Numbers Backwards

Could be dyslexia... could be something along the lines of dysgraphia. Does he have pain when he writes? Does his writing difficulty cause him to expend an extraordinary amount of his brain solely getting the letters/numbers written? (If it takes a "typical" person 80% of their brain function composing what they are writing--the content or the math---and 20% for the physical process of writing the letters/number.... a dysgraphic would be using 80% on the physical aspect and only having 20% available for the actual content. I am making up the percentages, but do you see what I am saying?)
Also, those with dysgraphia tend to have awkward pencil grips and their spacing on the page is atrocious. They typically will be able to dictate a far more refined response than they can write. If his "only" writing issues seem to be general sloppiness and occasional reversals, I wouldn't assume dysgraphia at all. But there are other indicators that you may be unaware of to watch for.
Given that he has a diagnosis already, I would ask about screening him for dysgraphia as well. See what they say.

Take him to an eye tester. One that tests for disabilities in the eye brain connection area. My friend in Billings MT found her son's brain didn't use the information it got the right way. She got him some special glasses, think Nicholas Cage in "National Treasure" when he's flipping lenses back and forth to see the writing and pictures on the back of the Declaration of Independence.

Her son had to do eye exercises every night for months. He actually improved and got over this.

My own grandson went to an eye doc and he did some evaluations. He said my grandson's brain wasn't receiving the information his right eye was sending it. His vision was too bad in that eye. He did the exercises and worked on it for about 9 months. He doesn't even have to wear glasses at all and has good vision now.

It sounds like mirror writing and reading. Try to remind him that we read/write from left to right.

Mirror writing can be found in younger children and they should grow out of it by the time they are in about 2nd grade.

From what I have read, mirror writing is not dyslexia.

Since you're seeing someone for the possible autism component ask them about this. It could very well be related.

My grandson is on the autism spectrum and he reversed both numbers and letters when he was 6 or 7 and they said that this was normal even for "normal" kids. It can be a developmental step in learning to write. But it can also be a part of a learning disability. My grandson, 9, no longer does this.

Wow, thanks to all the moms! You have all offered some great insight. He does have an IEP, but the school does not seem as concerned as I do. My job as his mother is to make sure he will be able to go out into the world and take care of himself, thats why I want to address all his issues now. He does have trouble with visual tracking, and perhaps we should focus more on eye exercises, we use special forks and spoons with heavier and thicker handles as he is a sloppy eater and still will resort to his hands. He does have trouble writing, he writes very hard often breaking his pencils. I like the idea of the heavier thicker pencil too. His coordination is off, has trouble with hitting a baseball, playing kickball, ect. And while his handrighting is sloppy and grouped terribly he is amazing at drawing. He has an appt with his doctor on March 11th. I am writing down many of your responses and will have the doctor address them. Any other thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Its nice to not feel alone. I have 3 other children that dont have these issues and it can be very difficult trying to find resources to help my son. Also his school seems to be tired of me calling. I call a meeting the beginning of every school year to make sure they understand they have to adapt in the classroom. Some of the "old school" teachers have a hard time with this and expect him to work just like the other students. It has been a struggle. Thank you so much!

You have an IEP for him, right? Ask for help figuring out a way for him not to miss the answers due to this issue.

Perhaps he can use a tracer to write his numbers? Then the teacher could read them. The school could get something like that. I've seen them with letters, numbers and shapes on them. If they have a small one with just numbers, that would be even better.

Good luck,
Dawn

If he has an IEP ask that his test be verbal, have them put in that he reads the answers to the teacher and he is graded that way.

sounds like a form of dyslexia to me. It's fixable with the proper tools.

how is his pencil grip? I saw something neat on pinterest where you twist a rubber band around the pencil and then loop it around his wrist to hold so the pencil earser points to his elbow.

cut them from sand paper and have him trace them with his finger tip.

Try a differernt pencil like a big fat kinder one, or ...blanking out on the name mechanical pencils if that is better for him. sometimes i do better with felt tip markers the fricition helps.