We think my 9 year old ds has dyslexia

[LT76]

we are really concerned about our ds. he is going into year 5 this year and following contact with the school at the end of the last term as we had concerns regarding how he has coped that year. We have been having private tuition during the holidays to help prepare him for this term. The feedback from the teacher helping him is that he is a clever child but struggles to convey his thought to writting and feels that he has dyslexia. we already feel let down by the school who have never recognised any problems until we spoke to them. does anyone know where we go from here i just want the best for my ds.

Sorry, that's LA EPs, I should have said.

"Sarah - I don't think a clinical psych can dx dyslexia only an ed psych. And I think normally gps can't refer to ed psychs."

You are right that GP's will refer to a clinical rather than ed psych, but clinical psychologists can and do assess for dyslexia, at least they do here "Oooop North".

I've had one child I taught go via a GP to get a clinical psychologist assessment, that covered the same sorts of tests for dyslexia that an Ed Psych would do (Wechsler, WISC etc).

I have one child who is currently in the process of being referred for a dyslexia assessment via his GP (as the LA assessment team have refused to do it even though the school have requested it - he made too much progress with his reading last year apparently (though he's still behind and has obvious profound difficulties and I'm not convinced the school are following a strong enough SP approach with him and could really do with more support and advice.))

Then I know a clinical psychologist who works privately, but has also done dyslexia tests for students.

Sarah - I don't doubt what you are saying. But an EP is still the right person to assess for dyslexia - not a clinical psych.

Here is what the NHS have to say.

The fact that clinical psychs are diagnosing dyslexia just goes to show what an undefined label it is.

Ed Psychs deal with factors that are stopping children from learning in the classroom.

Clinical Psychs deal with psychological problems - which dyslexia isn't.

I agree that ideally a clinical psychologist should do the assessment, but going via a GP can be a way of getting a free assessment (using identical tests to those an ed psych would use) when parents just don't have the money to seek private assessments.

I think the line is more blurred than your link suggests as I also know schools who use their ed psych allocation to have children with serious behavioural difficulties assessed, which may of course be about a learning difficulty but could equally be about a psychological problem. In fact, as behavioural difficulties are such an obvious issue for schools, it can be that nearly all the ed psych time goes on behavioural difficulties so that the relatively well behaved child with a learning difficulty never gets time allocated for assessment. I know of one of these atm too!

I'm absolutely amazed you can even get a referral to a clinical psych for learning difficulties!

I couldn't get a referral to a psych for my DS when he was hearing voices in his head!

And certainly the GP could do nothing for my DD. The GP asked for a referral to a paed, but the paed refused to see her.

It's amazing how provision differs county to county.

It is right that a child with behavioural difficulties in class is seen by an EP not a clinical psych - because again the problem is about them not being able to learn in class - which is what the EP advises on.

I'm "Oooop North" and clinical psychiatrists can't diagnose dyslexia. Well they can just as the man in the pub or the woman in the corner shop can but the child would still need to see an EP.

It is really strange then how things vary from county to county! I think you are NE aren't you mrz, whereas I am NW?
I'm only describing what has been my experience - and I still think the GP might be worth a try for a parent who hasn't got the money for a private assessment and is concerned that the school is not as clued up on dyslexia as it should be.

the test that I paid for was not with an educ psyc, but a well respected dyslexic principal who has links with many of our local primary and secondary schools. Is it right that if dyslexia is proven in your child they will be given extra time in exams and have access to specialist computer equipment to aid their studies/coursework in high school? I am sure my school is fully aware that my d is dyslexic, but are instead trying to make a square peg fit a round hole. I am grateful for the extra help given, but their methods are not really working. I have raised the concerns all along, and I feel as if the school will say nothing and allow my d to stuggle along until my d is off of their hands.

My son saw 5 different EPs two said he was dyslexic and three said he wasn't ...

Oh and he'd already seen a clinic psychologist prior to his first EP

Rubbar - you don't need a dx of dyslexia to get extra time in your exams.

If you are going to get extra time in exams based on an EP report it needs to be very recent - I think no more than 2 years old? So this report won't do you for GCSEs........

The reason none of your schools methods are working is because nothing that school can do really works for dyslexic kids. That is why kids get extra time and computers etc....

Using a computer is normally pretty straight forward if you provide it - and normally much harder to get if you expect school to fund it...... Again a dx of dyslexia is neither necessary nor sufficient for school to let your DD use a computer.

