Likely dyslexic son not making progress in school.

[PlaySchool]

My Yr 2 son has a reading age 2 years below his chronological age and a writing age more than 1.5 years below his CA. He has no problems with maths or his general understanding of the world.

It seems to me, therefore, that he has made very little in progress in literacy since he started school.

I have asked the school to get an educational psychologist to assess him but the school says that they won't do this because even if he gets a diagnosis of dyslexia, the help they give him won't change. The help won't change because the school thinks he is getting the right intervention already.

Is there anyway I can insist in getting an EP report?

Thanks.

What help is your DS getting in school?
IME, Schools use the "package" for expected dyslexia that the LEA advise them to use (changes depending on LEA). This "package" of intervention is agreed with the EP.
Schools have very little designated time allotted with EPs. The severest need from the school's perspective - i.e. likely to cause the most disruption to lessons - will be seen first.
There will often be a chance on these visits to cast a cursory glance on any others who have cause for concern. If the EP agrees, it is likely that they will recommend the package that the school already uses.
Finding out what the potential cause of the disparity between numeracy and literacy is would be more beneficial, or the help in school will be more of the same achieving the same results as now.
Personally I would recommend having your DS' eyes tested by a Behavioural Optometrist. They are far more likely to be able to provide practical strategies to be used that will help.

Thanks "aunt evil" I will look into the optometrist. My DS gets some additional reading sessions at school but given that he is 7 and has the reading age of a 5 year old, I don't think the intervention is the right sort.

I am seeing the SENCO later in the week and I am thinking about what to say. I don't want to have to pay for an EP report myself but it looks like I might have to.

There are a lot of different programmes that can be used to go right back to basics. Find out what "additional" reading means. It may be that he is on a recognised programme, or that they are giving more of the same. If the latter ask what they are trying to achieve by using something that has been proven not to work. Ask if they do any other programmes within school that would be of more benefit. I can guarantee that they will be running several.
The crux is that you do not know what is causing the problem. It is good to keep trying different strategies in school, but they cannot dx aspects such as eye tracking or irlens.

I mostly agree with aunt evil. It is very likely there is nothing the EP would recommend that the school aint already doing. The EP doesn't have any answers regarding dyslexia.

The EP doesn't have any answers regarding dyslexia

Just to give a different perspective on this (with a 9yo daughter with Dyslexia). In our experience an EP report with an official diagnosis was such a relief and a boost for my dd who finally had an explanation for her difficulties that was not: 'I am stupid'. There was an immediate benefit to my dd's self-esteem. Like the OP my dd's school would not pay for an EP assessment, not because of the reasons cited here (e.g. we won't do anything different) but because my dd wasn't far enough behind to trigger EP assessment. This is a joke because achievement/progress need to be absolutely dire in order to trigger an EP assessment via school.

We therefore had to pay for an EP assessment. This not only pointed out where the weaknesses are but also where the strengths are and enable us to use these strengths to dd's advantage. Every child will have a different profile of strengths and weaknesses, and in this sense Dyslexia is a relatively poorly defined condition. All the more reason IMO to get a full profile laid out in an EP assessment. My dd's weaknesses are in sequencing and working memory but she has strengths in verbal comprehension and so listens to millions of audio books and enjoys books and extends her vocabulary that way.

The EP report should detail the sort of intervention the child needs. This might be different to what is already being given. If reading time is not working for the OP's ds then 'more of the same' ain't necessarily going to be of benefit. It may focus the school's mind to see if they can do something different for the OP's ds. An EP report is a piece of paper (albeit an expensive one) to wave at school if they start trying to pull the wool over your eyes and say there are 'no SEN' in a subject (a battle I've had). And to enable your child to qualify for extra time in SATs, a reader in exams if necessary etc. etc. and also to help the parents decide whether the school is able to do the job and whether private specialist tuition (if a possibility) would be a sensible option.

So I don't agree that an EP report is 'useless'. An EP may or may not be useful depending on what you want to get out of it. In my opinion if the OP cannot get the school to assess, the OP should seek out a reputable EP and discuss what the benefits might be and where an assessment might lead.

Handywoman xxx

I would suggest to the OP if considering paying for EP assessment not to go down the Dyslexia Action route but instead to find a reputable, experienced, local EP who is familiar with the local education system and knows the resources available to schools.

Handy xxx

Thanks, Handy. I totally agree with you.

I have 3 DS, all of whom have literacy problems. Oldest, now at high school has an EP diagnosis of dyslexia. It got him extra help at school, albeit minimal. Middle DShas no report and neither has youngest DS. 2 reports is very costly and if I could persuade the school to organise it I would be delighted!

I have arranged a specialist dyslexic tutor for youngest. (I have seen good results with my other boys from this tutor).

It is just so frustrating that, in spite of my youngest being 2 years behind, the school has never accepted that he has a significant problem! They blame him for not being motivated - "he hates reading and writing and doesn't want to do it" - Er, yes, of course he does because he finds it really hard! I am meeting the SENCO later in the week but I fear it might be like talking to a brick wall.

