Any Dyslexia Specialists Out There?

[ekatiel]

So, I'm a certified teacher with a master's degree, but my second grader is giving me a run for my money with his reading and writing skills (or lack there of ). A little background: He's been in speech therapy since he was 19 months old. First for a lack of words, then for articulation, and now mostly for fluency and grammar issues. He had no problems learning his letters and their sounds (had them all down by the time he was three), but he's always had fine motor skills problems (he didn't choose a hand until he was almost 5, he had trouble cutting, etc, in preschool). It has been difficult teaching him to read. He does pretty well with his sight word cards, but he can't always recognize sight words in actual print. His phonemic awareness skills have been less than stellar (he couldn't rhyme until he was almost 5, and he still doesn't hear all the phonemes in a word when he spells-- in the word "went" he hears /w/ /i/ /t/, etc). I help him A LOT with reading at home. He ended the year last year on a DRA 16, which is on level for our district. Last spring, I requested that the reading specialist at his school take a look at him, but she was unwilling to formally test him because he was not below level in reading. If I didn't help him at home, he would most certainly be below level, so I feel like I'm stuck in a catch 22. He constantly reverses his letters and numbers and also transposes digraphs, writing "hs" for "sh", etc. He just completed some homework for writing (making a web for "communities"), and he wrote 2 whole sentences in completely mirrored writing (I'm pretty sure the web lines threw him off). I just don't know how to help this kiddo. I just sent an email to his speech teacher requesting an ARD so that we can all get together and figure out how to help him. I've also sent emails to his reading and math teachers (they are switching classes this year for the first time) to see if they have any suggestions on how to help him. Does anyone have any advice or input on how I can help him at home? I am at a loss, especially for the writing! --Katie

 

[Lemurone]

You sound like an expert! I'm sure that it's difficult for both of you and that it's worse IRL than in print. I say that bc my son is similar in many ways but I've never thought or been told it was a problem. We just had to redo a ton of homework to correct backward letters and he mirror writes a lot. I've attributed it to left handedness which he also chose late and still switches. He didn't talk until he was two. He's 6 BTW. So I have no advice but wanted to say to us it's normal

 

[donaldandpirates]

I sent you a PM.

As far as specifically writing, have you tried multisensory approaches or creating pictures from the letters? If my dyslexic DD sees things in pictures, it's easier for her to remember. We also did "writing" the letters in shaving cream, dry beans, etc., with her fingers as she's saying them out loud and creating the letters out of playdough as she says them out loud.

 

[KY*Figment]

I am dyslexic. I slipped through school by the skin of my teeth. My parents were not very involved. When I graduated high school I went to a University willing to take anyone on probation. 2nd week of classes I was in a speech class, we had to draw places to do a speech on somewhere on campus. I drew the learning disability center. I interviewed a lady who told me about the different disabilities and when she described dyslexia I said that's me. She then set me up for testing. Everyone walked away amazed I ever graduated. I have an excellent memory so they believe that's how I made it. I had a lot of tricks I had developed on my own and they taught me more. I have a BA & some graduate level courses. I am a full time social worker for the mentally ill, MR, & elderly adults. I manage their physical & mental health decisions along w/ their personal & financial decisions. An accountant reviews all financials. I help my kids w/ homework but if I am stressed I can't check it because it all looks like a word find puzzle or a bad game of suduko. I don't handle our household money. I try to follow recipes but I grew up using sight & taste.

Kudos to you! There is hope and I so wish I had a teacher who would have taken the time to find a way to help it may have kept me from hating every day of school prior to college. I had horrible attendance. To know someone had cared I may have missed less and not given up so many times.

 

[Kirby]

You don't say what part of the country you live in. If you lived in the North Texas area, I'd say go to Scottish Rite.

Both of my kids are dyslexic. We are fortunate that we live in a school district that tests for it. Both received help in school through the 8th grade. It was apparent in kindergarten that our son had a learning disability but our daughter exhibited no signs at all. She was automatically tested since she had a sibling that was dyslexic. She had learned to compensate for her learning problems but as she got older, would have fell behind had she not gotten help.

Our son graduated last May with a degree in mechanical engineering. Our daughter is working towards a degree in education.

If you can't get any help in your child's school, seek help elsewhere. It is definately worth it!

 

[MomToOne]

His phonemic awareness skills have been less than stellar (he couldn't rhyme until he was almost 5, and he still doesn't hear all the phonemes in a word when he spells-- in the word "went" he hears /w/ /i/ /t/, etc).

