyslexia often will show up in low language scores as well as reading, etc.
Janis
Re: ADD or Dyslexia
absolutely right! I too have two boys who are ADHD and Dyslexic. Specificly they are dysgraphic. I too am dyslexic and tried in vain to convince the school that this could be why my kid consistently reverses letters. That is until I found out what the laws says. If you request an evaluation they MUST provide one. I have a form letter you can use to request this. It should be a written request.
http://expage.com/socksandfriends go to the IDEA link page.
Hi, sounds a little familiar!!! My daughter is 8 years old and in the third grade. She is dyslexic/capd-school also thought she was add! I fought the school when allison was in the middle of first grade-did’nt get anywhere. I then called for her to be tested outside of school(my insurance covered it) but could’nt get her in until fall of her second grade year. After I had her tested and found out that she was’nt add-just dyslexia/capd-I learned that legally that if you request that your child be tested in writing, they have honor that and have your child set up for it in 30 days. Obviously they are’nt going to tell you that!!! At least that is how it is here. My daughter is in the resource room for about one hour a day and speech class 2 days a week. I had her tutored last summer and this past fall she had made a remarkable improvement! It is very frustating when you have to fight the school- but finally I did get somewhere and things are going great this year!! Good luck!
Tammy