reading problems? assessment?

[coffeeortea]

My DS age 7, yr 1, reads chapter books such as beast quest avidly and appears a good keen reader. However hw wont or cant sound out words, he just appears to have a photographic memory. He is reluctant to read out loud and whilst he can read very difficult words he jumps lines/reads words in wrong order etc although has good comprehension. I think Indigo posted about her DS and it sounded very similar from my memory?

He is unable to write which school felt was due to fine motor control and confusion over which hand to use and never having done drawing or colouring to build up pen control. Now I am concerned that his writing wont catch up as he cant build up/blend words to spell and also still reverses his letters and numbers.

Obviously I am pushing for phonics help at school but at the moment he does not appear to be far enough behind for 1 to 1. Although without doubt is very far behind potential as school had referred him to EP who tested IQ as in top 1% but offered no help/advice.

How can I find someone good to test tracking/convergence etc? Or any other suggestions.

Yes - sounds like my DS :)

Depending on your budget, and level of concern, these are sensible things to do:

1. Go to a Behaviour Optometrist to get his eye tracking / convergence etc tested.

1. You don't need school to do phonics help, you can do it yourself at home. There's loads of at home phonics programs. I like Dancing Bears the best for a 7 year old.

1. Dancing Bears is for reading - you could also / instead try their Apples & Pears program for spelling. It is very good.

1. Speed Up is a handwriting intervention school could do with him, which is written by an OT.

1. An OT could assess his fine motor skills and make recommendations to you and school.

Age 7 in year 1?

You could be describing my son Indigo has offered excellent advice

well noticed iamnotinterested - sorry it is year 2. it has been a bad day recovering from migraine! maybe subconsciously felt i couldnt be posting that he cant write after 2 and half years at school.

thanks for this indigo. would any of these behaviour optometrists be OK? I think I read that you were not very happy with yours, was it one of these?

I could do something over school holidays but not sure he would manage anything after school in term time as he struggles to take instruction for the length of the school day as it is. Do wonder if I should send him in late or take him out of school each day or go in myself - anyone tried any of these options for 1 to 1 help?

Mrz - out of interest how has it worked out for your son?

I consider all of those options every day :)

But as I work full time I've restrained myself :)

Now DD is far better than she was, but I used to always do work with her before school not after. You really only want to be doing 10 minutes a day.

It's interesting that you say he's so tired after school.

You're right it's not simple finding an eye specialist. I'll PM you about that.

Thanks Indigo.

Has anyone else tried to help their DC themselves whilst missing a short time from school??

We managed 15 minutes every day of the 6 week summer holiday and he went from being unable to form any letters correctly at the end of year 1 to being able to form most of them but still has to stop and think for many of them and will still reverse if he doesnt think for long enough and if tired still reverses when he has thought hard so it is all slow and exhausting.