Could my Y5 DD be dyslexic? Excellent writing, poor reading comprehension

[earwig1]

Her teachers don't think she is dyslexic, as her writing is so good, but cannot explain the big disparity with her reading comprehension. Good reading comp./bad writing is very common, apparently, but this is very unusual. What can I do?

[earwig1]

I'll add that I have been reading her writing and it really is good. Exciting, funny, well structured, brilliant vocab. She has always been described as talented for her writing and other creative abilities in general, hence the inexplicable disparity...

[Prittstick]

Maybe she is doing what one of mine does which is read the passage, thinks they understand it and infer the answer, rather than searching for the evidence and using that to quote in the answer. Could be a technique issue? My DS now uses a different coloured pen to underline the part of the passage needed to answer each question. That discipline has made him slow down and think about it a bit more rather than relying on what he thinks the passage means from the first reading. He is also an amazing reader and writer.

[earwig1]

Thanks Prittstick, I'll look into that, however the teacher mentioned a difficuty inferring meaning and intention, but she is able to use it in her own creative writing. I am thinking mild dyslexia...

[CecilyP]

It doesn't really sound like dyslexia, unless she is unable to comprehend because she is unable to read the passage accurately. As you said discrepancy between reading and writing ability is more commonly the other way round. How is her poor comprehension measured? What sort of things does she get wrong?

[earwig1]

Hi CecilyP, according to teachers the main problem is the poor inference skills compared to where she should be based on her writing. So while she will write a story and give her characters intention, she cannot extract the same from a book read in class...apparently. She has always had a great imagination, so that's not the issue. I'm puzzled.

[CecilyP]

Is she OK at answering factual questions about a text? It may be that she is looking for a 'right' answer when, if she is asked to infer, she is really being asked for her thoughts and opinions, which may or may not be what the writer had in mind. Of course she knows exactly what her own characters' intentions are because she is the writer.

[earwig1]

Yes, exactly... she likes reading but prefers writing, it may have something to do with it...

[annbenoli]

this can be a maturity issue. Try practising inferential skills not related to reading. For example she comes into the kitchen there is a packet of rice and some defrosting chicken out ask her what is for tea (without pointing out the items, in the car you see someone at a bus stop with a suitcase ask her where they might be going......

[earwig1]

Thanks for that; I am asking that type of questions and it is going well so far...
She is very excitable and rushes everything, so it's an opportunity to calm down and think...