I have SpLDs myself and only had an EP assessment recently at Uni. I am also glad I was assessed because it explains all my difficulties. It is such a relief to understand what is going "wrong" and why. I really don't want my kids to suffer from low self esteem in the way I did at school. It seems so unnecessary.

My DD had severe dyslexia.

But instead of focussing on EP reports and extra time in SATS and extra tutoring I focussed on what was causing her problems.

I then managed to fix all of her underlying problems.

And now she no longer has dyslexia. I have totally cured my DDs severe dyslexia.

That is why I say an EP report is useless.

Instead what you need to focus on is the gut problems, neurodevelopment problems, vision problems and auditory problems that are causing the troubles your child is having.

Cure all of those underlying problems and your child will no longer have dyslexia.

Surely, the EP report will tell me what the underlying problems are.

There is nothing to suggest my child has any physical problems. I think it is the way his brain processes information.

Playschool it sounds as though you could really use a formal diagnosis to help 'focus minds' at your ds school. Not sure if you can force them to have him assessed, unfortunately, as I never succeeded.

Handywoman xxxx

Surely, the EP report will tell me what the underlying problems are. - No.

The EP won't be able to do a stool analysis for gut problems, or a blood test for food allergies, or an eye test, or an audiogram for distorted hearing.

The EP may be able to test for convergence, and then tell you to see a behaviour optometrist. But obviously it would be cheaper and better to get a behaviour optometrist to test for convergence then an EP.

I think it is the way his brain processes information. - A neurodevelopment therapy will improve the way his brain processes information.

And if his brain doesn't work optimally due to a food allergy then cutting out the offending food will also change the way his brain works.

It is my DDs brain that I have changed (along with her gut and vision and hearing)

Indigo I think you and Playschool might be at cross purposes, I think Playschool is talking about the profile of cognitive strengths and weaknesses that is impinging on academic progress in Dyslexia. Whether you like it or not, Indigo, an Ed Psych can absolutely assess this and I think it's only fair to say so. Whether or how indeed you might 'cure' Dyslexia is a different matter, surely?

Handy x

I absolutely agree that an EP can do cognitive tests.

But this thread is about dyslexia and how to make progress in school - not about cognitive strengths and weaknesses

Well I thought it was.... Since the OP asks specifically about access to EP testing.

The EP will say your DC has working memory difficulties. Everyone with dyslexia has working memory difficulties.

But the working memory problems are still just a symptom of dyslexia and not the cause of it.

Like you said all the EP will do is give you a cognitive profile.

All I'm saying is that a cognitive profile is not particularly useful.

Or rather that addressing the symptoms of dyslexia is not as effective as addressing the causes of the dyslexia.

IndigoBelle,

May I ask what the processes are to cure dyslexia?

How did you find out about this?

I'm intrigued to know.

NoStoppingMe

To cure DDs auditory problems she did Auditory Integration Training at the Sound Learning Centre.

To cure her brain and vision problems she did a neurodevelopment and vision therapy at the Tinsley House Clinic.

And to cure her gut problems she went to Dr Goyal at Sincere Health. The first thing he recommended was going gluten free / dairy free.

Basically dyslexia is caused by gut problems (either leaky gut, or candida, or digestive enzyme problems). This means that food isn't being properly broken down which means that stuff is getting into the blood stream which shouldn't which causes neurodevelopment problems, which then causes vision and auditory problems.

So all you have to do is sort out all of those things, and the dyslexia will be gone :)

Going gluten free dairy free made an amazing difference to DD, and costs nothing to try.

I think what Indigo and are saying is that in finding out what is causing the dyslexia and alleviating the symptoms is our preferred route rather than repeating programmes, having a reader in exams or extra time, as all that is doing is masking continued problems.
DS1 dx dyspraxia and dyslexia. He has seen different professionals for different aspects of each. An EP can help - but is not the whole answer. I can understand the positive effect of having a dx written down, but from experience, I also know that some LEAs/schools are very reluctant to give credence to private reports over their own professionals.

Indigo I am very sceptical but I have an open mind. When you say that you have cured your dd's dyslexia can you tell me how much she struggled before compared to how she performs now?

I have got to admit, this sounds very odd.

I have looked at the websites you refer to. However, I would love to see the scientific evidence behind all these claims. I wonder why mainstream medicine has not found out about these cures for autism and the like.

Perhaps they are right, who knows? I can't help but be doubtful.

Playschool, there is a similar thread on the primary education board which may be useful chuck.
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/primary/1636258-Dyslexic-sorry-longer-than-I-expected
Indigo gives some great and interesting info but I am, like you, sceptical when people say that all their children's difficulties, especially Aspergers, are caused by food intolerances/allergies.

It is an area of interest for me as I have a DS 5 with quite significant dyslexia symptoms, a speech disorder and hypermobility and a dd 13 with ASD, Auditory processing difficulties, dyslexia and numerous other traits. I am currently studying bio psychology as part of my degree as well.