You may also want to look into Auditory Processing issues. Many of the issues you listed can also be due to that. (And of course multiple problems can exist in some children.) Your son sounds exactly like my daughter at that age, except for the mirrored writing.

Everyone wanted to deny my daughter had a problem, even though I clearly saw it. Her teachers didn't see the tears and frustration we had over homework for hours each night, they just saw the finished product and thought everything was "fine". I finally pursued testing through the Education Department at a local university (a clinic to training counselors), who referred us to the Speech/Language Department at the same university for more testing (a clinic they ran to train Speech/Language Therapists) who finally told me I needed to find a Audiologist who specialized in APD for further private testing. Our Audiologist then worked with the Speech/Language Department to define a therapy program they could work with us on to address DDs specific issues. If you have a university nearby, perhaps you could call their Education Department to see if they have any such clinic? I found out about ours only because I overheard a Principal once mention the fact that she had had her daughter tested there - otherwise, I would have never even known it was there - even knowing it existed, I had to do some work to get the information on it, it wasn't easy to find! But the school system is overtaxed these days, so you can often get to results faster by going outside of it. It took some time and work for me to pull together all of the resources and get all of the testing done (it took a full year, since waiting lists were involved for the university clinics but the costs were dramatically cheaper than going a completely private route on the testing), but once I did and we had the answer, things came together for DD quickly. We now have techniques that allow her to succeed in class, although it does still take a lot of extra work on her part. She went from the 25th percentile in Reading on her 3rd grade testing, to the 80th percentile last year in 6th grade.

Keep at it and follow your gut instincts!!!

 

[eduk8r26]

I would go to the district and request a full psychological evaluation. Part of it sounds like auditory processing, especially if he is not hearing all the sounds in words. But a psychological eval can pick up other things, too.

 

[clm10308]

I feel your pain. I too am a teacher with a DS with reading problems.

From my experiences in the district where I lived, the way our district tests for dyslexia, most kids will not qualify before 3rd grade. Reversals and all the stuff you describe is considered within normal range which is probably why the school does not want to test him yet. Plus, with the RTI, the school has a buch of hoops to jump through to document the possible need for testing.

Helping at home is a double edged sword. My DS had always squeezed by as "on level" by the end of the year so the school did not see a need to test him. I will admit that I never formally requested testing, but I had a friend go through this for many years until her daughter got a bit older and qualified as dyslexic.

When my DS was in 2nd grade, we used an online program called Headsprout to supplement what he was doing in school. In 3rd grade, his school provided afterschool tutoring 4 days per week which helped him pass the TAKS test that year.
To help with handwriting, I got him special paper to use. I think it is Mead brand. They make some different styles of primary paper including a paper with raised baselines. As he got older, they make a notebook style paper the had marks to help with spacing of letters on the lines. I would send this paper for him to use at school as well. None of his teachers seemed to mind.

I ended up having him tested privately since I could do it for free through my DHs work. He was identified ad LD in reading but not specifically for dyslexia. At the suggestion of a teacher friend, I also took him to be tested for Sctopic Sensitivity (also know as Irlen Syndrome). This is the condition where kids use colored overlays for reading. I did not have any experience with this and was skeptical at first. After watching the evaluation, I am now a believer. It has made a world of difference for my kid.

At school, he now has a 504 plan for some classroom modifications, but he still does not qualify for remedial help at school. He is now in 5th grade, and we are still working at home on his reading.

 

[polkadotminnie]

I sent you a PM.

 

[uromac]

Hi!

As a parent of a dyslexic dd who is now in college, I'm here to say there is light at the end of the tunnel! We knew she was learning things differently compared to our son, but the red flags regarding her phonemic awareness difficulty, writing, and know left and right really began to show in 1st grade. First, we had her privately tested and that really got the ball rolling. She was then pulled out in second grade to be tutored in the Wilson reading method which really helped her, along with outside reading specialists who used that method as well as other reading techniques. For writing and spelling we had 'bathtub' spelling/writing time writing on the tub tile walls with bath foam, and used her fingers as writing implements which really helped her. Using other tactile approaches to learning really helped her - as a multi-sensory approach usually improves learning for most dyslexics. I also came up with many memory nmemonic devices to help solidify her learning. Still to this day I will try to help her study by coming up with funny rhymes, etc. and she still has difficulty telling time, left and right, and transposing words - latest one she used 'off-standing' instead of stand-offish when describing one of her professors!! It was very important - and is still important to her that not many people know her struggles (reading ahead in class when she knew she was going to be called on to read, etc..

