2009 Omlet cube and run for sale

[Cinnamon]

How do I go about getting a 15 year old tested for Dyslexia?

I have phoned the school & they are yet to call me back,so I thought I would tap the great fountain of Omlet knowledge

 

My youngest has always struggled a little with reading & spelling & is now finding that words 'move around' when she is trying to read them. I suspect some form of mild Dyslexia as there is a strong vein of it in my husbands family,& would like to give her all the help she can get in her forthcoming exams.

 

All advice gratefully accepted...this is a subject I know very little about

[Karen & co.]

Hello, As the parent of 2 definate and possibly 3 Dyslexics, with a Dyslexic hubby!! I have some knowledge I also work in Learning support at a local high school, and any concerns paqrents have are best passed onto the SENCO, who should be able to carry our a screening test, this is only a guidline and not a diagnosis though, as many of the children tested where I work then think they have the condition.

 

When we had ES and ED tested the primary head was very much against it and wanted to know why I wanted my son to have a lable I didn't but if it helps them to achieve their potential then so be it. Because my son wasn't 'failing' school wouldn't screen him, but he is very bright, just has problems getting information down from a board to paper and his hand writing is dreadful We ended up paying for the assesment with the BDA British Dyslexia Association who are very helpful.

 

It may be worth having her screened for Irlen Syndrome too, which may show that she has less difficulties if the paper is a different colour, or she could use and overlay of different colours, the colour chosen at the screening.

 

If there is anything else I can help with please let me know, I rarely log on here at the mo, just reading as a guest I'm often on facebook though and will pm you my email and id.

 

Take care,

 

Karen x

[Cinnamon]

Thanks so much Karen,that is really helpful.

My girl too is very bright,A* student all the way,but is really finding the reading hard.

The Irlen syndrome sounds really interesting too.

 

She has ambitions in journalism,so i want to help her if I can,& will wait to see what the school say.....

[Geoid]

Dyslexia does have its advantages, at least 25% extra time in all exams, and use of a computer (in some cases)

[Snowy]

Contact the Dyslexia Association Sarah. They can do simple tests online I think, and further testing is quite cheap if it is needed. Dyslexia Association

 

Sorry, got them mixed up, there is also the Dyslexia Institute Dyslexia Institute The institute have regional centres where you can get tested.

[sadietoo]

My DS has dyslexia too..but because he was one of the brightest in his year group at junior school this was only picked in year 6 just before he went up to secondary school, and after we paid to have him assessed privately. I had a similar experience with the school asking why I wanted him labelled...(I think they were concerned we were going to ask for special help for him ).Clearly, his dyslexia is such that he doesn't need special help, but he does need (and has now been assessed by school and given) extra time in exams. He had extra for his year 9 sats, GCSEs and currently AS exams. Also he likes the relative quiet of the special needs room where he takes his exams as he finds it very difficult to keep himself focussed when there is a lot of disruption going on around him. We are very happy that we spent the money with an Educational Psychologist to get the original report and force school to take a second look at him. If you don't get a sympathetic hearing from the SENCO then I would suggest it may be worth doing the same thing. I hope you get it sorted out soon, Sarah.

[Willow]

Definitely worth paying for a private test Sarah. My eldest nephew is severely dyslexic but becuase he was very bright it wasn't picked up by school and my sister got him tested in his A-level year. Universities are usually great with dyslexic students and they do get various support. My nephew took a while to accept he needed the support and is now kicking himself he didn't ask for help sooner.

 

I've never been tested but I find letters move on me and if a word seems out of context I need to re-read it (I always assumed that was normal) . I find it is much worse if I'm tired I don't know if that is normal. I only really realised I had a definite problem when my boys started correcting me when I read to them when they were (very) little It's never stopped me burying myself in a book but I find reading aloud if I haven't written the text is very difficult and I won't take notes in front of anyone at work beucase there's so many gaps where I have no idea how to spell a word beyond the first letter. Dyslexia can tale different forms so it's worth getting her to think about what she find difficult and working out strategies.

 

Oh and apparently AA Gill is severely dyslexic so it's by no means a barrier to becoming a journalist !

[Woodcat]

hey

 

I'm dyslexic and it's definitely worth getting a private assessment if the school are iffy about it. The assessments are really interesting aside from the fact they say you are or are not dyslexic. I originally got assessed when i was about 15 and then again when i was in my first year of Alevels. We talked to the local dyslexia association and they put us in touch with a local assessor

 

I find it is much worse if I'm tired I don't know if that is normal.

 

That is i think fairly normal i really struggle if i'm tired. I also can't read aloud to save my life.

 

If you can possibly afford it when you have an assessment for her if she is dyslexic it would be worth giving her a couple of lessons with a dyslexic tutor. She has got exams coming up soon and the tutor will be able to work through and give her some strategies to work on her weak points. I had one in the lead up to my exams and it was a life saver. Sometimes just being taught something in a different way can make all the difference in the world.

[Becka]

I found out I had mild visual dyslexia during a university class about SEN! I do find that a yellow overlay all but stops the words from jumping around the page!

Becka

[chickencam]

My son's school have just had him assessed and apparently it is really difficult to get a full diagnosis now because they have recently moved all the 'goal posts' he was assessed and it has just been recommended that he should use a laptop at school. We bought him a notebook computer and within a month the improvement in his attainment is already showing and also his self esteem is rising.

 

He is lucky to be at a high achieving grammar school who need to keep up their reputation, so every pupil is vital. He has had problems since reception with literacy and handwriting. It was his english teacher who called for his assessment because she felt he had ability beyond what he could express with pen and paper.

 

If the school won't assess her take her privately, because as previously stated she could get an extra 25% exam time or laptop usage to help her fulfill her full potential.

[Purplemaniacs]

My son's primary school decided he was dyslexic but the secondary school would not accept the result so we paid privately for him to be assessed. He got extra time in his exams.

 

Chrissie

[figarogir1]

In our area it has to be an educational psychologist that assesses for dyslexia and in order for that to happen you need to complete a CAF - long drawn out form about everything that ever happened in your life Even after all that the EP will usually only say that they display some dyslexic tendencies . In my experience if you can afford to have her assessed privately it is alot quicker and more productive. Good luck!

[chuckmum6]

To get extra time in exams you need to have a full Educational Psychologist report these cost £300, usually arranged through your school.

[Geoid]

Up to 25% extra time can be awarded to you by the exam centre.