Coping with Dyslexia at GS, advice please.
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Re: Coping with Dyslexia at GS, advice please.
inkypinky
That's useful thanks. Recently my DD has complained of headaches which I put down to being a bit tired but I think the headaches could be related to this reading problem.
She says that the words on the page look fuzzy and are fuzzy around the words she is reading, she has to focus hard. There is far more reading and copying from the board than at primary school. Your post has prompted me to make an appointment at the opticians on Monday. I guess it is better to go through opticians than GP is it?
Great help, thanks everyone. I appreciate it.
That's useful thanks. Recently my DD has complained of headaches which I put down to being a bit tired but I think the headaches could be related to this reading problem.
She says that the words on the page look fuzzy and are fuzzy around the words she is reading, she has to focus hard. There is far more reading and copying from the board than at primary school. Your post has prompted me to make an appointment at the opticians on Monday. I guess it is better to go through opticians than GP is it?
Great help, thanks everyone. I appreciate it.
Re: Coping with Dyslexia at GS, advice please.
If you go to the GP the first thing s/he will do is suggest an eye test, so you might as well start with the optician and then you have that information if you need to see a GP.
Bad that there is a lot of copying from the board going on - not considered to be top quality teaching if there is heavy reliance on that type of thing, as it does not engage the students, whether or not they are dyslexic.
Bad that there is a lot of copying from the board going on - not considered to be top quality teaching if there is heavy reliance on that type of thing, as it does not engage the students, whether or not they are dyslexic.
Re: Coping with Dyslexia at GS, advice please.
Mum 23
Apologies. I thought I'd posted a reply last week but it's not here and I tried earlier tonight for it to disappear again. Third time lucky.
Inky has answered the Q you asked me regarding overlays, and far better than I could have answered. Just one small point on these. Especially in light of you DD's headaches it makes perfect sense to take her to see an optician. However, I do know families who have done a DIY test by going along to office supplies retailers who seem to stock A4 and A5 coloured films (what for??). These only cost a few pence each. The Dyslexia Soc also sell packs of these films so presumably some people do their own comparisons at home with these.
Two other quick points I meant to mention last week:
Handwriting. Does your DD fully join her writing? My DC only used to join certain letters, but not all. She was advised to try to link all letters so that a word became one single constant pattern of movement. This pattern of movement can become ingrained or learnt like a dance step or the pattern of punching out a much-used phone number on a number keypad, so that it requires no particular focus or thought. One particlar whole shape or movement = one particular word; it's almost a physical rememberance rather than a mental one. Similarly, typing can sometimes help as children learn the pattern and sequence of finger movements, and that too is something the hands come to do without much obvious direction from the brain.
Reading aloud. Does your DD struugle with this? Some dyslexics do and so English or drama lessons can become an ordeal. The words can seem to distort even more frequently when having to read aloud than they do when reading silently, and so the reader stumbles, hesitates, become flustered, stumbles even further, feeling dreadfully self-conscious. All flow and meaning are compromised, which only serves to make the situation harder. My DC's English teacher suggested that she be given notice ahead of time of the text, especially where the language is challenging / unfamiliar, or where rythym is vital. So for Shakespeare or Chaucer or most poetry in fact, we have a look at it at home first (this is only helpful if you have the time, obviously), and my DC practices on me and we can take as long as needed even over one tiny line. This has made English lessons far more accessible and the patience of classmates hasn't had to be so tested!
Finally, the Dyslexia Assoc has lots of local branches with local expertise and not all of it focused on primary school children. When my DC was diagnosed whilst at secondary school we were really helped. Maybe there is a similar set up near to you that could give tailored advice to the Q, How to support a Y7 Dc at GS, maybe even with an insight into you Dc's specific school. Do hope so.
Yeah! It worked this time!
Apologies. I thought I'd posted a reply last week but it's not here and I tried earlier tonight for it to disappear again. Third time lucky.
