Dyslexic/dyspraxic

[kissingtoads]

Dd1s teacher has said that dd (8) is dyslexic and probably dyspraxic though not severely so. The dyslexia daignosis is a big relief. I hadn't considered dyspraxia as dd has great gross motor skills, though her struggle with dressing, bum wiping and all things small and fiddley has made me realise it extends to handwriting. Dd is below average, well below, in every subject (top in PE though).

She is always really anxious about Fridays at school as it is Big Writing (essay type work) day. I have just read through her Big Writing workbook and was totally blown away to see just how hard it is for her. Barely legible, most words spelt wrong, only a paragraph at most to show for 1hrs work, and the content of her writing is mostly nonsense - and it's this bit that bothers me most.

Is the inability to write a story, an explanation or instructions etc part of dyslexia? Is it an anxiety thing - coping so much with physically writing and trying to spell that she can't focus on what she is writing?

Do pencil grips help with writing - if so which are best (soft, hard, triangular, claw...lots on amazon)?

Is the inability to write a story, an explanation or instructions etc part of dyslexia?

Yes, kind of.

It's probably an inability to order her thoughts on paper.

If she had to dictate a story it would probably be far better.

The physical anxiety of course doesn't help.... But even if she didn't find writing physically hard she'd still probably struggle to organise her thoughts on paper.

So you need a multi pronged appproach to help with it.

Do pencil grips help with writing - if so which are best - Yes.

You can't say which one is best, it depends on your DD. Best thing to do is to buy an assorted pack of pencil grips and ask her which is best.

Thank you indigo. Her teacher said that in Secondary school she'll be able to use a laptop and get extra time for exams, that sort of thing. She didn't recommend getting a "formal" diagnosis from nearby dyslexia cenre as a) it was expensive and b) all the strategies they'd implement she herself would be doing anyway as she was dyslexia trained. I do wish however that I could get an ed psych evaluation to help in recognising dds strengths and weaknesses. Teacher mentioned possibility of working memory problems.

One thing I'm really aware of is that though dd no longer exhibits any signs of absence epilepsy (last EEG clear) there's always the possibility that it is still an issue somehow.

Will take your advise and buy multipack grips. Thanks.

Working memory problems is part of dyslexia.

You can get an EP evaluation, you just have to pay for it yourself.

Dyslexia Action do them for about £400......

Our local dyslexia association do a computer screening test which is pretty cheap (approx £20). It's only a screening test but would give you some further information. They also run touch typing and spelling lessons. My son (Yr7) has just started using a laptop at secondary. I have noticed that he has come home with writing frameworks that really help him as they tell him exactly what should be in each paragraph. Mind Maps can also be useful. There are lots of strategies like these that will help but my experience of dyslexia is that there are no magic wands and making progress can be slow and hard.
Good Luck!

Cheers Niceweather, I'll contact my local association and take it from there.

Indigo: £400! Pricey. My other dd had an EP report when we were in Wales (HI/SLI) which was really helpful. That was through school. I doubt I'd get one funded by dds school here or in wales for dyslexia, which pees me off as dds difficulties affects her learning as much - if not more - than dd2s.