Dyslexic - Help?

[sumps]

I was wondering if anyone can help me - my son has been diagnosed as dyslexic, after many years of knowing something wasn't quite right but being told he wasn't dyslexic. Not an unfamiliar story as far as I can gather!

He is in his early teens and i would like to know if any of you as parents/siblings have any experiences of how you coped or societies/organisations you have turned to.

We live in the southwest (near a secret large transport base that’s about to closeDT_Xtremez_42 - we have googled the BDS and have had an Ed Pshyc evaluate him are taking him to an optometrist but its the future we are looking to. Any experience would be of great value.

Cheers
Sumps

 

[Talk Wrench]

I was wondering if anyone can help me - my son has been diagnosed as dyslexic, after many years of knowing something wasn't quite right but being told he wasn't dyslexic. Not an unfamiliar story as far as I can gather!

He is in his early teens and i would like to know if any of you as parents/siblings have any experiences of how you coped or societies/organisations you have turned to.

We live in the southwest (near a secret large transport base that’s about to closeDT_Xtremez_42 - we have googled the BDS and have had an Ed Pshyc evaluate him are taking him to an optometrist but its the future we are looking to. Any experience would be of great value.

Cheers
Sumps

Mate,

My sister was recognised as dyslexic after an English teacher took the time to find out why she seemed to be struggling with her reading.

I can't remember exactly what happened but I'm sure that the school contacted my parents and put an action plan in place with a specialist teacher who was able to offer different learning techniques.

Is it possible that the school that your son attends has a specialist or at least, well informed teacher to assist with a learning plan? (long time ago so things must have progressed.)

Like you said, it's not uncommon so there should be something in place.

TW

 

[LincolnChimp]

I worked as an NVQ assessor and as part of my training I did a dyslexia awareness course. There are so many simple things that can help such as coloured paper and tinted glasses but different colours work better for different people. Red or yellow pen on a white board can cause problems too. Removing background distractions like TV and radio helps concentration on homework. Some people even have to put their telephone in a quiet room and put a finger in their other ear so they can concentrate on the words spoken over a phone.
My best advice is to find out as much as you can about what works best for your son so he can recognise the problem areas and correct or avoid them. Make his teachers aware that they may need to adapt their teaching aids to help him but that this won't be to the detriment of their other pupils.
The 3 guys I worked with all passed their NVQ in Engineering Maintenance with relatively little help and no major problems and if anything it made them more determined to succeed!
Good luck and all the best for your sons future.

 

[Harry B'Stard]

Similar to what Lincoln Chimp said...

As an instructor we attend various courses etc which deal with dyslexia.

The best description I've had was from a dyslexic dyslexia teacher!DT_Xtremez_35: Linky

She described the condition of dyslexia as being like a diamond made of lots of facets, each representing a trait (bad spelling, concentration, visual problems etc). Your son will have a combination of 'Facets' and it is important that he is properly assessed. Once assessed, they will know exactly which traits he displays and then be able to tailor make a solution for your son.

Although she is based in Telford, she may be able to put you on to something in your area.

For the long term... don't worry.

My mother is dyslexic... she's now a Teaching Assistant dealing mainly with 'Problem Children'. she has no problems... apart from I had to 'Translate' all her written work for her courses!DT_Xtremez_30:

Hope this helps

HTB

 

[Rigga]

My daughter was diagnosed at the end of her foundation degree and too late to get any credit for her exams, ect.

She got help from the Uni and from the LEA in the way of coloured Specs, Laptop screen help and even software (but I couldn't state what that does/was).

She is now completing her PGCE.

My chat to her when she was diagnosed was that she had got so far while coping with her difficulties alone, and that she should/could not blame anything in future on this ailment/disability, because she did her degree without any help. This has helped her resolve her 'facets' admirably, and without too much fuss.

She still makes mistakes, but can understand them better and has shown improvement in dealing with them.

...and she may have inherited her 'facets' from me or Mrs Rigga!...

 

[J A F F A]

My son was diagnosed with dyslexia and dyspraxia two years ago. He was 12, struggling in comprehensive school, getting bullied and his grades were pointing to a grim future.

With help from CEAS we found a specialist school in the SW who deal with teaching children with dyslexia, dyspraxia and dyscalcula. There are only 86 children in the whole school and only 12 in his year group. At most he attends lessons with a maximum of 7 other children and the specialist techniques they are giving him will help him through the rest of his life.

He has now started his GCSE and the school are predicting him A's across the board. He loves his group of friends there and is involved with so many things out of school, he does not have time to miss home.

All of this and, because CEAS have recorded him as having special needs, the RAF pay 100% of the £24,000 fees.

If you want to chat at all about any of this, drop me a message.

 

[busby1971]

Being someone who became aware of my own dyslexia later in life I think that the support out there to individuals these days incredible. The sooner you recognise the issue the sooner you can learn to cope, and that you need to cope.

Identifying the problem goes along way to finding a solution.

Hope your lad gets all the help he needs.

 

[Big Jock]

As part of my job I send out email messages to all addressees at my unit. I have just been asked by my learning centre if I would change the font that I use from the default Times New Roman to Arial. Evidently those with dyslexia and other reading difficulties find Arial much easier to read. I spoke to the bosses PA and she informs me that Arial is pretty much industry standard for that reason. (her son has dyslexia). It may therefore help to ask the school for everything to be in Arial. If he uses a computer and MS Office it is easy to change the default font to Arial. I hope this is of some help.

John

 

[ajay]

Having left the Air Force I decided to go to university here in Plymouth (live in Cornwall). I was diagnosed dyslexic, the uni were brilliant I was supplied with any software that might help (Dragonspeaking etc) special lenses for my specs, even computer hardware if required.If your son is going into higher education get him in touch with them asap and they will explain what is available.DT_Xtremez_30:

 

[Stax]

My Boy was picked up as having "Irlens Sundrome" when he was in the Navy. Once we understood what was up it explained his problems at school, which were put down to bad behaviour by his teachers. So always check before you assume.

 

[gemarriott]

I find all this incredible, my Grandson is 6 and is suspected to be dyslexic to some degree, as a result my son, his dad had tests as he was struggling with some parts of degree course he is doing and it turns out he too is dyslexic and is getting loads of help. the battle he is having is getting the LEA to help with the youngster as he is below the age they normally diagnose it.

I just wonder why we never spotted it?