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Original poster

Is there any condition which makes you have poor spelling

42 replies

User14379 · 06/10/2022 09:38

Hiya my 8 year old is a fluent reader and is good at maths too but her spelling is just atrocious. We have been practising consistently since year 1 and it hasn’t improved much. Her sibling in year 1 now has far better spelling which is making me think if there is any condition which makes u have poor spelling. I may be clutching at straws but I really see no further point in practising. She still gets words like which and witch wrong. With is always whith.

OP posts:
Newusernameaug · 06/10/2022 09:38

Dyslexia

PeekabooAtTheZoo · 06/10/2022 09:39

Dyslexia? Really well-known for causing spelling issues. There are plenty of free online screening tools but it might be worth seeing if the school can help support her if she has it.

endoflevelbaddy · 06/10/2022 09:41

Yep exactly how my DDs dyslexia presents.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

8 year olds General education Primary education
Original poster
User14379 · 06/10/2022 09:43

I though dyslexia would cause poor reading too?

OP posts:
NiqueNique · 06/10/2022 09:43

Bless her she’s clearly on the right track with all those words!

It’s quite likely to be dyslexia. There are things you can do to help her.

NiqueNique · 06/10/2022 09:44

It could also be something like ADHD where a processing issue might be causing her not to be able to remember what she’s learnt. However I don’t know about that side to advise.

Mangledrake · 06/10/2022 09:44

Good readers can still have dyslexia - goes unnoticed in keen readers sometimes. I don't know what spelling is normal at her age, but I wouldn't rule dyslexia out

girlmom21 · 06/10/2022 09:46

My friend got diagnosed with dyslexia at 17 OP. She did fairly well in all her GCSES. She got a B and a C in English. It's not always obvious.

BaronessEllarawrosaurus · 06/10/2022 09:46

Google stealth dyslexia and see if she has any of the other traits too.

SpinningFloppa · 06/10/2022 09:47

My sons school have suggested he is dyslexic but at home he reads fine, he does struggle with spelling though

Original poster
User14379 · 06/10/2022 09:49

Who would be able to help with that? I have mentioned to school so many times and with every year teacher but they keep telling me it’s just practice and “that’s just something she has to know” which doesn’t help her or me at all. It’s quite frustrating for her.

She gets lots of ideas but she writes the spellings are all over the place.
another example is mansion and mention .

The homophones are impossible for her. Also when we practise she will get them right after a while but when she is writing a story or an idea the spelling mistakes are there again so the practise is not making one blind bit of difference.

OP posts:
Original poster
User14379 · 06/10/2022 09:53

Her handwriting itself is very good. The only issue she has is the spellings. I will read up on the conditions mentioned. Does anyone know if there is a professional who would be able to assess her? Who should I be looking for?

OP posts:
Wilkolampshade · 06/10/2022 09:54

There have been two threads on this in the past week so some relevant info here OP (btw, dyslexia)

www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4647995-dyslexia-but-good-at-reading?page=2&reply=120502902

SpinningFloppa · 06/10/2022 09:58

Same poster those threads are all very similar 🤔

Tealpoppy · 06/10/2022 09:58

I am dyslexic and a massive reader-always have been from a young age-never once struggled with reading

from very young,spelling was awful-I still struggle (thankfully I have a lot of support around me now) and my maths is so bad,I’m ashamed of it (I can barely add 2 and 2 together)

in my day at school,support was almost non existent-not helped my parents who think dyslexia doesn’t exist and ‘it’s failing educational standards and not some made up brain disease to blame’ (my mother worked in education and blamed kids for being thick and soppy parents for ‘allowing’ it)

id get the little one tested-support would have made a real difference to me when I was growing up

AriettyHomily · 06/10/2022 10:03

DTs are both dyslexic, one has more problems that the other, but they are both great at reading and didn't struggle at all. they also both love writing but their spelling is atrocious.

Speak to the school they should at least be able to do the initial screen which will give an indication and you can then pursue a formal diagnosis. You'll likely have to go private and the waiting lists are huge so important to get the ball rolling. DTs got extra time in their SATs (although they said they didn't need) and the diagnosis will stay with them through school / uni.

ChillinwiththeVillains · 06/10/2022 10:04

My son is dyslexic but I didn’t pick up on it for ages because my daughter is NT but had the same totally terrible spelling for ages. She read all the time and all the books and suddenly at 11 her spelling just clicked. Same as her reading, nothing until 7 and then all the Harry Potters over one summer holiday. But nothing has clicked for her, equally bright, brother. School didn’t pick it up for ages either because of lockdown and because he has excellent memory so could cover his issues. So I guess my, unhelpful, message is that all children are different. Good luck.

Hoardasurass · 06/10/2022 10:05

@User14379 it really sounds like dyslexia I have it to and I can assure you that no amount of practice will improve her spelling as its almost like a mental block especially with homophones and in my case writen grammar and punctuation.
There are lots of techniques that can help spellcheckers and learning how to use a dictionary are a good start but so is having someone proof read any written work highlighting any errors before writing a final copy as she most likely won't pick up on her spelling mistakes.

Original poster
User14379 · 06/10/2022 10:40

Thanks I will look at the previous threads posted too. Not me btw 😅 I just posted this in utter despair

OP posts:
SpinningFloppa · 06/10/2022 10:42

Ok sounded like the same posting style and all the posts are about girls age 8/9

Original poster
User14379 · 06/10/2022 10:43

I really don’t mind going private as school have been no help. Who should I be searching for ? Is it an edpsych?

OP posts:
Original poster
User14379 · 06/10/2022 10:44

@SpinningFloppa it’s the first time I have posted about it but I will look at the previous threads once I am home. Thanks

OP posts:
Original poster
User14379 · 06/10/2022 11:30

I had a look at the other threads one of them is more like my daughter. I am surprised the school never mentioned dyslexia.
with my daughter the only issue that I can see atm is the spellings. Her handwriting is neat. She does her work well. She can ride a bike so no issues with balance etc.

Her maths is good too. Well I say that but arithmetic has been a pain but I feel like she has finally got there. She will make errors if rushing but otherwise is ok.

I will look more into dyslexia. Should I raise it as a possibility with school? Or should I just pursue it privately?

OP posts:
CombatBarbie · 06/10/2022 11:32

User14379 · 06/10/2022 09:43

I though dyslexia would cause poor reading too?

My DD was diagnosed last year aged 9 but has a reading level of 12yrs 4 months. It's fairly common to excel in maths though.