Testing for Dyslexia?

[vhoffman]

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[Karalynn]

I don't have an answer (yet!) but I am in the same boat as you!!!! My ds is 8 and just entered 3rd grade. He has ADHD, dx learning disability in math and is very behind in reading. The school said that they didn't dx the ld in reading because he didn't score low enough, but he still struggles and gets resource for both. I did some online research and came up with a checklist for dsylexia and was pretty shocked at some of the signs. I guess I figured it was mostly letters backwards (which he still does! #'s too) and reading right to left (which he doesn't) But there are a lot of things that he does, I will try and find the web site link.
Anyway, to get back to your question, I was just looking into this and planning on contacting his school. I also am planning on getting some private tutoring and wondered how the school was going to feel about this! (not that I care, my child comes 1st!!) I do feel that he gets a lot of extra instruction in his school and they do the best to their ability. But I also feel that that is just not enough, I am like you, feeling that he is slipping farther and farther behind.
I would maybe contact your childs Dr for some referrals? or if you feel the school should be doing it, do the 'required' steps. 1st do a written request, then follow thru with letters and phone calls up the ladder. Maybe even start with the Special Ed director? Good luck and keep us posted!!

 

[diseve]

I have tried for the past six to nine months to get my dd tested through the school for dyslexia. But have been told that it won't be done. It is in her IEP to be tested. But nothing has been done. I will be looking into private testing soon. She has a habit of writing her letters and words in a mirror image of how they should be written.

 

[vhoffman]

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[FutureMrsC]

Though I'm still being trained in different tests, I don't think that teachers, at least where I live, can give a test for dyslexia... I'm being trained in a variety of academic tests, but none hit dyslexia.

As for what one poster said, if it's in the student's IEP that they be tested, then the SCHOOL should be paying for the testing if they cannot do it themselves. That's one thing that my school system is big on... they want us to do what is best for the kid, but also be careful because whatever is in the IEP HAS to be followed.

On a side note, I am officially SWEARING by Orton-Gillingham's Recipe for Reading program. It's fantastic! It offers so much more w/ audio-visual and kinesthetic materials than your typical phonemic awareness program. Though the basics of the program are still phonics, it goes further than that. There's a phonics drill at the beginning of each day (just calling out words and having students spell them), but then it moves into reading and offers books and workbooks that tie into the program. Another special education teacher introduced me to it, and like I said... I'm swearing by it now. It's research-based (my school will not allow me to do anything that isn't), and from my experience so far, it's so much more effective. One of my students have even said that it "works better with my brain".

If you have any questions about the reading program, let me know! I think that it would definitely be great homeschooling material!

Hugs & Pixiedust to you!

 

[vhoffman]

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[FutureMrsC]

http://orton-gillingham.com/Shoppin...oryID=-1&intProductID=0&NoCache=1159831263855

I just did a search on their webpage and pulled that up. You can get lucky at times and find a used copy of the method book, but w/ shipping, I dont know if you'd save money doing that.

They have TONS of stuff on their webpage, but I can't really say whether anything else is as wonderful (though I would guess that it would be...) as the Recipe for Reading... though I just noticed that it's a K-3 progam... other programs on the website are made for other grade levels... however, if you're playing catch-up, recipe for reading is just so wonderful!

 

[GreenGirl8]

Hey all,

As stated, schools can not test for dyslexia. Lots of parents ask for it, but it is one of those areas that needs to be diagnosed outside of the school setting. However, auditory conceptulization is tested and if scores indicate this as a significant weakness, you have a good idicator that your child is dyslexic.

Another great program is Lindamood-Bell. I also love the Language! program and have seen huge gains with older children (grades 4-8). It really goes back to phonemic awareness which is so important in learning to read. Phonics is important as well, but without that base or phonemic awareness, it is pretty hard to get started.

 

[vhoffman]

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[FutureMrsC]

w/ the recipe for reading, for writing parts, you can use fun colored sand to write letters... that's the best part for my kids

I shall continue to attempt to make the "dream world" a reality... I'm lucky enough to work for a county who somewhat cares about the kids...

 

[vhoffman]

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[FutureMrsC]

Well... that's what I meant. The administrators at my school are more supportive, as is the school system. Special Ed teachers really love what they do

 

[Becky2005]

How timely!!! I was just coming here to ask about this.

I was given a flyer that one of the special ed teachers at our church got (she went to a seminar) regarding dyslexia.