Inky has answered the Q you asked me regarding overlays, and far better than I could have answered. Just one small point on these. Especially in light of you DD's headaches it makes perfect sense to take her to see an optician. However, I do know families who have done a DIY test by going along to office supplies retailers who seem to stock A4 and A5 coloured films (what for??). These only cost a few pence each. The Dyslexia Soc also sell packs of these films so presumably some people do their own comparisons at home with these.
Two other quick points I meant to mention last week:
Handwriting. Does your DD fully join her writing? My DC only used to join certain letters, but not all. She was advised to try to link all letters so that a word became one single constant pattern of movement. This pattern of movement can become ingrained or learnt like a dance step or the pattern of punching out a much-used phone number on a number keypad, so that it requires no particular focus or thought. One particlar whole shape or movement = one particular word; it's almost a physical rememberance rather than a mental one. Similarly, typing can sometimes help as children learn the pattern and sequence of finger movements, and that too is something the hands come to do without much obvious direction from the brain.
Reading aloud. Does your DD struugle with this? Some dyslexics do and so English or drama lessons can become an ordeal. The words can seem to distort even more frequently when having to read aloud than they do when reading silently, and so the reader stumbles, hesitates, become flustered, stumbles even further, feeling dreadfully self-conscious. All flow and meaning are compromised, which only serves to make the situation harder. My DC's English teacher suggested that she be given notice ahead of time of the text, especially where the language is challenging / unfamiliar, or where rythym is vital. So for Shakespeare or Chaucer or most poetry in fact, we have a look at it at home first (this is only helpful if you have the time, obviously), and my DC practices on me and we can take as long as needed even over one tiny line. This has made English lessons far more accessible and the patience of classmates hasn't had to be so tested!
Finally, the Dyslexia Assoc has lots of local branches with local expertise and not all of it focused on primary school children. When my DC was diagnosed whilst at secondary school we were really helped. Maybe there is a similar set up near to you that could give tailored advice to the Q, How to support a Y7 Dc at GS, maybe even with an insight into you Dc's specific school. Do hope so.
Yeah! It worked this time!
Re: Coping with Dyslexia at GS, advice please.
BB248
I have tried phoning local dyslexia association - I left a message but noone has got back to me yet. SENCO not got back to me either even though I phoned last week. At least this forum has been quick and useful!!Someone gave me the number for an optician that specialises in this type of thing but when I rang it seems the initial consultation is £350. Rather pricey for us so I will try a normal optician first and see how we get on. I think I have seen those overlays in a stationers now I think of it so will have a play around with those and see what they do.
I worked really hard on fully cursive handwriting with all my 3 DCs in about year 2 and I also believe it is a really helpful thing to do even though the school they went to (eventually we moved them to a different and MUCH better school)said silly things like you can only do joined up in mrs so and so's class and you mustn't loop. All three have neat writing although the DD with dyslexia's handwriting has deteriorated and she doesn't join as well as she did.
I must go but will finish post later. Thanks again.
I have tried phoning local dyslexia association - I left a message but noone has got back to me yet. SENCO not got back to me either even though I phoned last week. At least this forum has been quick and useful!!Someone gave me the number for an optician that specialises in this type of thing but when I rang it seems the initial consultation is £350. Rather pricey for us so I will try a normal optician first and see how we get on. I think I have seen those overlays in a stationers now I think of it so will have a play around with those and see what they do.
I worked really hard on fully cursive handwriting with all my 3 DCs in about year 2 and I also believe it is a really helpful thing to do even though the school they went to (eventually we moved them to a different and MUCH better school)said silly things like you can only do joined up in mrs so and so's class and you mustn't loop. All three have neat writing although the DD with dyslexia's handwriting has deteriorated and she doesn't join as well as she did.
I must go but will finish post later. Thanks again.
Re: Coping with Dyslexia at GS, advice please.
£350!!! Wow! We paid about £30 for all tests (including colour blindness & various others) and that included the overlay. I'd ask around. The sight test itself should be free for a child, I think, so you are only paying for the extra bits. The reason I think it might be worth the DIY route for some is that it seemed pure trial & error with my DC's test. "Is it clearer with this overlay....or, with this one..." etc etc. I did think at the time, if you had access to the sheets, patience and co-operation from DC, then it could be done at home, too. Maybe for £350 you get something far more high tech, or maybe this includes a pair of glasses with coloured lenses too??
