Testing for My 8Th Grade Son and Dyslexia?

This late in the game means he needs to get tested! I was tested in 2nd grade and was put in a special class when mine was doing English, called MTA. I can't imagine not getting the help until I was 14. If he is there are ways of learning so that his mind will understand. I am in College and there are tons of things I have to do differently, in terms of learning just so I can understand it. You need to have him tested for his sake. If he is, then he will benefit all through middle school and high school. They now also have programs in colleges that help too. I promise you that it is well worth it! Take the time and test!

I doubt if he is looking for excuses. People with reading problems are smart in other ways, so it is hard to believe they have a problem, but this is very frustrating to them, and he may have a mild case where it was harder to detect. It could even be a different kind of rreading problem, that I can't think of the name for that is harder to detcet than dyslexia, and therefor most people with it are up in the grades before you catch it, but I had a friend whose daughter had it, and after the eye exercises and other treatments for it, said it made all the difference in the world. Besides 8th grade is sort of a hard age for boys, and this doesn't help. Be patient with him.

SMU also does testing they have a waiting list but it will help him as well as you and the school.

I would start with Scottish Rite.
My son has dysgraphia and we got him tested there. There are fantastic and understanding and so wonderful about explaining everything to you and giving you lists of resources.
I know that someone said earlier that dyslexia doesn't have to do with handwriting and that is pretty much true, but dysgraphia is a cousin to dyslexia and often has many of the same symptoms. ADHD is also very often a co-morbid condition with either of these, as was stated earlier most of these children are often gifted and talented as well. B/c they are so smart and have such high cognitive skills they can often "hide" their condition. I was very lucky to have a teacher that recognized my sons condition and was able to direct me to Scottish Rite while my son was young.
I hope this information helps you. Please feel free to contact me if you have any more questions... or if you just need some comfort from a mom who understands the frustration.

My boss has dyslexia with beautiful cursive - horrible print. She is over 50, with a college degree. She was shocked the first time I showed her irlen.com overlays. The purple overlay helped her more than her (heavily prescription) eyeglasses - she could actually read without the glasses, with the overlay.

I second Scottish Rite in Dallas. They are FABULOUS!

S.

Please have him tested. He will not be able to fake the results; if he does not have dyslexia the test will show that, if he does have it then he needs help!

I went through life believing my mother when she told me I was lazy and sloppy! It's the only explanation she knew. Ten years ago at age 37 I was finally diagnosed with ADD and Dyslexia. I have in the last 10 years begun to come to terms with my differences (I do not consider them disabilities).

Last year a friend learned about my Dyslexia and tested me with Irlen Overlays. I cried the first time I was able to look at a page in a book and actually see individual words all over the page. The chaos was gone! It is such a joy to read now. I carry my overlay in my purse and have no embarrassment over pulling it out and using it on ANYTHING I have to read.

The dyslexic mind is super smart so it can over compensate and hide itself very well!! It can hide itself all the way into adulthood, so don't jump to conclusions! Albert Einstien was dyslexic...and labled "retarded" in school! Scotish Rite Hospital has an amazing testing program. It takes a while to get in, but well worth the effort. They will find all learning disorders AND help you find the tools needed to overcome.

Why not get him tested. My daughter got on meds for ADHD and it changed her life.

My son was diagnosed in April of this year. He was 8 and his handwriting was awlful. I have a niece that wasn't diagnosed until 5th or 6th grade and her father is a teacher. They can slip by, maybe his isn't as bad as others. My son's 3rd grade teacher is Dyslexic and she wasn't diagnosed untill 11th grade. Jay is great at math and if you read something to him he gets it the first time, but if he tries to read it himself it just doesn't make sense. Scotish Rite Hospital does testing and your school district can it is worth the effort to have it done. I have seen amazing difference in my son since beginning the classes. He just finished the first kit and he is already reading better than ever. In Mesquite they basic teach all the grammer rules like i before 3 except after c, but I never new how many there really was. Like Duck is spelled with a ck at the end because it has one vowel. I never learned that I just thought duck was spelled duck because that is how you spelled duck.

In Mesquite the classes they take affects their electives, my niece can't take art class because she has to use that elective for her dyslexic class.

