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Here you'll find advice from parents and teachers on special needs education.

This has most likely been done to death, but my beautiful DS might be dyslexic.

5 replies

minouminou · 12/06/2012 15:17

He's six in October, is v bright indeed, with great emotional intelligence and abstract thinking (he asked recently why it is that we can't feel the earth spinning, and if birds think, for example). He's approaching the end of reception (or early years unit as we call it).
However, there is a huge, ever-widening deficit between all his other skills and abilities and his reading and writing.
He. Is. Just. Not. Having. It.

His teacher has been talking to us for a while about the possibility, as there's such a marked discrepancy between his reading and everything else, and the group assessment a couple of weeks ago has shown that he's made "minimal" progress in phonics while steaming ahead in everything else.

We do phonics at home, and DP (almost) always reads a bedtime story for DS and DD. DD was three in April and TBH, is picking up letters more than DS is.

We're looking at initial action now, apparently. I had a brief chat this morning with teech and while she couldn't say for certain that it's dyslexia (obviously it's too soon), it seems they all strongly suspect it.

DP has severe dyslexia (although thankfully he's done v well for himself and has never let it hold him back. I have ADD (was on Ritalin for years before children) and I guess we're not too surprised that one of the kids has taken the bullet!

The thing is, I can see that DS is aware there's something going on and he's becoming very despondent about it all and it's knocking his confidence.

Despite the way in which I may come across here, I'm v sensitive to learning differences, and am gearing up to prepare DS for what may be in store for him....accepting that his brain is wired a bit differently etc etc.

Err....just realised I'm rambling! The reason I'm posting all this is because I'd like to find out just how soon we can get him tested, what initial action is (we're in Oxfordshire) and....well....anything else you can throw at me!

Many thanks in advance, guys.

OP posts:
Niceweather · 13/06/2012 06:41

Hello, there are lots of books and organisations out there to get you going. There is also an Oxfordshire Dyslexia Association that you could contact. Junior school can be very difficult as all the emphasis is on the three R's - the very things that our kids struggle with. There was a lovely recent thread on here about how dyslexic kids had taken off at secondary school with the emphasis shifting to other subjects. I have not heard of a junior school who have excelled at teaching a child with dyslexia but you never know... it's good to be on the ball and keep a positive relationship with them. You can also pay a lot of money for private tuition.

Try and find ways that your ds can excel outside school so that there is something he can be confident about. For my son, this has been acting. I recommend audio books and technology (touch typing etc). There are also books out there on the positive side of dyslexia (The Dyslexic Advantage) like creativity and the abstract thinking - which is already showing in your ds!

Good luck.

lelly88 · 13/06/2012 21:51

Hi well of course your on the right track picking it up early. Smile
Same as Niceweather says primary is a pain, IME it's really down mostly to parent input in the early years, as dyslexia improves mostly from constant daily input from parents, lots of repetition, we found OT exercises the key for our DS. However he has learnt that all his constant effort and determination over the years have given him tools for the future that a lot of his peers simply haven't got. .

carocaro · 16/06/2012 16:57

My DS1 is 10 and was screen for dyslexia at school when he was 7, he's now ten and for the past two years he has had weekly tution at Dyslexia Action (£35 a session) and we have been fortunate to have family help pay for it. It has made a difference and he has made progress. His teachers and TA are great. Are they going to do an Individual Education Plan (IEP)? This will set targets which he will be measure against and will show/or now progress. This should be reviewed each term with a meeting with you and the Special Education Needs Co-Ordinating Officer (SENCO) if your school has one. Your local authority should have a Parent Partnership who work independently and can gice you lots of help and advice.

"Despite the way in which I may come across here, I'm v sensitive to learning differences, and am gearing up to prepare DS for what may be in store for him....accepting that his brain is wired a bit differently etc etc."

It a must you put it all in a positive light. Different, yes, but still normal, all brains work differently. We sat down and talked to DS2 about it and he was so releived that there was a reason why there were some things he found so hard.

This is great video to watch, get out your hankie and watch it on yor own before and if you show it to your DS.

This is also a good video to show your soon, cool and fun,

My DS now sees it as a good thing and is not ashamed of it at all. We have found things that help like Tom Gates books, the night setting on a ipad for ibooks, white on black text. If homework is 150 words he can do 75 as it about the content, creativity and desire to do well not haw many words are on piece of paper.

I gotta run as DS2 aged 5 is hollering for me! Post any questions and I am happy to answer.

thebody · 20/06/2012 18:27

Hi can I just add my oldest dc is dyslexic, awful time at first and middle school but high school was a language and technology college and he soared ahead.. Beat his younger bro in GCSE and A level results( tho younger was on the gifted and talented programme)

Done 3 rd year of a degree in robotic engineering and slated to get a first..

If you have to have dyslexia our techie age is the best time to have it.

Don't get down about it, Ben Elton struggles to spell too!!

goingmadinthecountry · 20/06/2012 23:49

Hi there

My lovely ds is also dyslexic to a pretty severe degree. I did a pg course to find out more (was a teacher to start with). I felt guilty and sad that he'd never do as well as his academic sisters.

Satd gorgeous ds is now 15 and in Y 10. He passed his 11 plus and is holding his own pretty well at his grammar school. Is expected a clutch of decent GCSEs and to go on to A levels and university. He gets a reader and extra time in exams and is happy and well liked. Of course he blames his tip of a bedroom on his dyslexia too.....

I also know plenty of dyslexic people with degrees, highly successful jobs/businesses etc. It's tough, but such is life. Fight for his rights and enjoy him. He can achieve anything.

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