I think Teen DS with ASD might also by dyslexic

[SENSchoolDiaries]

He doesn’t like reading at all.

• Struggles with spelling the simplest of words sometimes. Other times, he speeds those gone.
• to decode( is this the right expression)/pronounce new words by working out phonetically
• Misses out words or lines
• Hates reading fiction, no matter how short a book
• Loves his animal or general nature books

I am hoping to find someone to do an initial screen to say yes or no before i go for a full screening. All the online ones i’ve done say he is but i’d like an initial professional input.

Is something like that available, or do i need to do the full assessment/report. There are a couple of months wait but i’d like an initial indication first, if possible.

School surprisingly say they don’t think he is, but they generally struggle with supporting children with SEND as they’re quite small

Pointers? Please?

Wee bump as i posted it quite late

Or shall move this to education? or special needs?

I wouldn't rely on his school. Both my son's primary and secondary ( where he also taught History by the Sendco) were adamant he wasn't dyslexic but when we eventually took him to an Ed Psych at 16 it turns out he is quite severely dyslexic.

I understand your reluctance to go straight for the full assessment but from what you describe there is definitely something going on and a good Ed Psych will give you a full report which will indicate his areas of weakness and also strengths.

Thank you, that’s where i’m heading now, full assessment.
I just thought an initial high level to tell us what the indication is, would be helpful too.

A work colleague has a similar issue where her son has just received a diagnosis when school did t think there’s anything wrong. I guess there are more things to put into place, and if the child is causing no trouble, then they’re usually left to just get on with it.

Yes, that's what happened with DS. Academically he wasn't really failing and his behaviour was not a problem so I guess he just wasn't a priority when judged against other students. However, the reality was that he started in top sets in Yr7 due to his good CAT results and no one questioned why he started dropping down to the middle so they weren't judging him against his potential and therefore were letting him down. Clearly he developed some amazing coping strategies but it has impacted on his mental health as he came to believe he wasn't an able student.

I feel guilty for not stepping in sooner but stupidly trusted the schools' advice.

If I had a penny for every time i hear a story like yours. DS is un a similar situation because in terms of his self confidence, tbh. He’s doubting his abilities so much and often gives up even before he’s started, when he can definitely do more. I feel so bad for not stepping in sooner, but onwards and upwards. 🤞

DS14 is both autistic and dyslexic. His primary sign posted me towards a private diagnosis centre because they agreed with me it needed further investigation. He also had awful eyesight and structural eye problems, so it took until year 5 when those were corrected to suspect the dyslexia. It was also the school who referred us for ADOS, as it happens. They were brilliant with SEN, had a non teaching senco, a bit of a luxury these days.

You need to find someone who can give you an actual diagnosis of dyslexia and not just ‘some dyslexic traits’.

This sounds very like my son, who has ADHD ( referred for ASD assessment). He hates reading to the extent he just doesn’t read at all. I’ve also been told by school that is his adhd and not dyslexia but do have a constant hmmmm about it.