Hope this helps you! Please ask away and I would be happy to help you at that time!

 

[donaldandpirates]

You don't say what part of the country you live in. If you lived in the North Texas area, I'd say go to Scottish Rite.

Both of my kids are dyslexic. We are fortunate that we live in a school district that tests for it. Both received help in school through the 8th grade. It was apparent in kindergarten that our son had a learning disability but our daughter exhibited no signs at all. She was automatically tested since she had a sibling that was dyslexic. She had learned to compensate for her learning problems but as she got older, would have fell behind had she not gotten help.

Our son graduated last May with a degree in mechanical engineering. Our daughter is working towards a degree in education.

If you can't get any help in your child's school, seek help elsewhere. It is definately worth it!

I'm in awe that your school district would do that! That's incredibly awesome!!! I wish more schools would follow that example.

 

[ekatiel]

Thanks for all the replies, guys. They have been very helpful .

I sent you a PM.

As far as specifically writing, have you tried multisensory approaches or creating pictures from the letters? If my dyslexic DD sees things in pictures, it's easier for her to remember. We also did "writing" the letters in shaving cream, dry beans, etc., with her fingers as she's saying them out loud and creating the letters out of playdough as she says them out loud.

Got your PM . That website was very helpful. Do you guys use the Barton System with your DD?

You don't say what part of the country you live in. If you lived in the North Texas area, I'd say go to Scottish Rite.

Both of my kids are dyslexic. We are fortunate that we live in a school district that tests for it. Both received help in school through the 8th grade. It was apparent in kindergarten that our son had a learning disability but our daughter exhibited no signs at all. She was automatically tested since she had a sibling that was dyslexic. She had learned to compensate for her learning problems but as she got older, would have fell behind had she not gotten help.

Our son graduated last May with a degree in mechanical engineering. Our daughter is working towards a degree in education.

If you can't get any help in your child's school, seek help elsewhere. It is definately worth it!

We live in Friendswood, which is a suburb of Houston. Friendswood is a really good school district (it's why we moved here!), so I'm hopeful that we can work out some way to get him extra help. I think the big Dyslexia center around here is Neuhaus. I am going to try to attend one of their parent information meetings soon.

You may also want to look into Auditory Processing issues. Many of the issues you listed can also be due to that. (And of course multiple problems can exist in some children.) Your son sounds exactly like my daughter at that age, except for the mirrored writing.

Everyone wanted to deny my daughter had a problem, even though I clearly saw it. Her teachers didn't see the tears and frustration we had over homework for hours each night, they just saw the finished product and thought everything was "fine". I finally pursued testing through the Education Department at a local university (a clinic to training counselors), who referred us to the Speech/Language Department at the same university for more testing (a clinic they ran to train Speech/Language Therapists) who finally told me I needed to find a Audiologist who specialized in APD for further private testing. Our Audiologist then worked with the Speech/Language Department to define a therapy program they could work with us on to address DDs specific issues. If you have a university nearby, perhaps you could call their Education Department to see if they have any such clinic? I found out about ours only because I overheard a Principal once mention the fact that she had had her daughter tested there - otherwise, I would have never even known it was there - even knowing it existed, I had to do some work to get the information on it, it wasn't easy to find! But the school system is overtaxed these days, so you can often get to results faster by going outside of it. It took some time and work for me to pull together all of the resources and get all of the testing done (it took a full year, since waiting lists were involved for the university clinics but the costs were dramatically cheaper than going a completely private route on the testing), but once I did and we had the answer, things came together for DD quickly. We now have techniques that allow her to succeed in class, although it does still take a lot of extra work on her part. She went from the 25th percentile in Reading on her 3rd grade testing, to the 80th percentile last year in 6th grade.

Keep at it and follow your gut instincts!!!

I will check into Auditory Processing Disorder. Thanks for the heads up.

I would go to the district and request a full psychological evaluation. Part of it sounds like auditory processing, especially if he is not hearing all the sounds in words. But a psychological eval can pick up other things, too.

I've already requested an ARD, so I think that I'm going to request full testing at that ARD.

I feel your pain. I too am a teacher with a DS with reading problems.

From my experiences in the district where I lived, the way our district tests for dyslexia, most kids will not qualify before 3rd grade. Reversals and all the stuff you describe is considered within normal range which is probably why the school does not want to test him yet. Plus, with the RTI, the school has a buch of hoops to jump through to document the possible need for testing.

