Thread: Dyslexia and learning difficulties with children.

I have always been involved with my children, (and with regard to their homework) and just of late I have noticed my 5 year old daughter writes some letters and numbers backwards and also seems a little slow when it comes to reading (when compared to my other kids).

Her reports always seem very good (including reading) and just tonight I established that she has a real problem that has apparently been overlooked by her teachers.

Have already discussed my concerns with her teacher last term and she said she will grow out of it and my little girl was not dyslexic.

I am particularly worried and don't know how to go about finding out firstly if she has a learning disability and secondly how we can help her if she does indeed have a problem.

As there are a lot of teachers on TD I hope someone can give me some advice.

This advice would be greatly appreciated and thanks in advance.

Has she she had an eye test?
Dyslexia is bandied about all over the place. Be cool.

1. check the cables are in place
2. check the monitor.

Ok yes it's an analogy but it works.

Most important of all, keep it under your belt. Don't worry the kid by worrying.

Sit back, observe, hell, take notes, but don't stress about it.

Loads of encouragement.
Gentle correction (no correction at all if it's going to cause upset)
Slowly slowly.

Kids do go through phases so don't overreact.

Also, kids aren't all the same.
It can be a mistake to compare.

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

and just of late I have noticed my 5 year old daughter writes some letters and numbers backwards and also seems a little slow when it comes to reading

she's 5 years old.

I very much doubt you have anything to worry about.

writing b's and d's and so on backward is very common for kids in their first few years of reading and writing.

^ Absolutely right.

She read a book to me tonight (and perfectly word for word) and when I wrote down a sentence from that book she couldn't read the first word of that sentence.

I asked her to sound out and write the word and she could get the word basically right but 2 of the letters was written backwards.

My wife is also a little worried and we would never pressure her. We only give our kids our full support and encouragement.

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

I wrote down a sentence from that book she couldn't read the first word of that sentence.

What's your hand writing like?

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

I asked her to sound out and write the word and she could get the word basically right but 2 of the letters was written backwards.

I don't understand this.

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

My wife is also a little worried

Stop worrying, observe and encourage. If you worry the kid will pick up on it and stress. You'd be amazed how much kids stress over little things. She's only 5.

5 is very young.

some schools teach phonics and the kids attempt to sound out words, problem with english is that beyond 1 syllable words they are mostly not phonic anymore so young kids as a rule will sight read from memory of words they have seen.

i'd say it was quite unusual for a 5 year old to be a proficient reader.

^^^ OK, thanks for your advice but is there any basic test that I could give her and with regard to checking her for this learning disability.

^ I agree with most of what Frankie says.

Originally Posted by ChiangMai noon

i'd say it was quite unusual for a 5 year old to be a proficient reader.

I totally agree with this.

^^
google..... dyslexia test.

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

OK, thanks for your advice but is there any basic test that I could give her and with regard to checking her for this learning disability.

Jesus Christ man, leave the poor kid alone! She's fucking five years old. let her develop before putting shit like that on her cause you read something somewhere

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

OK, thanks for your advice but is there any basic test that I could give her and with regard to checking her for this learning disability.

There are tests but not really for 5 year olds. She's too young. Another 18 months or so and maybe. Now no.

Originally Posted by ChiangMai noon

google..... dyslexia test.

Totally disagree with this one. Forget dyslexia. Leave it alone. There's a raging debate as to what is anyway. An old friend and colleague of mine is the UK s leading expert on the matter and she spends most of her time trying to get parents and teachers to forget the damn word.

Originally Posted by friscofrankie

Jesus Christ man, leave the poor kid alone! She's fucking five years old. let her develop before putting shit like that on her cause you read something somewhere

Absolutely right.

Originally Posted by jandajoy

Totally disagree with this one. Forget dyslexia. Leave it alone.

he asked if there were any tests.

Yes FF I really feel you are right in saying her mind might be working faster than she can keep up with!

Regarding her other intelectual development she seems fine, picking up languages at a drop of a hat and artistically she is fantastic but I am still concerned about her ability to read and write and when it seems other kids her age are so much more advanced.