My niece was diagnosed with Dyslexia her 7th grade year. She was good at guessing and observing and had an older over achiever sister...so her dyslexia was not noticed until she had a very observant teacher. It turns out that when she was tested she was pretty severly dyslexic and when she started getting the proper training and coping skills she went from a low C student to an A student.

It's very important to note that most children who are diagnosed with dyslexia also have auditory processing issues. This would go right along with poor grades. There is a great book explaining many issues with reading troubles titled "How the Brain Learns to Read" by Dr. David Sousa.
It's not like reading a Grisham novel, but was quite entertaining for folks in my field (brain development and function).

First of all, remember that we can stimulate and grow a brain, thereby improving function. Many school districts just work on coping skills--how to work around the issues. A better approach is to find the root cause and work to stimulate that area of the brain.

A lot of exciting research is being published now to support "neuroplasticity" programs.

www.parentswithpurpose.com

Dyslexia is a deficit in phonological awareness. Handwriting does not play a big part in diagnosis. Poor handwriting is a characterisitic of ADHD. ADHD and dyslexia are first cousins. When a dyslexic reads, they leave out words, interchange words, like mom for mother, home for house. They can sometimes read the hard words but miss easy ones. They also have a difficult time "playing" with words. For example if you ask them to say the word time with out saying /m/.
I also suggest the scottish rite hospital. They are the best. My sons have dyslexia. Diagnosed in 8th and 9th grade. They went from 4 and 5th reading level to almost grade level by the time they graduated and passed the TAKS.

I am dyslexic and just knowing I am not a dummy helps. I could never understand why I did not get things. Years ago they had some stupid man come to our school single me out and throw a bunch of numbers at me and ask me to repeat them. I could not do it. I am more visual so things written down are remember better. But it is not the end of the world. You learn after years that your right and left hand and directions are differernt. Once I drove someplace totally lost and went the direction that did not feel comfortable and that was the way to go. I never pay attention to doors and where I park the car. I am learning still to remember to do that. Get in a mall or hospital and forget it. I will even get lost there. There are probably a ton of different forms of it and I think we all have a little of it. So be patient. Years ago they had a light deal that helped with reading. So ask about that. Reading
is the hardest part. My brother does not read well. My mom always says words backwards. I get lost. But keep him trying to read. When I actually read something I liked I stuck to it and from there I became a much faster and better reader. I used to have to read outloud. God Bless G. W

I wanted to let you know that I was diagnosed with my learning disabilities in 7th grade. I have dyslexia, ADHD, and Scytopic sensitivity disorder. Once my family and I got over the initial shock (my mom is a special ed. teacher and she hadnt even caught it) we were actually relieved to find out why it school seemed so much harder for me. I had a great dyslexia teacher who taught me how to cope and compensate with my learning differences. If I hadnt been tested I probably would have really struggled in high school and college. However, all that being said, I dont think that handwriting similar to another student who has dyslexia is not a good enough reason to have your son tested. I would do a little research online about dyslexia and see if you think that your son has some of the symptoms. I believe that dyslexia is actually more about reading than handwriting (although severe trouble with handwriting can be caused by dysgraphia). If your son is really struggling in school, just do a little research on learning disabilities... and get him involved in the process too. It is nothing to be ashamed of.

I would get him tested. I moved from Maryland and I had friends in high school that were dyslexic, and they were given extra time on tests, including the SATs and the ACTs. A guy in our school was a C student and got a 600 on his SATs the first time he took them. When he got the extra help and learned how to study and work with his dyslexia, he became an A student in honor's classes and got a 1300 on his SATs. He also went from a shy kid to one of the most popular kids in school.

Go ahead and have your son tested for possible academic learning problems ie dyslexia, test anxiety... Once he's tested, then if he continues to make bad grades, there will not be an excuse for whatever learning disability. If all else fails, remove all items from his room except his bed, clock, clothes... and no television/telephone time till grades are improved... stand your ground!

I am really surprised no one has mentioned dysgraphia. My ds (10) has dysgraphia. Dysgraphia is a written language disability/disorder whereas dyslexia is a reading disability/disorder. I recommend looking up dysgraphia and seeing if perhaps your son identifys with some of the "markers".

Good luck to you!