Dyslexia

[user1471505086]

Hi, I'm after some advice about DS who is in Year 7. He struggled academically at primary school and particularly found/finds spellings/handwriting difficult (although he did pass his SAT's). Primary school did complete a dyslexia test in Year 6 but it came back as negative. My son was referred by a physiotherapist (post knee injury) for a dyspraxia assessment. OT assessed him and concluded that he wasn't dyspraxic but hypermobile. We have accepted as an explanation for his poor handwriting and the knock on affect has had on his spellings/school work.

My son is in a trampolining club and his coach has contacted me to say she has concerns about his issues with poor sequencing. For info, she was an educational psychologist and has said in her experience this is a common sign of dyslexia. I'm not really sure how to move forward with this. Is it likely that the assessment at primary school could have been wrong? TIA

Screenings quite often miss Dyslexia - I believe they miss about 20% of people. The only way to be sure is to have a full assessment: poor sequencing and spelling can be indicators, but his poor handwriting would not be caused by dyslexia.

Thats interesting to hear thank you. I assume the only way to have a full assessment is if we pay privately?

If it was just screening that was done, then I wouldn't find it very reliable. You could go privately or put more pressure on the Senco to try and get it sorted through the school.

Handwriting speed is assessed when people are assessed for dyslexia so it is part of the issue. Writing is often much slower.

If he did a complete dyslexia test and it came back negative it could just be that he's poor at sequencing.

I only realised how very poor I am at sequencing when my own DC were tested (for various things) and I'm not dyslexic.

I do think you can have poor working memory/poor sequencing/ poor spelling but be able in other ways and not be dyslexic.

On the other hand if you can afford it, you could have him tested again.

Primary school almost certainly did a screening test not a full assessment.

A full assessment costs around £400.

How do you think a diagnosis would help?

My two DC weren't diagnosed until yr10/Yr7 respectively. Yes it can definitely be missed by schools as we learnt to our cost. We had a private ed psych report which was money well spent.

Thanks for your replies. I'm not really sure if it will help - although I assume he'd get extra support at school.

although I assume he'd get extra support at school.

Sadly, not IME.

If he actually has got dyslexia or other Learning needs, a proper assessment will allow him extra time or even a scribe if considered necessary to give him an even playing field in exams.

An assessment would highlight any areas he's experiencing difficulty with and depending on what that shows up, he could be given much-needed extra time for his exams.

The assessment would also highlight what strategies school could use to help him, if they need funding to do so, there's a process for that too.

Snap Plymouth, you can type faster than me

Try to contact your local dyslexia association, if there still is one in your area. I found out too late that I'm dyslexic. If I knew when I was at school, I might have had extra help.

A diagnosis of dyslexia does not necessarily mean he'll get extra support at school. Especially if his problems are things like sequencing, which are not easy to help with.

If school aren't concerned about him now, a report won't make them concerned.

And a private report can't be used to get extra time in exams (anymore. It used to be able to, but not now). Only a report done by school can get him extra time.

And, only a report done in Y9 or later can be used to get extra time in GCSEs.

So, it's a lot of money. And it may or may not help.

My son was assessed/screened throughout primary (and had learning support for spelling) and they concluded he isn't dyslexic.

They did acknowledge his spelling is poor compared to other areas and anyone can see that his writing is crap! Performance on spelling tests is often much better than when they have competing demands like writing, remembering and organising their work.

He is now at high school and they have said they will treat him as dyslexic. We are in Scotland and it is needs led rather than diagnosis led so if extra time helps he will receive this and if using a computer helps he will have access to this.

At high school (here) it is all about compensating for the difficulties using strategies and technology rather than trying to help them learn as the view is that despite all the extra input they haven't learned so far so are unlikely to do so.

He doesn't need a diagnosis to access extra time in exams in primary

Screenings are very unreliable. Only a specialist teacher or educational psychologist can assess and diagnose. If he is dyslexic a diagnosis would certainly help him and the school as there are lots of strategies and interventions available that when used properly are very successful.

A diagnosis shouldn't be needed to receive appropriate support.

DS1 8y old is being checked for dyslexia. It's a full investigation to check, we're also in Scotland. Just found out last night at parents evening. It can be inherited, his dad has it and 3 of my siblings. His handwriting is fine, but he is very clumsy with his feet.