Not a dumb girl at all but I still think she may have a problem.

JJ's advice and with regard to having her eyes checked may be a good idea.

Originally Posted by ChiangMai noon

he asked if there were any tests.

Too true, but parents who are concerned and, worse still, literate, tend to dive into the morass of stuff on the net then come out convinced their kids got everything from ADD to Autism. Then the nightmare starts as they project onto the kid.

No offence meant CMN, I've just seen too much of it.

A.) Dyslexia is NOT a learning disability
1.) dyslexia is a way of learning that the established education system considers "not normal"
B.) if your girl is "dyslexic" she is probably more intelligent than her peers
C.) Stick that "Learning Disability" crap up yer ass. She's probably smarter than you. DO NOT lay that label on her at this age.

Thanks for all of your advice.

I think I should just keep on working with her, and as normal and next time I have my eyes checked take her with me as well.

Again she has no idea that we are concerned and hopefully with our support she will blossom in the coming years.

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

next time I have my eyes checked take her with me as well.

Terrific idea. The emphasis on you going not her.

Originally Posted by ChiangMai noon

^^
google..... dyslexia test.

General
* Appears bright, highly intelligent, and articulate but unable to read, write, or spell at grade level.

* Labelled lazy, dumb, careless, immature, "not trying hard enough," or "behavior problem."

* Isn't "behind enough" or "bad enough" to be helped in the school setting.

* High in IQ, yet may not test well academically; tests well orally, but not written.

* Feels dumb; has poor self-esteem; hides or covers up weaknesses with ingenious compensatory strategies; easily frustrated and emotional about school reading or testing.

* Talented in art, drama, music, sports, mechanics, story-telling, sales, business, designing, building, or engineering.

* Seems to "Zone out" or daydream often; gets lost easily or loses track of time.

* Difficulty sustaining attention; seems "hyper" or "daydreamer."

* Learns best through hands-on experience, demonstrations, experimentation, observation, and visual aids.


Vision, Reading, and Spelling

* Complains of dizziness, headaches or stomach aches while reading.

* Confused by letters, numbers, words, sequences, or verbal explanations.

* Reading or writing shows repetitions, additions, transpositions, omissions, substitutions, and reversals in letters, numbers and/or words.

* Complains of feeling or seeing non-existent movement while reading, writing, or copying.

* Seems to have difficulty with vision, yet eye exams don't reveal a problem.

* Extremely keen sighted and observant, or lacks depth perception and peripheral vision.

* Reads and rereads with little comprehension.

* Spells phonetically and inconsistently.
Hearing and Speech

* Has extended hearing; hears things not said or apparent to others; easily distracted by sounds.

* Difficulty putting thoughts into words; speaks in halting phrases; leaves sentences incomplete; stutters under stress; mispronounces long words, or transposes phrases, words, and syllables when speaking.



Writing and Motor Skills

* Trouble with writing or copying; pencil grip is unusual; handwriting varies or is illegible.

* Clumsy, uncoordinated, poor at ball or team sports; difficulties with fine and/or gross motor skills and tasks; prone to motion-sickness.

* Can be ambidextrous, and often confuses left/right, over/under.
Math and Time Management

* Has difficulty telling time, managing time, learning sequenced information or tasks, or being on time.

* Computing math shows dependence on finger counting and other tricks; knows answers, but can't do it on paper.

* Can count, but has difficulty counting objects and dealing with money.

* Can do arithmetic, but fails word problems; cannot grasp algebra or higher math.


Memory and Cognition

* Excellent long-term memory for experiences, locations, and faces.

* Poor memory for sequences, facts and information that has not been experienced.

* Thinks primarily with images and feeling, not sounds or words (little internal dialogue).



Behavior, Health, Development and Personality

* Extremely disorderly or compulsively orderly.

* Can be class clown, trouble-maker, or too quiet.

* Had unusually early or late developmental stages (talking, crawling, walking, tying shoes).

