Dyslexia?

[OneMoreMum]

Quick question - what is the difference between being bad at reading / spelling and being dyslexic - or is that the definition?

DS2 is quite a way behind (yr 6) and school are going to test him for dyslexia because his reading and spelling is pretty bad. They did test him a few years ago and came to the conclusion that he needed to work on his phonics, which he has done but although he has improved he's still behind his peers.

Dyslexia is not just about reading and writing. Check here for the British Dyslexia Association's checklist of indications.

School can only do a screening. If you want to find out for sure, you have to pay for an educational psychologist to assess your child. We did this (my son is dyslexic). The educational psychologist's report recommended specific ways to help. The school gave him the extra help he needed with reading and writing and he has done very well since then. But he still gets confused over things like organising himself, telling the time, left and right, reading from the whiteboard, etc.

He also has a very poor short-term memory, which is another indication of dyslexia.

There needs to be a discrepancy between the child's intelligence and his ability at reading and writing to indicate dyslexia, I believe. So my son has an above average IQ, but was way below average at reading at the time he was assessed.

BDA should be able to give you more advice if you phone them or look at their website.

Thanks Toffee, some of those things do look familiar.
How do you know if your son has a high IQ if dyslexic kids have problems reading, writing and doing simple calculations (as it says on the website)?, I would have thought these things would affect the IQ measurement?

That confuses me too, to be honest. But the ed psych said that it was my son's oral skills and verbal comprehension that gave a true indication of his intelligence, not his poor short-term memory and struggle to decode words. So he performed really well orally, but not on paper. The ed psych said that his verbal and comprehension skills demonstrated that he had considerable academic potential and she took these as an indication of his IQ.

In my son's last report, he was assessed as having a reading age of a 13-year old (he is 11), so reading is certainly not an issue for him now. It probably would have been had he not had all the help that he had (he was taken out of class for small-group work on phonics).

In my son, the main indication that something was wrong was his frustration. He appeared to be a bright and witty boy, but he could not learn to read like his friends. He used to clown about and misbehave in class. He was in detention most break-times (from the age of 6 ). The head teacher told me that he would stop misbehaving once he realised he did not like being in detention. He didn't. In fact, he became worse. When we took him to an ed psych, she said this was all classic behaviour for a frustrated dyslexic child who could not learn using conventional teaching methods. Once he began receiving extra help and being praised for the things he could do (he is really good at using computers, for instance), he blossomed.

In answer to your original question, I'm not sure what other reasons there are for someone being bad at reading/spelling, but I do know that, with dyslexia, there is always an unusually large disparity between different abilities, leading to frustration. Dyslexic people learn differently, so they need different teaching. They usually need to "overlearn" new information. They take longer to process information, so they need extra time in exams. There are all sorts of issues with them, rather than just reading and writing.

They have lots of extraordinary abilities too, however (they tend to think "in pictures", for example, which can make them good architects or artists) - their brains just learn differently.

Hope you get an answer about your son one way or the other.

HI op - who was it that tested him a few years ago?

He was tested by the teacher at school that deals with these things, it's a very small independent school so probably doesn't fall into the standard SENCO definition.

She used some sort of computer testing programme that identifies problem areas and told us that a particular pattern of results would indicate dyslexia. He showed up problems with phonics but not the other areas (whatever they were) so they have worked on those and he has improved but is still a way behind.

I looked out his end of year report and his reading age was 8 1/2 (1 1/2 years improvement in a year though)and his spelling age just over 7 when he was about to turn 10 so he's a long way behind. He's no maths genius either so (although I hate to say it) maybe the poor lad's just dim....

