Ds 9 "I'm slower than everyone else mum"

[heather1]

Hi I'd really appreciate some advice. Ds is 9. We don't live in the Uk but he goes to a English speaking school. He's in the equivalent of year 4. He is soon to be assessed but I have a more immediate problem. At the moment we don't know if he has Dyslexia, dyspraxia or Ad. I suspect a combination.
He just finds written work so hard and is getting very demoralised. Today he starts his homework ( he has to write about a special photo- why is it special what happened on that day etc). He got so upset and was explaining how he is always the last in his class to finish, another child has called him a dumb pig ( I will be going in to speak to school about that) and just generally so down about himself.
So I talked up the positive, he can read well and excels at some aspects of maths. Talked about how we are going to find out how he learns as this will help and talked about famous ppl e.g. Branson, Jamie Oliver etc.
But does anyone else have any other suggestions. It just kills me to see how done he is on himself as he is a bright boy. It just doesn't show that way in his academic work. Thanks

Hi my DS 9 yr 5. He has a diagnosis of mild dyspraxia and hypermobility. He struggles with time completion too. Being down on himself was the hardest thing he would say he was rubbish., stumped, hit himself etc. however, we had an assessment and then an IEP (individual education plan) including OT group this has made a huge difference. We do still have moments but nothing like it was. We also found Dyspraxia USA website/Facebook useful. We also found it helped to learn to touch type and use computer for homework this helped because he wasn't having to think about hand writing and it meant he could get his ideas, sums etc down.

It sounds like you're doing all the right things.

Hth

DS is dyspraxic, and has loose joints in his hands, which mean he has shocking handwriting. I mean, it's illegible, and beeeeeyyyoooond slow.

His school said that if he could type with a speed of 14wpm, he could use a computer. So, I took him to touch typing lessons for a year (you can get free online tuition, but we never seemed to get anywhere).

Now, he has a small notebook computer (nothing special) at school, and his written work is so much better. He uses much more descriptive words and interesting metaphors, and his out put has increased hugely.

Perhaps speak to the school about this?

Also look at having him assessed for dysgraphia. Look at alternative strategies like using a lap top, speech to writing dictation software e.g. Dragon, which has an ipad app, special grip pens, etc.

Help him see how everyone has strengths and weaknesses and that one area of challenge doesn't define you.

Also ask about having help with writing his thoughts down , when doing this type of work , maybe having a scribe.
If you can get school interested there so many ways they could help support him , one being getting this naughty child to realise how difficult life can be . So maybe suggest to her to make him write an apology with his non dominate hand , so he finds something difficult to do . Might make him think twice .