* Prone to ear infections; sensitive to foods, additives, and chemical products.

* Can be an extra deep or light sleeper; bedwetting beyond appropriate age.

* Unusually high or low tolerance for pain.

* Strong sense of justice; emotionally sensitive; strives for perfection.

* Mistakes and symptoms increase dramatically with confusion, time pressure, emotional stress, or poor health.


I think you're safe Loy Toy

Originally Posted by Camel Toe

I think you're safe Loy Toy

How on earth can you make such an irresponsible statement. You don't know the child, you don't know the context. Do you really think that posting this stuff is going to help the 5 year old or LT and his wife, for that matter.

Disgracefull, irresponsible, egotistical shite.

and just of late I have noticed my 5 year old daughter writes some letters and numbers backwards and also seems a little slow when it comes to reading (when compared to my other kids).

Yes, I think it is safe to say his child is nowhere near:


General
* Appears bright, highly intelligent, and articulate but unable to read, write, or spell at grade level.

* Labelled lazy, dumb, careless, immature, "not trying hard enough," or "behavior problem."

* Isn't "behind enough" or "bad enough" to be helped in the school setting.

* High in IQ, yet may not test well academically; tests well orally, but not written.

* Feels dumb; has poor self-esteem; hides or covers up weaknesses with ingenious compensatory strategies; easily frustrated and emotional about school reading or testing.

* Talented in art, drama, music, sports, mechanics, story-telling, sales, business, designing, building, or engineering.

* Seems to "Zone out" or daydream often; gets lost easily or loses track of time.

* Difficulty sustaining attention; seems "hyper" or "daydreamer."

* Learns best through hands-on experience, demonstrations, experimentation, observation, and visual aids.


Vision, Reading, and Spelling

* Complains of dizziness, headaches or stomach aches while reading.

* Confused by letters, numbers, words, sequences, or verbal explanations.

* Reading or writing shows repetitions, additions, transpositions, omissions, substitutions, and reversals in letters, numbers and/or words.

* Complains of feeling or seeing non-existent movement while reading, writing, or copying.

* Seems to have difficulty with vision, yet eye exams don't reveal a problem.

* Extremely keen sighted and observant, or lacks depth perception and peripheral vision.

* Reads and rereads with little comprehension.

* Spells phonetically and inconsistently.
Hearing and Speech

* Has extended hearing; hears things not said or apparent to others; easily distracted by sounds.

* Difficulty putting thoughts into words; speaks in halting phrases; leaves sentences incomplete; stutters under stress; mispronounces long words, or transposes phrases, words, and syllables when speaking.



Writing and Motor Skills

* Trouble with writing or copying; pencil grip is unusual; handwriting varies or is illegible.

* Clumsy, uncoordinated, poor at ball or team sports; difficulties with fine and/or gross motor skills and tasks; prone to motion-sickness.

* Can be ambidextrous, and often confuses left/right, over/under.
Math and Time Management

* Has difficulty telling time, managing time, learning sequenced information or tasks, or being on time.

* Computing math shows dependence on finger counting and other tricks; knows answers, but can't do it on paper.

* Can count, but has difficulty counting objects and dealing with money.

* Can do arithmetic, but fails word problems; cannot grasp algebra or higher math.


Memory and Cognition

* Excellent long-term memory for experiences, locations, and faces.

* Poor memory for sequences, facts and information that has not been experienced.

* Thinks primarily with images and feeling, not sounds or words (little internal dialogue).



Behavior, Health, Development and Personality

* Extremely disorderly or compulsively orderly.

* Can be class clown, trouble-maker, or too quiet.

* Had unusually early or late developmental stages (talking, crawling, walking, tying shoes).

* Prone to ear infections; sensitive to foods, additives, and chemical products.

* Can be an extra deep or light sleeper; bedwetting beyond appropriate age.

* Unusually high or low tolerance for pain.

* Strong sense of justice; emotionally sensitive; strives for perfection.

* Mistakes and symptoms increase dramatically with confusion, time pressure, emotional stress, or poor health.