Dyslexics?

[Linda]

We had my 10 year old take the battery of neuropsych tests this past week. Today we went for the results. There was so much information given to us that I need to sit and digest before I can fully understand everything going on. We haven't gotten the written report yet. I'm hoping once I have that, I'll be able to remember exactly what he said and what all we're dealing with. :crazy: :lol:

One thing I do know and remember :D is they felt she has surface dyslexia. He recommended a book, Overcoming Dyselxia. Have any of you read it? Any other good recommendations?

As I process through it all, I'll probably come back w/ more questions. :)

[Jen in SC]

Haven't read it, but thanks for mentioning it. Mary was diagnosed last fall. It's hard, but it helped just to know what we were dealing with! :group::group:

[JuliaT]

I have read half of it. It is very good ( at least the half that I read was good.) The reason I only got half way was it was at that point that I had a sneaking suspicion that all 3 of my children were dyslexic. I pulled my head in the sand and just couldn't emotionally deal with reading any more. :eek: I have since taken my head out of the sand and am ready to deal with this in an adult manner. I have been thinking about getting the book again and trying to read the other half. :)

[Heide]

I read it a few years ago and really liked it. The author gives some concrete ways to help work with your child.

[Esther-Alabama]

I have not read that book, but you asked also for other recommendations.

When I found out my oldest ds had dyslexia, I was not surprised. He'd shown signs for a long, long time. The program that I was shown by the testers was the Orton-Gillingham program. They had DVDs that led the child through the program. We checked out the first one and worked through it. It took one solid hour and was extremely slow and boring. Now, I am NOT saying it wouldn't have helped. But I had to be realistic that my poor child was not going to be able to pay attention and do this every single day as was necessary.

We'd been using the AVKO-Sequential Spelling with good results and I spent a lot of time looking over that website. They have tons of good resources to help dyslexics. The founder (Don McCabe) IS dyslexic. His approach is methodical and repetitive, but much like SS...it works. I have found MANY of his books are good. Don McCabe is passionate and unconventional, but I think he really has good products and his stuff works.

I had also been using Dianne Craft's program for help with my ds's handwriting, which is really BAD and it had helped some with that. I ordered her Right Brain Phonics program and we worked through it, spending a year doing it. We used all her techniques for spelling, reading, and writing and saw a large amount of progress. He is and probably always will struggle with writing, but he is writing stories on his own again and he is spelling things better and better.

My focus for this year is AVKO's reading program, using it in a similar way as Dianne Craft's Right Brain Phonics book which is good, but I am not sure it goes into enough detail.

I hope this info helps and does not muddy the waters anymore!

A book I HAVE read and enjoyed is The Gift of Dyslexic.

[Chris-AL]

I came to ask what 2 books should I start with on dyslexia and this post answered my question!

I have suspected that Noah might have dyslexia for a while but given the fact that he is a boy, and he spent his first 2 years of life in an orphanage, and the fact that he needed 3 years of speech therapy, we wanted to give him time. I have worked consistently with him for 3 years and while there is improvement, it has been slow, and labored, and hard for both of us. It only took 5 minutes to do a search on dyslexia and realize that he probably does have it. He lines up with most of the check lists.

He'll be 9 this month. My new covering has a dyslexia info meeting September 1st (which I will attend) and a support group that meets once a month. How cool is that? Anyways, I want to read a few books before the meeting and before I schedule his 9yo check up.

Thanks for your input, ladies. I may be asking questions as we move along.

Linda:group::group:

[Alice R]

I'm a little concerned about Alise (7). She is showing a few small red flags, not a lot of BIG red flags.

I have my eye on her and we are adjusting how we are teaching reading to see if that helps. :unsure:

My husband was an undiagnosed dyslexic. He got no help whatsoever. As an adult, he was tested but it's hard to pinpoint when you have learned compensatory strategies etc.

However, we both know that is what he has.

[Wendy in SW MS]

I suspect my three older children have dyslexia of varying degrees....and possibly so does my youngest....it's just he isn't reading or writing much yet.

To be honest, I think my oldest my be the worst of the four; but I don't know how to go about having them tested....and now, he is 18! ;)

[carriejoy]

I want to recommend The Gift of Dyslexia by ____ Davis (can't remember his first name)

Our Selena has been through the Davis "intervention" (for lack of a better word) and it was FABULOUS. Pricey, but great! It only took a week and then you would continue the program at home. It is NOT hard to do once taught.

Anyway - hope that is helpful to someone!

[LeanneNZ]

ds is dyslexic & the maths one (forgot)

I recommend getting the kids tested & get the label. It helps YOU & the child understand why the kid just can't get it!
Here in NZ it also allows for a reader writer in exams and more importantly just a bit more time to do the exam - as they kids are actually quite bright they just have to tell their brain all the time to un jumble & put right way up - so they need more time.
To learn to read - what helped us. Lots & lots of easy readers - look hard for interesting books - hard as many too babyish.
If have good memory learn by rote sight words.
Lots of reading out loud.
Keep kids at the level they can achieve in - accept it may take a while - but once the key turns they make a big leap to next stage.

Work every single day with them & take your time at their level - you sure learn patience. If something isn't working try something else.

Focus on their gifts it is hard for a kids who wants to learn & really struggles.

Don;'t miss FIAR as this is something they can achieve well in (not a lot of writing) but the verbal discussions gets into the brain.

Lots of nice short lessons.

It;s a hard journey but oh soo worth it.