Your DD will always struggle - unless you cure her dyslexia. A diagnosis won't make her struggle less. An understanding school won't make her struggle less. Computers and extra time won't make her struggle less - but they may result in better grades.....

"Is it right that if dyslexia is proven in your child they will be given extra time in exams and have access to specialist computer equipment to aid their studies/coursework in high school?"

The answer to this is possibly, but not automatically. It will depend on how recent the assessment is ( must be within 2 years of exams to be allowed as evidence) and how severe the dyslexia is - ie, how much is it impinging on reading and writing speeds. Specialist computer equipment may be allocated, but may not be depending on individual school resources and amount/quality of SENCO provision. IME, you stand a better chance of getting access to specialist computer equipment if it is recommended in an assessment, but even then it is not necessarily provided- schools do not have to take notice of recommendations from private assessments.

It is a bit of a lottery as far as I can see, just like how aware different primary schools are of dyslexia, synthetic phonics etc.

Mrz - I've also known different psychs come up with different assessments on the same child! (clinical psych said not dyslexic, ed psych said was dyslexic) The profiles in the tests were pretty similar too if I remember rightly.
In my experience, it is the evidence that there are specific areas of weakness that need support (rather than the child just being "lazy" or "lacking concentration" or "immature") that have got the child a change in attitude/support within a school rather than the specific "dyslexic" diagnosis. Although of course, as you often point out, a good school where staff are aware of learning difficulties and have appropriate strategies to help, may not be told anything they don't know already.

The reason 3 EPs can say a child isn't dyslexic while 2 say he is - is because there isn't a definition of dyslexia

It is a totally meaningless and useless term.

So it is not surprising that some schools don't know what they should be doing to support a child with 'dyslexia'....

Rubbar and OP - there is lots and lots you can do for your DC. But there is very little school can do for your DC.

I'm now feeling totally deflated. I felt such a sense of relief when the report came back saying my d was dyslexic. I felt I had an answer and that the right specialist help would now be provided. In an ideal world eh?

Sarah all EP assessments carried out using the standard WIAT test all produced almost identical results main advice was for him to use a word processor as handwriting was a weakness. Clinical Psychologist offered me respite but didn't test for dyslexia as not in his field

And using a word processor didn't help him either, did it?

So the 5 EP reports were all as useless as each other with regards to helping him with his literacy difficulties?

His school refused to allow him to use a word processor for course work and he didn't need it for exams, but all in all word processing wasn't a solution to his problems and prevented/delayed identification of his real difficulties.

This page covers some of the same ground as that given by IndigoBell and Mrz:

Should I have my Child Assessed? or Why isn't my child learning to read?
www.dyslexics.org.uk/should_I_have.htm

Incidentally Indigo the school wouldn't supply him with a computer/laptop to use at school and they wouldn't allow him to take the laptop I purchased into school for him to use even though it was in two EP report recommendations.

Rubbarb...don't feel deflated (although I can totally understand that feeling). View it as the next step along the way. This way, you can begin to get inside your DD's head and understand how she learns and what she finds difficult.

The others are right, learning is a partnership between home and school. You will always be able to give your DD that one on one support from someone who is the most supportive person in her life. The school will be able to provide expertise.

Diagnosis isn't the be all and end all...its just the beginning.

Thank you Migrating Coconuts (wicked name by the way). I suppose its the frustration of not being able to help more when your child turns to you for assistance. For example; My d is now 8 years old and can read at the level of a 5/6 year old. D still has to sound out every letter of the the word 'come' and then we have a delay while the magic 'e' rule is worked out. And then the right answer isn't always given. This has been going on for 3 years. I just think to myself is there a different way of teaching the word 'come' to d that will make sense, and that's what I look towards the educators to tell me.

Indigo - 'There isn't a definition of dyslexia'

I know what you mean, but actually there are thousands of definitions!!!! - Same problem though, no agreed definition - but really how could there be anyway, when it's such a variable beastie (no offence meant to anyone there!)

I do disagree with your point that school can't do anything to help though, I think that there is a lot that can be done and have seen the positive impact of both properly structured specific interventions and decent reasonable adjustments in the classroom.

And round here if a parent takes their child to the GP querying dyslexia, the GP will either phone the LA and say that they don't know what to do, or send the parents back to talk to the school (as if they wouldn't have done that already!)

thanks

There are things you can begin to try... I'm no expert of this age range but I know there are materials out thhere that might help. I don't know (obviously) what specific learning difficulty your DD has but

I do know that resources like this one, for instance, have been useful for some teachers and parents:

toe by toe