Dyslexia can only be about reading writing and spelling.
Dyslexia is a man made problem, and not a medical condition.
Dyslexia is a learning disability regarding the use of of a man made communication system the visual notation of speech, which in our culture is called the written word.
The are three cognitive or medical subtypes of dyslexia auditory, visual, and attentional.
So a diagnosis of dyslexia is merely a screening test for the underlying cognitive deficits/ disorders which cause the dyslexic symptom.
Dyslexia for most is a genetic issue, so if your child has been diagnosed as being dyslexic then you need to find out which parent is also may have dyslexic issues.
Unfortunately the BDA have been ignoring international research for the last decade or so because it conflicts with their internal agenda. There were more than 2,500 dyslexia research papers published over the last decade.
A sample of some of these research papers can be found on the CiteULike online research paper sharing facility
www.citeulike.org/group/12693/library/order/year,,
which currently lists some 330 or more dyslexia research papers

Dyslexia is not just about reading, writing and spelling. It affects short-term memory, processing information and anything to do with sequence (remembering days of the week, for example). My son is now a good reader and not too bad at spelling, but he still has those issues. Neither me nor my husband are dyslexic, btw.

Sorry Toffeefudgecake

You are confusing what causes the dyslexic symptom with dyslexia itself.

Issues of poor working memory,www.citeulike.org/group/5806/order/year,, www.citeulike.org/group/13873/library/order/year,, or short term memory, can be contributory causes of the dyslexic symptom.

And it is Visual Processing deficits and / or Auditory Processing deficits which are the main under lying cognitive causes of the dyslexic symptom.

Sequencing issues are related to auditory processing deficits or disorders,www.citeulike.org/group/12655/library/order/year,, www.apduk.org which have more serious symptoms that just dyslexia ( having problem with reading writing and spelling)

Again having problems remembering the says of the week etc are working memory related issues and not dyslexia. dyslexia is not a medical or cognitive condition, dyslexia is only a symptom of one or more cognitive deficits or disorders

For most www.citeulike.org/group/12693/library/order/year,, Developmental Dyslexia is a genetic issue, Alexia or acquired dyslexia www.citeulike.org/group/13563/library/order/year,,

It really about reading the related research papers from the last decade or more, that you can begin to understand the real issues which the UK Dyslexia industry would prefer you did not know about.

All who have been diagnosed as having dyslexia as a learning disability need to discover the medical or cognitive disorders which causes their dyslexic symptom.

Dyslexia is a genetic issue, and dyslexia is mainly inherited from one parent or the other, even though they may not yet be aware that they have dyslexia because they have become so good a coping with on a good day. The real problem is when the coping strategies do not work so well if at all on a bad day.

I am dyslexic, and I have a clinical diagnosis of the cognitive disorder which causes my dyslexic symptom. I was not diagnosed as being dyslexic until i was 45 years old, and the cognitive cause of my dyslexic symptom was clinically diagnosed when i was 49 years old.

DH has issues with getting digits the wrong way round in numbers and DS has trouble concentrating on anything for long.

Dolfrog where do you suggest we go from here?

Hi OneMoreMum,

The UK SEN support system was described by the Chairman of the Parliamentary Education Committee "as not being fit for purpose" in 2007. And nothing since then has made any improvement.

International medical research over the last decade or so has been trying ti identify the various chromosomes and their genes which can cause a wide range of cognitive deficits or disorders.

The research paper which best summarises the most re3cent research regarding Developmental Dyslexia is Cognitive subtypes of dyslexia.(2008)

There are three main Cognitive Sub-types of dyslexia, Auditory, Visual, and Attentional. Each dyslexic can have just a single cognitive subtype or any combination of subtypes, or co-morbid cognitive disabilities or disorders.

Those who have an auditory processing disorder have a listening disability, or problems processing what they hear, which includes speech, and therefore both conversations and verbal instructions.

These who have a visual processing disorder have problems processing the visual information they see.

Those who have attentional problems have concentration problems, and are not able to remain focused on any subject for too long.

These are medically diagnosable conditions, which a well informed GP or Pediatrician should know about and should be able to provide the correct referral for a further more in depth assessment. The best Centre in the UK is Great Ormond Street Hospital, as they have the facilities and range of consultants to provide a multi - discipline assessment.