Helping at home is a double edged sword. My DS had always squeezed by as "on level" by the end of the year so the school did not see a need to test him. I will admit that I never formally requested testing, but I had a friend go through this for many years until her daughter got a bit older and qualified as dyslexic.

When my DS was in 2nd grade, we used an online program called Headsprout to supplement what he was doing in school. In 3rd grade, his school provided afterschool tutoring 4 days per week which helped him pass the TAKS test that year.
To help with handwriting, I got him special paper to use. I think it is Mead brand. They make some different styles of primary paper including a paper with raised baselines. As he got older, they make a notebook style paper the had marks to help with spacing of letters on the lines. I would send this paper for him to use at school as well. None of his teachers seemed to mind.

I ended up having him tested privately since I could do it for free through my DHs work. He was identified ad LD in reading but not specifically for dyslexia. At the suggestion of a teacher friend, I also took him to be tested for Sctopic Sensitivity (also know as Irlen Syndrome). This is the condition where kids use colored overlays for reading. I did not have any experience with this and was skeptical at first. After watching the evaluation, I am now a believer. It has made a world of difference for my kid.

At school, he now has a 504 plan for some classroom modifications, but he still does not qualify for remedial help at school. He is now in 5th grade, and we are still working at home on his reading.

Isn't it tough being a teacher and having a kiddo who's got reading problems?! I find myself getting so frustrated with DS, even though I have God's patience for other people's kids!

I sent you a PM.

Checking your PM now .

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. You've at least given me a full day worth of googling to do!! My DH had similar problems as DS in school. He was never officially diagnosed as dyslexic, but he couldn't really read until 5th grade. He's now a nurse practitioner , so I know DS has a bright future ahead of him. I just don't want him to suffer in elementary school like DH did! --Katie

 

[elf]

As a parent of a dyslexic dd who is now in college, I'm here to say there is light at the end of the tunnel! We knew she was learning things differently compared to our son, but the red flags regarding her phonemic awareness difficulty, writing, and know left and right really began to show in 1st grade. First, we had her privately tested and that really got the ball rolling. She was then pulled out in second grade to be tutored in the Wilson reading method which really helped her, along with outside reading specialists who used that method as well as other reading techniques. For writing and spelling we had 'bathtub' spelling/writing time writing on the tub tile walls with bath foam, and used her fingers as writing implements which really helped her. Using other tactile approaches to learning really helped her - as a multi-sensory approach usually improves learning for most dyslexics. I also came up with many memory nmemonic devices to help solidify her learning. Still to this day I will try to help her study by coming up with funny rhymes, etc. and she still has difficulty telling time, left and right, and transposing words - latest one she used 'off-standing' instead of stand-offish when describing one of her professors!! It was very important - and is still important to her that not many people know her struggles (reading ahead in class when she knew she was going to be called on to read, etc..

This is so close to our experience I thought it was me. lol But my dd is now in 9th grade. I actually moved to get to a "dyslexic" school. She was the most severe case they've seen and she had 3 forms reading, writing (dysgraphia) and math (dyscalcula). I also had to have private testing around $1000.
After years and years of Wilson and rhymes, etc she made honor role all of last year.
I'm truly scared this year. It's a tough road. I joined forums read books like Overcoming Dyslexia by Sally Shaywitz an authoritative voice in the dyslexia world AND it is a whole new world.
I'm a Librarian and I had big plans for my kids to learn at least 3 different languages by the time they were 5!, LOL. She couldn't even talk til she was 3, but they say neither did Einstein. LOl
I think once you look into it you'll find there is a lot out there. I remember thinking I should move to Texas because they actually recognized it as a learning disability and had programs for it.

My dd is also very secretive about it not even her friends know and she's saved by spelling issues because of texting spelling.

I've listed some material below but start with Sally S. book listed above.
Journey into Dyslexia starring Erin Brockovich DVD
http://www.dyslexia-parent.com/discuss.html forum

 

[cyndik1111]

Find a pediatric neuro-psychologist in your area that does testing. It is worth every penny. They test for so much more than the schools and find subtle things the schools wont find. This can help you get an IEP or 504, the sooner the better for your child's self esteem.

Ortan-Gillingham is a well known and respected dyslexia reading program/philosophy. My daughter has had great success with "read naturally".
Phonics, sight words, and repetition are the key to success!

Problem with dyslexia- not well understood by most, more of a catch all diagnosis for L-A difficulties, no single test to diagnosis it.

Push for your child to get as much help as possible now. I also hire a tutor over the summer to keep my daughter form "slipping".