Don't give up on the Dyslexia Assoc - the local branches are manned by volunteers who work when they can, I think, and I remember it taking a few days before my initial call was answered, and in fact the best advice came from someone who I was passed on to who was 3 places down the chain, so to speak, so I sympathise that it CAN take a while.
Still rather slack jawed at that eye watering £350! Ooch.
Don't give up on the Dyslexia Assoc - the local branches are manned by volunteers who work when they can, I think, and I remember it taking a few days before my initial call was answered, and in fact the best advice came from someone who I was passed on to who was 3 places down the chain, so to speak, so I sympathise that it CAN take a while.
Still rather slack jawed at that eye watering £350! Ooch.
Re: Coping with Dyslexia at GS, advice please.
One of my dc's (age 
has severe dyslexia and she also wears specs for astigmatism . She sees her optician every three months and because the optician is aware of the dyslexia she has recommended referral to an orthoptist at our local hospital. This is because an orthoptist specialises in focus related assessment...to be assessed privately would cost £350-400 . I just wondered if the quote you received was for an orthoptist? If so maybe you could have a word with your gp for a referral to an orthoptist on the nhs. In our area the referral has to be made via the gp. Our optician wrote to our gp and he made the referral. Really hope this is of some help x
has severe dyslexia and she also wears specs for astigmatism . She sees her optician every three months and because the optician is aware of the dyslexia she has recommended referral to an orthoptist at our local hospital. This is because an orthoptist specialises in focus related assessment...to be assessed privately would cost £350-400 . I just wondered if the quote you received was for an orthoptist? If so maybe you could have a word with your gp for a referral to an orthoptist on the nhs. In our area the referral has to be made via the gp. Our optician wrote to our gp and he made the referral. Really hope this is of some help xRe: Coping with Dyslexia at GS, advice please.
do you have access to a photocopier/fancy printer?
If so try copying a page of print onto different coloured papers and ask your daughter which she finds it easier to read, sometimes the contrast of bright white paper and black print can make reading difficult for some people.
Have done that for pupils at school, one found a light green much easier to read and another an off white paper. Both were amazed at the difference ( I found the white far clearer)
We then did any photocopies the class had on that colour paper for the child, not that much extra time needed ( just one sheet put in paper tray on top of the white ones) and a much happier, more productive pupil.
A hard copy of any notes instead of information on board is also useful , as it is easy to lose track of your place if you keep looking away from the board to write and then back up again..
If so try copying a page of print onto different coloured papers and ask your daughter which she finds it easier to read, sometimes the contrast of bright white paper and black print can make reading difficult for some people.
Have done that for pupils at school, one found a light green much easier to read and another an off white paper. Both were amazed at the difference ( I found the white far clearer)
We then did any photocopies the class had on that colour paper for the child, not that much extra time needed ( just one sheet put in paper tray on top of the white ones) and a much happier, more productive pupil.
A hard copy of any notes instead of information on board is also useful , as it is easy to lose track of your place if you keep looking away from the board to write and then back up again..
Re: Coping with Dyslexia at GS, advice please.
Brilliant everybody.
Yoyo that is such a good idea and you sound like a dedicated and fab teacher! I am absolutely going to do the coloured paper test this week. Can I ask how teachers generally respond to providing a hard copy of notes? I am worried I am going to annoy them if I ask - I don't want to seem an over fussy interfering parent but I am genuinely concerned for DD, she looks really tired by the end of the day and has loads of copying up to catch up with (some of this is because 2 diff teachers mislaid her exercise books and she had to write on paper in the lessons and now has to rewrite in said books which teachers have found!! All she needs!! )
When I phoned the (£350) opticians they couldn't wait to get my details and send a brochure which, by the time you have read it, makes you feel like a rotten parent for not coughing up..so fed up with this kind of thing. Same sort of thing happened with DD1 when orthodontist said she can have the nhs brace and go on the waiting list, have 4 healthy teeth removed and x brace or the other option - start immediately, no teeth removed, excellent results - £1800 please oh and don't worry you can pay £120 per month for 18 months. We are not that rich and I am sick of the way it is the children that miss out!! My DDs normal dentist said if it was her she would go for the £1800 option.....unfortunately I am not on a dentist's salary. Sorry to rant to all you lovely helpful people.