Teachers and Educational Psychologists are qualified to diagnose the underlying medical causes of dyslexia, but they are able to provide a diagnosis of dyslexia which is only really a screening test for one or more of these medical or cognitive deficits or disorders.

Hi OneMoreMum,

A correction to my post above, my own auditory processing disorder, the cause of my own dyslexic symptom causing the problem.

Teachers and Educational Psychologists are NOT qualified to diagnose the underlying medical causes of dyslexia, but they are able to provide a diagnosis of dyslexia which is only really a screening test for one or more of these medical or cognitive deficits or disorders.

onemore mum - sounds like whoever assessed your son used a dyslexia screener which can only indicate areas of difficulty and not actually diagnose dyslexia.

Hi childrenofthecornsilk

There is not much difference both are only screening tests for underlying cognitive deficits, or disorders which are not diagnosable by those who perform these types of assessments.

A diagnosis of dyslexia only tells you that you have a problem using a man made communication system the visual notation of speech, it does not tell you what the real underlying cognitive issues are, and unless there is an understanding of these underlying problems it is not possible to determine the best support approaches. Especially as the support needs of one cognitive sub of dyslexia can conflict with the support needs of another cognitive sub type of dyslexia.

Not sure what you mean by both screening tests dolfrog - I only mentioned the screener!

Sorry again have not read all of the posts but I am dyslexic and I would advise you to get your child to a educational psychologist ASAP I was not diagnosed until aged 16 made a huge difference and I have a measured IQ of 147. it will cost but is worth it in the long term if your child is dyslexic and has a high IQ they will get very frustrated in the next few years and this may effect there self esteem and confidence for years to come. whist it is true that some times learning techniques may clash with each other in terms of the different areas a child with dyslexia has problems with it is in my experience all ways possible to improve the situation.

childrenofthecornsilk

Dyslexia is not a condition
Dyslexia is a man made problem wthat highlights the existence of one or more underlying cognitive deficits or disorders

Dyslexia is a symptom of one or more cognitive conditions.

So any assessment for dyslexia can only be a screening test for one or more of the underlying cognitive or medical issues which cause the dyslexic symptom.

dyslexia is a cognitive condition - it is caused by a difference in the formation of the brain in the developing foetus

Thanks everyone, I'll see what the screening test comes up with then go from there. He'll be moving to a state secondary next year and if he needs specific help I want to make sure we have everything in place before then (if possible).

childrenofthecornsilk

dyslexia is not a cognitive condition.

dyslexia is a man made problem, when using a man made communication system the visual notation of speech, or in our culture the written word.

Dyslexia is cause by various cognitive developmental issues auditory, visual and attentional cognitive development.

If you read the research from over the last decade or so you will understand these issues.

You are correct that these cognitive differences have genetic origins and begin from about the 6th month of pregnancy.

But dyslexia is not a condition of any sort, it is only a symptom of the various sensory and motor cognitive skills humans develop.

In societies which do note use writing systems as a form of communication there is no dyslexia, but the underlying cognitive causes of dyslexia do exist, such as Auditory Processing Disorder, Visual Processing Disorders, Attention problems, etc.

Have a look at some of these dyslexia research paper collection from PubMed the biggest online research paper library

