Dyslexia - is it worth testing for

[happychappy]

My son has been tested and is v.mildly tested dyslexic and dyspraxic. As a child I have always underachieved in written subjects and my reports always had something about my written work not matching my verbal skills. At about 11 I was put into the learning suite to teach me methods of producing reasonable written work. I have very poor communication skills, even at 38 have difficultly telling left and right and can be clumsy. I have a poor memory in some ways but an amazing in others. However I have stubborn and driven and have studied to get the qualifications I need to do the job I wanted. I can also, after a lot of work, speak Italian fluently which I am sure that anyone who knows any dyslexics is an achievement

My question is this; I have just started studying with the OU and wondering is it worth getting testing for dyslexia? What is the benefit to me or should I just continue as I have been doing?

What do you think?

Just to add, please be gentle with me. I will freely admit that I am a bit scared they will just tell me I'm thick; that fear is there in the back of my head

Yes, please go ahead. Phone them and they will out you in touch with a very nice department who will advise on assessments for disabled students allowance.

If you qualify, you will be entitled to extra help and equipment that will make a real difference to your coursework and your future.

Look at a programme called DORE. You can find it on the Internet. It has made an amazing difference to my dyslexic daughter's written and spoken communication skills.

Yes go ahead! Even if you are not, there could be strategies that would help you - maybe just simple things that you may not have thought of, like getting colour transparencies to put over your work to help you read might make a real difference. Lots of the work that has originated with dyslexic teaching is finding its way into more mainstream thought. And if you are, you may find a boost in confidence - my DS did; he understood why he struggled with so much.

I was assessed and diagnosed with dyslexia when I was at university and it meant I got disabled students allowance. This paid for a laptop with specialist software (I can dictate essays, learn touch typing, scan books to be read to me and use mind mapping software). I also got a scanner, printer, dictaphone, allowance to pay for a note-taker during lectures, PDA to organise myself, and allowance for printer ink/paper. Also, your university can register you as disabled which might mean extra exam time, later coursework deadlines and longer borrowing terms for library books. All of this made a huge difference to how I did in my studies. You get to keep the items afterwards as well and I still use a lot of the software in my work.

So yes, it's definitely worth doing! I got a payment for an ed psych to assess me but it was means-tested.

My worry is this, what if it costs me 300 quid to be told I'm thick? I can't really afford that kind of money to be told that.

I would. My brother and sister are both dyslexic and with the tendency to run in familys we've always suspected my dad has it too. As it's been said sis gets extra software for her laptop, a scanner thingy that reads the words (have no idea what it's called) a special screen for the computer and an extra third of time on exams.

The Ou will run an over the phone 'screening' with you, which costs nothing and they will offer guidance as to whether it is worth going ahead. They may also be able to advise about routes through or funded assessments if you meet certain criteria.

Thank you, I spoke to an assessor yesterday and she sent me a pre assessent form. I think I might be brave enough to do it

Go for it. You have so much to gain. All the best with your studies.

Thank you

Also, i think there's an online screening test you can do for Dyslexia possibly via your student home page.