Good luck

 

[KigerKat]

I'm an education major, and we just spent a few weeks studying dyslexia in one of my reading methods classes. It looks like one of the best programs out here is the the Bright Solutions method by Susan Barton.

http://www.dys-add.com

I'm no expert, either, but this is probably the first plan I would turn to in my future classroom.

Good luck to you!!

 

[dis75ney]

I am a self-diagnosed dyslexic (parents never wanted me to get tested). My high school French teacher of all people was the one who confronted my parents and said that I needed help. But at that point it was too little, too late. I had learned how to compensate for my issues with reading and writing and barely graduated high school. I took many years off of school, got married, had a child, and am now finishing up my Associates degree in Paralegal Studies at the top of my class with plans (and offers) to attend law school once I earn my Bachelors.

Good for you for recognizing that your DS has issues and for stepping up to get him the help he may need!

 

[momtosam]

My gosh, OP, we are living the same life! I am a 2nd grade teacher and I suspect my son is dyslexic too. I have no idea how to help him. My school will not formally recognize dyslexia in children. If he does get tested eventually and qualifies they would just label it a non-specified learning disability. I don't know what on earth to do to help him. I've been trying the book Reading Reflex. We aren't really far enough to say if it is helping or not. I feel so overwhelmed and helpless with this. DH struggled terribly with reading in school (was never identified, but probably the same as my son). It breaks my heart to see him struggle.

 

[LeslieG]

Find a pediatric neuro-psychologist in your area that does testing. It is worth every penny. They test for so much more than the schools and find subtle things the schools wont find. This can help you get an IEP or 504, the sooner the better for your child's self esteem.

Ortan-Gillingham is a well known and respected dyslexia reading program/philosophy. My daughter has had great success with "read naturally".
Phonics, sight words, and repetition are the key to success!

Problem with dyslexia- not well understood by most, more of a catch all diagnosis for L-A difficulties, no single test to diagnosis it.

Push for your child to get as much help as possible now. I also hire a tutor over the summer to keep my daughter form "slipping".



I am looking for a pediatric neuropsychologist for my son now. Actually, he's already seen one, but I really wasn't satisfied with that particular doctor. Unfortunately, we do not live in a big city, so our options are more limited. I believe my son has dyscalculia, dysgraphia, visual-spatial issues, maybe dyslexia, the list probably goes on, but it's been quite a journey.

Any recommendations for finding a good neuropsychologist? They just don't seem that plentiful, at least in my area. And finding a tutor has been a challenge, because most just do not have the training required to help someone like my son.

 

[Wish I lived in Fl]

add infoMy DD11 has a "double deficit" , trouble reading and trouble with speech.

"Reading with TLC" helped her with letter sounds and recognising letters so much she seemed on target in Kindergarten.

But in first grade she was absolutely stymied over how to blend sounds and she could not recognise a word from one sentence to the next or realize that cat and bat were the same except for the initial sounds.
earobics helped her enormously. She hated doing it but it helped train her ear. She did earobics I:Fundamentals and then earobics II:Connections through school and then I had her do Earobics :Fundamentals for adolescents at home.

She finds it easier to read on an ereader because of the larger type available.

earobics comes on a computer disc for home purchase or the schools may have a master disc with students able to work at school or on home computer but with school able to monitor progress.
She was suspected of having CAPD but she wasn't tested until after finishing all the earobic training and then she tested negative for CAPD.

 

[ekatiel]

My gosh, OP, we are living the same life! I am a 2nd grade teacher and I suspect my son is dyslexic too. I have no idea how to help him. My school will not formally recognize dyslexia in children. If he does get tested eventually and qualifies they would just label it a non-specified learning disability. I don't know what on earth to do to help him. I've been trying the book Reading Reflex. We aren't really far enough to say if it is helping or not. I feel so overwhelmed and helpless with this. DH struggled terribly with reading in school (was never identified, but probably the same as my son). It breaks my heart to see him struggle.

Wow, we are living the same life!! I feel like real dylexia help is some national secret that you've got to pay thousands of dollars for! I have a Master's degree in teaching for goodness sake, and this kid is out of my league !! I have been concentrating heavily on phonics with him, but I really feel like he needs some kind of "program". Let me know how Reading Reflex goes.

It looks like I'm going to have to play hard ball with the school. The new principal would rather we have a parent-teacher conference before we have a formal ARD . I'm not thrilled about that. I think I may just go ahead and request full testing in writing and be THAT mom. --Katie