possible dyslexia - need advice please

[banananugget]

Hi,

This is the first time I've been on the SEN boards. Following on from a meeting with DDs school today they believe she may be dyslexic but also said they aren't sure but it could be something different. I'm very new to all this and trying to do some research but not quite sure what to look up!

DD is in year 3. She is a capable reader but her comprehension isn't great. Her writing is poor and she makes basic spelling mistakes. She rushes all her work too. The school are concerned that they don't want to leave it and think she should be assessed.

I will happily go along with an assessment if it's needed but would quite like to do some of my own research!

I'm so disheartened because it feels out of the blue, but equally she loves school and II concerned why she is behind. It all feels a hit weird to be honest and I would appreciate any advice etc!

[Schrodingersmum]

Hi Banana, Im sure others will be along to give advice soon. If you have a school offering you support then take it, so many have to fight to get any help at all and wait years for assessment

If you post in the special needs education section there are lots of mums with dyslexic children who will give you support and advice

[Tissie]

Do let the school follow this up. You are very lucky to have such a caring and knowledgeable school. Many of the parents who post here and elsewhere would give their eye teeth for such support.

Dyslexia is on a continuum and comes in a number of variations. A good ed psych assessment will give a patter of strenghts and weaknesses which will help the school organise support where needed. For example she might be rushing her work because she has short term memory issues and if she doesn't get it down asap she might forget.

Obviously you and the school have been very positive and supportive to your child and she has a positive attitude to work which is great and you are to be congratulated. Try not to worry. Support can only help your daughter. In my time as a special needs teacher I worked with a number of dyslexic some of whom are now at university, some in 6th form and some at college. My mother, brother, son and grandson are all dyslexic. Brother runs his own business, son earns more than I did as a teacher, grandson making slow progress.

I have recently retired and am looking to offer support (unpaid) to some dyslexic children but I don't seem to find any in the Somerset area.

[Cantfindaprepschool]

The way you describe DC makes it sound as though she may have more issues with writing than reading? Have you googled Dysgraphia and Dyspraxia to see if either sound like her? I wonder if getting her assessed could be the best plan as it can be difficult to diagnose.... As I child I was eventually diagnosed with Dyslexia despite having an unusually high reading age, yet my dysgraphia was more obvious and not diagnosed. That was a few decades ago though!

Good luck!

[miwelaisjacydo]

Judged solely on what you have written she sounds more dyspraxia than dyslexic.
How are her general organisational skills?
You may find these websites useful

www.bdadyslexia.org.uk
www.dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk/dyspraxia-children/symptoms/
www.irlen.org.uk/