Deanker.com

Strong Networks, Strong Family.

A dyslexia diagnosis can be dangerous!

My son is dyslexic and the school will not recognize him. That I have to do? This is another common suggestion for a teacher or principal to listen to. That’s not to say it’s something you shouldn’t seriously consider, but it’s certainly an overused term.

Here are some things to consider:

1. Be clear about what you mean by ‘dyslexia’. Make sure you have some evidence to support your claim. If your child is less than 8 years old, it is often an unreliable diagnosis. Almost all children reverse their letters or numbers and misspell even simple, common words when they are learning to read. For some this will go away quickly and by the end of year 1 it will be virtually eliminated. Others continue to do this until year 4 or even beyond, although less frequently. By itself, it may be an indicator, but it’s certainly not a ‘proven case’ in terms of the dyslexia label.

2. Children with dyslexia have difficulty learning to read, write, and spell despite traditional instruction, at least average intelligence, and adequate opportunity to learn. It is caused by a deterioration in the brain’s ability to translate images received from the eyes or ears into understandable language. It is not the result of vision or hearing problems. It does not mean lack of intelligence.

3. Having said what I said in step 1, it is true that dyslexia can go unnoticed in the first years of school. The child may become frustrated by the difficulty in learning to read, and other problems may arise that disguise dyslexia. The child may show signs of depression and low self-esteem. Behavior problems are often seen both at home and at school. The child may become demotivated and develop a dislike for school. The child’s success in school may be compromised if the problem is not treated.

4. If it’s not happening to your child, talk to someone at school about it. The teacher in your son’s class should be able to talk to you about how your son is doing (his achievement) and how well he is doing (your progress relative to him). They should also be able to tell you what her son’s immediate goals are and what his aspirations are in terms of his year-end achievements (although many schools are reluctant to make the latter point candidly). You should find that the school is not defensive at the suggestion that your child may have dyslexia, especially if you can cite some of the evidence I’ve listed above.

5. Remember that writing and spelling always lag behind a child’s reading ability. I’ve met some really self-assured readers who are pretty atrocious writers and spellers well into Year 3 and beyond!

6. If the matter remains unresolved, talk to the principal and expect some or all of the following to happen:

o A pledge of your research

o A promise to notify you once this investigation has been completed.

o A summary of the school’s approach to learning and teaching, as well as strategies for special educational needs (ask for a copy of the relevant policies if you wish; you have the right to see them)

o A summary of any specific strategies the school (and you) deem appropriate in relation to your child’s progress

Related Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *