Dyslexia

[Sezza123123]

Hi just wondered if anyone has any experience or advice when my daughter was a toddler upto around 6 she was really shy around other people but it went as far as even when she saw her friends she would not even acknowledge them or speak at all and even when some family came round she wouldnt really speak to them. She eventually started speaking more herself so i just put this down to her being shy, fast forward to now my daughter has just turned 13 over the last 12-18 months we have found out she has Irlens syndrome and slight dyslexia (ive put her dyslexia screening test on here) as me and my husband thought it was really low but school dont seem that bothered or concerned. A lot of her words she pronounces and spells incorrectly but we have noticed recently (to be honest its been happening for a while but just really put it down to her personality) she doesnt understand some things you say to her i could ask her to do a few simple tasks and she has to ask a few times what i mean or how to do something i feel like its getting worse as shes getting older. She is also very particular about what she wears for example she will only wear leggings that are a certain type and she will wear them constantly etc shes always found the work harder in school and she has previously been in smaller reading group at school and did well in that group im just concerned about the not understanding things aswell as shes not disruptive in lessons i dont want her being overlooked and then she starts really struggling thanks sorry for the long write up

Dyslexia screener

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What screenings tool is that? And did your dad do it at school or online?

Hi im not sure which screener it is my daughter just did this at school and they sent us these results school dont seem too worried but to us it seems a lot below average

This is the other side of the table it wouldnt show it all on here on one pic

I’m a dyslexia assessor and would want to know more about her reading profile. School screeners are very basic. And I would want these scores investigated. Your daughter is working towards exams now and I would want to know about her comprehension, reading accuracy and speed etc.

Thank you for your reply yes ive contacted school and they are finding out from all her teachers where they think she is upto in her work and how she is in class. They have given her a learning passport aswell they said they will send a copy home so not sure whats im this till we get it

OK. See what that means but I’d recommend an assessment if there is any further concern about her reading. I can’t understand why the school is not following those scores up.

Screeners mean very little and are notoriously unreliable-it’s certainly not a diagnosis of dyslexia. Make an appointment to see the senco.

I would be asking for an Ed Psych referral. Unfortunately years ago in our county they would only screen children if their reading age was three years behind their chronological age, which DS wasn’t. If fact it was ahead. Described by teachers as good verbally, very clever but a bit lazy.
Finally, after GCSE he was tested and had very low processing speed and visual issues with tracking

You may find a long wait for an EP through school/the LA.

If you have the money I would get her privately assessed, as it can have implications not only for the best ways to help her but also access arrangements like extra time etc. I would certainly be on the case, don't rely on school - they are usually overwhelmed or under interested in my experience. PATOSS have list of accredited assessors. Or find an educational psychologist. Sometimes there are regional centres for dyslexia e.g. there's one in Sheffield so that's another route.

Where in the country are you?

I would be asking for an Ed Psych referral.

Our LA policy is that there is no difference between what some people call dyslexia and what other people call literacy difficulties. Our EPs do not assess for dyslexia so asking for a referral simply wouldn’t happen.

We can barely get an EP as part of the Statutory Assessment process.

So you know she has difficulties- what she needs is a way of working that takes that difficulty into account. Could be text to speech - could be a pen that reads - etc

I wouldn’t waste money on an ‘official’ diagnosis - waste of money and schools don’t always accept a third party referral.

I would instead find her a dyslexia specialist tutor who can help - schools don’t get enough funding for dyslexia.

I think rather than assessing 'does she has dyslexia or not' the Ed psych would be looking holistically at what she needs support with at school and making recommendations to teachers- it's worth asking

making recommendations to teachers- it's worth asking

Teachers should be doing this anyway. They don’t come along with anything other than what has been tried in school anyway.

The SENCO will give advice but your DD has to be willing to take that advice and use an iPad or laptop for work.

If you can get an EP to come out for any early intervention work in your LA this year, you are very lucky! Ours are doing Statutory assessment work only and even that isn’t within the 20 weeks.