I went to their website www.brightsolutions.us

AND OH MY GOSH...I'm sitting there watching a video called "Ben's story" (the intro one) and I swear they were describing my son. My son is ADHD & dyslexic (he was never officially tested -- in first grade they said they don't like to test until 8 years old but that he seemed to be a textbook case of it. They re-test to see if he still qualifies for special ed every 3 years so we shall see if they do the full test or not but even if they don't, I'm convinced he has it!)

ANYWAY, they did say the Orton-Gillingham method is the best method for dyslexics learning. They of course have theirs Barton reading but listed several (I know my DS is getting pulled and Wilson was the method I was told they were using). I went on the Barton reading website and they have a demo for lessons, they were using colored tiles and explaining open syllables and closed syllables. I don't even have dyslexia but I saw that and thought "oh my goodness, HOW easy is THAT" for remembering the different sounds, etc... I was just coming over here to see if anyone had used the system, etc... I'm really thinking of getting it and tutoring my son to see if it helps him but wondering if anyone has used it.

He's in 4th grade, reading probably 1st grade level and has been getting pull out reading help ever since the end of 1st grade. He is making progress there but has such a long way to go. He also has a shared aide in the classroom this year.

 

[Selket]

My older son has was very slow to learn his letters - still struggling in 1st grade. However he improved dramatically and by 3rd grade was in the top group in his class for reading and still is now in 4th grade. I see no problems with his reading.

However his handwriting is amazingly poor. He seems to have a great deal of difficulty writing down things and then making readable what he has written is a huge task. He still mixes up his b/d and p/q. He also does very well in math - that hasn't been an issue. However as he gets older and in higher grades there is more writing required and he really struggles with it.

He is obviously bright enough to do the work - but for some reason can't do the writing part very well at all. I sent an email to his teachers about it this year and haven't heard back. I'm not sure what to do as his symptoms are not classic dyslexia perhaps but have some elements of it.

 

[vhoffman]

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[Becky2005]

Does anyone know about colored overlays that are used to help facilitatr reading? I read about themsomewhere, but can't seem to find any information now. Basically they're colored overlays that go over print and help with reading difficulties. Some people say the letters appear to be dancing on a typical balck-on-white page. when a colored overlay is placed on top, it makes the letters "sit still". Anyone know where to get them?

I'm not sure but my son had something like that. I would think a teacher supply store might carry them. His was basically like a ruler but in the middle of it had yellow -- he also had a blue one once. I know there are several different colors as he said one of the teachers tried different colors to see which one worked best for the kids. It really does make the letters easier to see because it basically makes the line they are reading highlighted while darkening the line above & below it.

I know we have several teacher supply or learning toys type places (even a bookstore might carry these!) that carry that type of stuff.

I looked on Super Duper -- I couldn't find it (probably because I don't know their official name -- I tried bookmark) but did find a ton of reading stuff.
http://www.superduperinc.com/prodmulti4.asp?grade_selection=1&topic=30&format=0&Submit=Search

This place was recommended to me by my 6 year old's summer school speech therapist to get some supplies for desensiting his oral aversion. They have a bit of everything.

 

[irenelf]

Selket,
Sounds like something that is a related learning disability called dysgraphia -
Just google it for more info - i can't post a link yet, I"m too new in the boards


My son is now 15. (he does not have dysgrpahia, i just know a little about its existence)
I knew something was not working properly by the middle of first grade but could not convince the school. The tests they give do not address his problems of of not being able to decode words, among other things.
I finally took him for private testing when he was 7. It was expensive, but they accepted the results which got him an IEP and the access to extra reading help in school. Unfortunately I learned after a few years that what the school system had to give was not enough, and no matter what they tried, by 5th grade he still couldn't read, not simple books and certainly not his class textbooks.

I enrolled him in a private after school Wilson reading program -- (similar methods to Orton Gillingham, O.G. covers a few programs) -- which we paid for, an hour twice a week. It's a 12 step program with multiple substeps and teaches all the sounds individually, and slowly, and you don't move on from one step to the next until mastery is achieved.
He is now in 10th grade and can read, as can the other 2 boys he's been in group with. They are in 11th grade and it's made all the difference in their lives.
They expect to finish the program around Thanksgiving, 4 years, 2 months and some summer sessions later.
If you think your child has a problem, he probably does. No one knows your child better than you. We are supposed to have a great education system in my town, but some kids' disabilities just fall through the cracks. My son was one and I had to do whatever I could to rectify that for him.
Good luck.