Can anyone help me with DD and possible Dyscalculia

[shamelesshackney]

DD is in Y6 and until last year seemed to be doing fine at maths, they were streamed last year and she was put in the top group but increasingly struggled and her maths really seemed to go downhill from there. We recently got her a maths tutor and it's transpired that she's really struggling with very easy calculations and even counting to ten. I listened in on her session last night and she repeats numbers and then misses others out ((1, 2, 4, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10) and would keep repeating this but not realise she was doing it. She still uses her fingers to work out very easy sums and simple calculations like 5 + 0, she really couldn't work out. Things like fractions and percentages she seemed fine with. I am going to speak to the school but I'm confused as nothing has been picked up.

She has also been struggling with her SPAG which is new for her. Very messy handwriting and misses words but her reading and comprehension is very good. DS has just been diagnosed as have dyslexia so we're thinking of getting her tested privately.

Any advice would be very gratefully received. TIA.

Very good suggestions earlier. I just wanted to add there is no “test for dyslexia” as such, there are screening tests and the diagnosis is made by examination with an expert. Just letting you know because the results will be as good as the person carrying out the test. Usually schools do not test for dyslexia, a clinical psychologist would.

Sorry, the school are getting somebody in, rather than doing the test themselves. I didn't make that clear.

Thanks again for these. Just a follow up. After a few more tests at school and follow up with SENCO she is now seeing an educational psychologist the school have bought in later this month. I've booked an appointment with GP to see if there is anything physical I can rule out.In the SENCO's words DD seems to be losing learning. Our school SENCO is great and spoke to all her teachers she's had at the school and checked all her previous reports and nothing to suggest why this is happening.

Has anyone else had anything like this? We just have no idea what's bought such a sudden change on and at the moment neither have her teachers or SENCO.

TIA

Really glad that DD is having assessments and is seeing an Ed psych at school. I’m not a medic but think as DD hasn’t had a history of struggling with the things she is now having problems with, that a referral to a paediatric neurologist would be useful to thoroughly rule out any physical reason.

I worked as a SNA and TA and when children had things such as dyscalculia, dyslexia, dyspraxia, sensory issues etc, these were present from the beginning of their school life. It’s unusual for someone with no history of anything to start struggling unless it’s a case of them having trouble with an increase In the complexity of a subject.

I really hope you get to the bottom of this and that an action plan can be put in place to help DD.

Actually just wiondering if a general paediatrician might be more appropriate as a possible physical cause wouldn’t necessarily be neurological. As I said though I’m not a medical bod.

Thank you for replying. DD has shown no signs of anything before now, hence the worry, she was performing above expectation until this year. Hopefully our GP will be able to point us in the right direction too.

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How did you get on

I agree she needs to be medically checked due to sudden change. It is very unusual for children to lose learning, forget sometimes yes, but not learning that should have been processed in long term memory and which should be more procedural by this age, e.g. rote counting to ten. Has she had any knocks to the head (e.g. concussion)?

GreenTulips thanks for asking. Doctor appointment is this week so we'll see more then. Luckily the school are taking it really seriously but they, admittedly, don't have any idea what has caused such a change in her. Googling isn't telling me much either (although that's probably no bad thing.) DH spent the day with DD last week and said he asked her to count to 10 and other really simple maths and she counted really slowly and deliberately and missed out '7' again (she doesn't seem to recognise it.)

She seems so well in herself and literally nothing to suggest why there has been such a change in her learning. If anyone does have any experience of something similar I'd be really grateful if you could share them with me.

TIA

Mummyshark2018 no knocks to the head / trauma. The SENCO asked this too but nothing. She's generally really healthy and active, sleeps well. We've never had any real worries with her before now.

That's good re: knocks to head. Any absences or daydreaming?

It does seem very unusual. Do you think she may be very anxious about forthcoming sats tests or the transition to secondary school and growing up? Although I guess if she were anxious it would be obvious in the rest of her life too.

My Ds is 14 and being assessed for autism which is late but the difference is he has always shown signs, even as a young child. Its just that he coped better when he was younger.

I hope you get some answers as it must be a worry for you.

Punxsutawney thanks for replying. She seems fine about the SATS and going to secondary.

That's interesting about your son being assessed. My DS is being assessed too for ADHD, he's only 8 and he's always shown signs which point to this. DD never has. Hopefully we'll get some answers soon.