Late help for dyslexia?

[wigglybeezer]

Posted here due to lack of traffic on SEN board, and because I am used to posting on here.

DS1 is crashing and burning at high school, can no longer cope with the speed they are expected to work at, getting stressed and upset. He always did OK at primary, mid level but struggled with spelling and sequencing and working memory not great. Tested by rubbish old senco many moons ago and came out as borderline for dyslexia.

I'm afraid I rather left him to it and concentrated on DS2 who needed help over a wider area of issues (and was much more cooperative).

DS 1 is now fourteen, if I get him assessed again and manage to get him help for dyslexia will it make enough of a difference at this late stage? He is now willing to be assessed but is very avoidant of extra work!

Anyone with success stories?

That's not late! That's perfect timing to get him help for his GCSEs.

Lots of people don't get diagnosed until they go to university, or until they're in work, so don't feel bad he's been this long. He must have some good coping strategies to have got this far, so clearly lots is going right.

If he's borderline, I would think it's debatable whether you would want to get him formally assessed (cons are it's very expensive - could be 300-500 quid, and could of course tell you he's not dyslexic, pros in my opinion are that even if he's not coming up as dyslexic, if you find a good ed psych, it should give you and him some clues as to why he might be struggling in these areas and how to sort it out).

There are lots of things you can do before/instead of that, though ... I'm not sure you're asking for that, so won't ramble on.

But yes, there's loads of potential for success. I was formally assessed as dyslexic just before my 14th birthday (although my mum was pretty sure before that), and I found it very helpful.

He was assessed when he was in infants, but only a screening test by an untrained teacher. I definitely don't think he is borderline, probably moderate. He can read but finds it difficult to digest large chunks of text and doesn't read for pleasure as he loses the thread reading novels.
His coping strategy at the moment seems to be blaming the teachers, other pupils, me :( .

His younger brother is more dyslexic, didn't read until 9, but is more cooperative and more academic.

Thanks for answering my post, term starts next week here, girding mt loins.

By an assessment, I mean (and most people will mean), the formal test, not a screening test. I'm not nit-picking, just saying because it's useful to know if he needs special provisions.

Moderate dyslexia is still pretty noticable, I think - he might actually be mild, and still have enough difficulties to be quite a drag on his abilities? It can't be fun for him.

It sounds rotten that he's blaming you - I think maybe the nastiest thing about undiagnosed dyslexia is the emotional side of it, feeling he's trying so hard and not getting anywhere, so why try, and why not blame other people? It's not illogical I suppose.

I do hope he gets sorted - and even if he's not dyslexic (which I guess is an issue because it must feel very hard to have a diagnosed brother and be worrying he doesn't have a reason, you know?), he still could benefit from help on his specific weak points, I'm sure. Which doesn't sound easy if the SENCO is not good.

You might get more replies if you post in education, by the way - there's people who really know their stuff there.

I hope you get it sorted.

this bit stood out to me from the OP:

"I'm afraid I rather left him to it and concentrated on DS2 who needed help over a wider area of issues (and was much more cooperative)."

Sounds like where you have been naturally able to help DS2, you need a good professional to show you how to do the same with DS1, whose problems may be as much about self esteem and emotions as anything else. I often think the biggest help you can give a dyslexic child is to raise their self esteem.

I have two girls with SEN, both have working memory issues, one has dyslexia, both are so totally, incredibly, different.

It sounds as though you could use some good quality professional help, not necessarily to get a diagnosis, but to find out how to find t he right ways to help and support your DS1. I would shop around carefully and get some recommendations about the help in your area.

Good luck
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