Might try the gp route tigger. Our GP is really nice and helpful.
I will post how we get on with all this as it might be helpful to others.
Thanks all
Yoyo that is such a good idea and you sound like a dedicated and fab teacher! I am absolutely going to do the coloured paper test this week. Can I ask how teachers generally respond to providing a hard copy of notes? I am worried I am going to annoy them if I ask - I don't want to seem an over fussy interfering parent but I am genuinely concerned for DD, she looks really tired by the end of the day and has loads of copying up to catch up with (some of this is because 2 diff teachers mislaid her exercise books and she had to write on paper in the lessons and now has to rewrite in said books which teachers have found!! All she needs!!
)When I phoned the (£350) opticians they couldn't wait to get my details and send a brochure which, by the time you have read it, makes you feel like a rotten parent for not coughing up..so fed up with this kind of thing. Same sort of thing happened with DD1 when orthodontist said she can have the nhs brace and go on the waiting list, have 4 healthy teeth removed and x brace or the other option - start immediately, no teeth removed, excellent results - £1800 please oh and don't worry you can pay £120 per month for 18 months. We are not that rich and I am sick of the way it is the children that miss out!! My DDs normal dentist said if it was her she would go for the £1800 option.....unfortunately I am not on a dentist's salary. Sorry to rant to all you lovely helpful people.
Might try the gp route tigger. Our GP is really nice and helpful.
I will post how we get on with all this as it might be helpful to others.
Thanks all
Re: Coping with Dyslexia at GS, advice please.
Please don't waste your money on expensive optical tests but DO take her for a regular (NHS) eye test (just discovered that my DD needs glases and she had been having headaches). From the American Society of Pediatrics, for example:
"Scientific evidence does not support the
efficacy of eye exercises, behavioral vision therapy, or special tinted
filters or lenses for improving the long-term educational performance
in these complex pediatric neurocognitive conditions. Diagnostic and
treatment approaches that lack scientific evidence of efficacy, including
eye exercises, behavioral vision therapy, or special tinted filters or
lenses, are not endorsed and should not be recommended.
You really need to focus efforts on the SENCO and ensuring you have open communication between you. Decide what the major issues are eg copying down work from the board or perhaps writing homework tasks in her diary etc and agree how the school/teacher will manage this.
Does the LEA report include some recommendations? How severe is the dyslexia?
Personally I would reccommend a good dyslexia tutor, best of all someone using something like the Sound Reading System http://www.soundreadingsystem.co.uk/ and the BEST website to visit for helpful information is http://www.dyslexics.org.uk/
"Scientific evidence does not support the
efficacy of eye exercises, behavioral vision therapy, or special tinted
filters or lenses for improving the long-term educational performance
in these complex pediatric neurocognitive conditions. Diagnostic and
treatment approaches that lack scientific evidence of efficacy, including
eye exercises, behavioral vision therapy, or special tinted filters or
lenses, are not endorsed and should not be recommended.
You really need to focus efforts on the SENCO and ensuring you have open communication between you. Decide what the major issues are eg copying down work from the board or perhaps writing homework tasks in her diary etc and agree how the school/teacher will manage this.
Does the LEA report include some recommendations? How severe is the dyslexia?
Personally I would reccommend a good dyslexia tutor, best of all someone using something like the Sound Reading System http://www.soundreadingsystem.co.uk/ and the BEST website to visit for helpful information is http://www.dyslexics.org.uk/
Re: Coping with Dyslexia at GS, advice please.
I have to be honest and say it depends on the teacher, some are perfectly willing and others think it is stuff and nonsense.
