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HI All-
My 9 year old may be dyslexic, we are having him assessed. This book was recommended to me and it is the best book I have read so far (am reading lots of books related to dyslexia, gifted & talented, and learning disabilities).
The book is "Overcoming Dyslexia" by Sally Shaywitz, MD.
I also have a 5 year old with speech issues (he has had speech therapy and an IEP since he was less than 2). There are ties to dyslexia and speech.
Main message (besides being full of info) is that intervention helps, and the earlier the better. If there is a family history, read this book because kids have more likelihood of being dyslexic if parents, grnadparents or sibling have it.
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Can you tell me what symptoms your son has regarding dyslexia? I suspected the same in my son, but the school doesn't think so. Yet, the older he gets, the more we struggle, the more I suspect it could be a factor.
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Originally Posted by desertmom
Can you tell me what symptoms your son has regarding dyslexia? I suspected the same in my son, but the school doesn't think so. Yet, the older he gets, the more we struggle, the more I suspect it could be a factor.
He is at a gifted and talented school where most kids can read. We have been worried since 2nd grade because he can not sound out words (but he can memorize them). So in 2nd and 3rd grade, he appeared to be reading ok. At the end of 3rd grade, the standardized test showed he was barely reading at a 2nd grade level. That final got the attention of the school. We had done previous interventions (summer school, pull out programs, after school programs, and a tutor). In Minnesota, they like to have 16 weeks of intervention before they assess.
The main thing is when reading with your child, can they sound out words. A way to make sure they are sounding words (versus having memorized them) is give them nonsense words that they would not have had before.
Review standardized test scores, if there is a 1 - 2 year gap, meet with the teacher. We actually called a meeting with the principal.
Read the book also, I promise it will help!
Good luck. (also there is always private assessments but they cost a lot of money)
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MaDolan,
Another book you may want to find is "The Source for Dyslexia and Dysgraphia" by Regina G. Richards. My son's dyslexia teacher at school recommended this one, and it is very good. My son is dysgraphic. He reads 2 years beyond grade level, but has enormous trouble with written expression and spelling. It is heartbreaking to watch the struggles he has getting the things in his head down on paper. It is so true what you said about dyslexia/dysgraphia running in families. I am convinced that my dad was dysgraphic. He was a voracious reader and verbally eloquent. At work, his secretary transcribed everything he "wrote" off of his Dictaphone.
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My husband was not diagnosed until the 10th grade! He then had to RE-learn how to read because of the years he did "tricks" to get by. He is still a horrible speller, and it took him a long time to figure out that our kids don't care if he reads word by word to them from their books. They just want Daddy to read to them. I proofread almost every paper or email that he sends out for work, too. The few times I haven't, he has actually gotten a note back from his boss asking if he had forgotten to spellcheck! The problem is that even spellcheck doesn't get it when you type "were" for "where" or "god" for "dog", etc. However, he is VERY successful in what he does....#3 in the WORLD a few years back! My point is that if you yourself or your children have this, please know that it does NOT have to stop them from becoming everything they want to be. You just have to be willing to learn to work with it!
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Thanks, I will order it right now. My son also has problems with writting his thoughts and ideas down.
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Originally Posted by heartnurse
MaDolan,
Another book you may want to find is "The Source for Dyslexia and Dysgraphia" by Regina G. Richards. My son's dyslexia teacher at school recommended this one, and it is very good. My son is dysgraphic. He reads 2 years beyond grade level, but has enormous trouble with written expression and spelling. It is heartbreaking to watch the struggles he has getting the things in his head down on paper. It is so true what you said about dyslexia/dysgraphia running in families. I am convinced that my dad was dysgraphic. He was a voracious reader and verbally eloquent. At work, his secretary transcribed everything he "wrote" off of his Dictaphone.
Quick question, I can find it for $70. Is it really worth it?