• '''Alexia (Acquired Dyslexia)''' collection
• '''Dyscalculia''' collection
• '''Dyslexia : Jyväskylä Longitudinal study of Dyslexia''' collection
• '''Dyslexia and Attention''' collection
• '''Dyslexia and Auditory Processing''' collection
• '''Dyslexia and Cognitive Neurology, Neurobiology''' collection ** '''Dyslexia and Cognitive Neurology, Neurobiology 1990s''' collection ** '''Dyslexia and Cognitive Neurology, Neurobiology 2000''' collection ** '''Dyslexia and Cognitive Neurology, Neurobiology 2001''' collection ** '''Dyslexia and Cognitive Neurology, Neurobiology 2002''' collection ** '''Dyslexia and Cognitive Neurology, Neurobiology 2003''' collection ** '''Dyslexia and Cognitive Neurology, Neurobiology 2004''' collection ** '''Dyslexia and Cognitive Neurology, Neurobiology 2005''' collection ** '''Dyslexia and Cognitive Neurology, Neurobiology 2006''' collection ** '''Dyslexia and Cognitive Neurology, Neurobiology 2007''' collection ** '''Dyslexia and Cognitive Neurology, Neurobiology 2008''' collection ** '''Dyslexia and Cognitive Neurology, Neurobiology 2009''' collection ** '''Dyslexia and Cognitive Neurology, Neurobiology 2010''' collection
• '''Dyslexia and Familial Risk''' collection
• '''Dyslexia and Genetic Research''' collection
• '''Dyslexia and Logographic (Chinese, Japanese) Orthographies''' collection
• '''Dyslexia and Morphological Processing''' collection
• '''Dyslexia and Orthography''' collection
• '''Dyslexia and Phonological Processing''' collection
• '''Dyslexia and Remediation''' collection
• '''Dyslexia and Speech and Language Impairments''' collection
• '''Dyslexia and Visual Processing''' collection
• '''Dyslexia and Working Memory''' collection
• '''Dyslexia - Free Full Text Research Papers''' collection
• '''Dyslexia Review Free Full Text''' collection
• '''Dyslexia - Review Research Papers''' collection
• '''Living with Dyslexia''' collection

blimey dolfrog you're intense!
If dyslexia is caused by a difference in the brain which has a genetic cause, which we both seem to agree on, then it cannot be a purely man-made condition.

The cognitive issues which cause the dyslexic symptom have a genetic cause.

And if you read the research you will see that different writing system have different cognitive skill requirements, because writing systems are a man made communication systems developed by different cultures.

So this is why it is possible to have a bilingual child who is fluent in both Japanese and English, but only dyslexic in English.

I have been researching this now for over 10 years to help my three sons all whom are dyslexic and all of whom have a clinical diagnosis of Auditory Processing Disorder as the cognitive cause of their dyslexic symptom.

There are more serious symptoms of Auditory Processing Disorder than just the dyslexic symptom, and the UK Medical Research Council Estimates that 10% of children have some degree of Auditory Processing Disorder

And if you do not identify the underlying cognitive cause or causes of the dyslexic symptom you can not begin to determine the best support options each dyslexic may require.

dolfrog you are stating the obvious with respect to different writing systems.

So that is why dyslexia is obviously not a cognitive condition, because dyslexia is only about having problem with the writing system used by your culture.

And why dyslexia is language dependent.

But the underlying cognitive issues cause of the dyslexic symptom are not language dependent, they are the sensory and motor deficits disorders, which can cause the dyslexic symptom. And it is these sensory and motor issues which related to genetic development.

If dyslexia was a cognitive condition then dyslexics would be dyslexic in all languages, and this in not the case.

As a comparison All who have Auditory Processing Disorder which is a listening disability, have auditory processing disorder or a listening disability regardless of writing system used by their culture.

A cognitive condition has to have a universal affect for all humans regardless of their geographic location, which is not the case for dyslexia.

Again read the research papers, which will take some time as I do know the content of each of the research paper collection I listed from PubMed. PubMed allow registered users to create their own online collection to share with others. The list of research paper collections in the earlier post are my own PubMed research paper collections. I do have other research paper collections but they are less Dyslexia specific.

'dyslexia is obviously not a cognitive condition, because dyslexia is only about having problem with the writing system used by your culture.'
I disagree - it is not only about difficulties with the writing system.

childrenofthecornsilk

you may disagree, but that is what international dyslexia research has been saying for some time now.

So really you need to read the international dyslexia research and get up to speed on this very important issue.

Dyslexia can only be about having problems with reading , writing and spelling.

The issues related to the underlying cognitive causes of the dyslexic symptom are a much wider range of problems.