Dyslexic Tendencies - should I get an assessment done?

[fluffydragon]

Hello! This is my first ever posting (sorry its so long), but I've read lots of good advice from you all over the years and would really like to hear your views. My youngest daughter (nearly 7) has a number of dyslexic tendencies including difficulty with sequencing, quickly forgetting spellings, reversing of numbers and letters. The most marked problem is with her numeracy where she has problems reading 2 digit numbers the right way round e.g 17 read as seventy-one. In particular the "teens" present problems as do 12, 20 and 21. Her teacher says she is making progress but has agreed to get her bits of help in smaller groups where needed. On the whole she is "accessing the curriculum", but we don't feel that she's achieving her full potential (there, I've said it - cringe!.) She does have crises of confidence ("I'm just dumb") but seems OK at the moment, particularly since her reading is finally taking off (after lots of home encouragement). We are willing to pay for a private assessment (for speed) but are getting discouragement from some quarters e.g. the findings are unreliable, you will knock her confidence if she thinks she is doing well, all it will tell you is what you already know. On the other hand people say if we continue to help her at home then we will skew the results of any future assessments. The main benefit I can see from getting an assessment is that it could highlight very specifically what her problems are and what needs to be done to help. Is this the experience of those who have had assessments done? How much help do schools put in place on the basis of a private assessments? Thanks!

[Scattercat]

fluffy, although I don't have any personal experience of having a child assessed, I want to let you know about this excellent site where you can find advice if you think your child may be dyslexic. Hope you find it helpful.

[sunnydelight]

If she's starting the whole "I'm just dumb" thing this young, personally I would do something about it. We finally had DS1 assesssed at the beginning of year 6 having already changed schools to see if smaller class sizes would help - it didn't, and he was assessed as dyslexic. I really wish I had done it earlier. It's not a cheap process, but it will give you something to go on. You may be completely reassured that she just needs a bit of extra help at school, or there may be an issue that can be addressed. There can be a problem with private assessments - DS1s first secondary school wouldn't accept that he was dyslexic as the assessment had been private. We moved him to one that did! (Both state by the way). You may still have a fight on your hands, but at least you'll know one way or another. Good luck.

[swedishmum]

You may find it hard to get her assessed so young, although our ds was nearly 8. Schools tend to adopt a wait and see policy. We'd already realised ds's problems before the testing and it's really helped us. The sooner specialist teaching starts if it's requiredthe better. Don't expect the school to provide adequate teaching - you'll need to fight every step of the way. I'm currently training as a specialist teacher - think this will be the only way ds can progress well at school for us.

[Davros]

My 9 year old niece had an assessment last weekend! My sister used a company, can't rememebr the name but can find out, and they came within 2 weeks of her call. She needs the assessment to help her DD with SATs and secondary transfer but she is worried about the SENCo at her current school who has a reputation for being obstructive.... I can find out the name of the people she used if you like.

[fullmoonfiend]

we had ds 1 done at the dyslexic Institute last year (7yrs 4mths) and I am so glad we did. Altho' the school took little notice of the assessment (he is, as we suspected) mild to moderate dyslexia) but we also found out his IQ was 'exceptional' which did all our confidence no end of good, as he kept insisting he was 'dumb'! He may never be a brain surgeon as the dyslexia means his school performance is not in the least bit academically stunning, but it does mean the school have stopped treating him like he was 'doing it on purpose' - which was what one of his teachers told me at parents' evening! It's expensive and I don't like him having a label but it does mean that we know what we are dealing with and are able to teach him coping strategies.

[drosophila]

My brother taught me when I was a child(he is a lot older than me) and thought I was Dyslexic. I have always had problems with spelling and memory and some maths issues. I thought I was pretty dumb (in a family of academic types) and to this day I lack confidence.

I have come to realise that I have some good skills which have helped me get promoted at work (I am a very good problem solver) but I always doubt my abilities. On the one hand dyslexia is a label but on the other if it boosts one's confidence then I think it is worth it. Dyslexics often excell in areas that others don't and recognising these and developing them can help forge a career. Sorry I am rambling!

[MeerkatsUnite]

Dyslexic tendencies with numbers is called dyscalculus. It sounds like your DD is having this particular problem. There was a good article on dyscalculus in the Daily Express the day before yesterday.

I would pay for a private assessment to be done; ignore the nay sayers. The Dyslexia Institute are helpful.

[fluffydragon]

Thanks, really great to get so many responses. I'm getting the picture that assessments can be useful for many different reasons (but maybe worth holding on until she's at least 7). Those who've had assessments done please can you tell me whether they give you very specific advice on methods that your child can use to overcome their difficulties (or is it more general such as "use multi-sensory learning methods").

[fullmoonfiend]

at the dyslexia institue, after the assesment you can have a sort of 'debriefing' consulatation but the advice was, in my opinion, very general - as you said 'use multi-sensory techniques! I can't afford to have him go for special lessons at the institute and as it would be in school time, was unwilling to alienate my ds further by taking him out of school for extra lessons. However, as my mum is a retired qualified teacher of dyslexics, she gives me stuff to help him. he does get extra help at school tho' they refuse to call him dyslexic!

[fullmoonfiend]

oh lordy, look at my typing! wonder where he gets it from

[fluffydragon]

Good to have some idea what to expect, I had looked at what the DI had to offer, so thanks for that. I can see it must be difficult to know where to draw the line between piling on extra help and keeping life as normal as possible. Glad you seem to have found a nice compromise. But you've worried me now . . . can't see anything wrong with your typing!