Reading difficulties/testing/special needs/don't know what to do...

[gwen's mom]

My DD is 8 and has always been HSed. She has always struggled with reading and it is not due to lack of effort or desire. Unless I sit with her and touch the words on the page as she reads, she skips small words such as the, a, an, to, etc. Her comprehension, if she reads aloud is good, reading silently it is almost non-existent. She still reverses letters such as b and d or p and q. She has a hard time sounding things out, in fact DD#2, at 5, has better phonics skills. DD#1 does not spell well, sometimes she tries to spell phonetically, sometimes I think she just puts a collection of letters down. Her handwriting is legible but not by much. She has a hard time with copy work whether it is right in front of her or across the room. In other areas she does fine, lots of curiosity, really enjoys school when she isn’t asked to read on her own.

So because we are still homeschooling I initially went to the local school district to ask about testing. They set us up with the Woodcock Johnson and WISC 4 tests but told us over and over and over again that in the state of Wyoming, DD was considered a private school student and therefore they would not provide any services nor be giving any sort of formal diagnosis. I thought about this for a few weeks and ultimately canceled the testing, feeling like it probably would not have provided me with much insight as to how I could help her. I also have some health issues going on myself and have an upcoming surgery so when I called the district and told them this they acted like everything was fine if I canceled. Yesterday, however the woman I initially scheduled with said that I needed to get the tests re-scheduled within 60 days or “the feds“ would get involved. WTH?

Then a friend who is a full time tutor recommended I read The Gift of Dyslexia and contact one of the dyslexia treatment specialist. I wasn’t finished with the book but called one of the specialists (in Denver) and she was very willing to treat DD but said several times over that I needed to finish the book first and that I “would just know” by reading the book if DD was truly dyslexic and would benefit from treatment. Well I finished the book and I still don’t feel like I know. We are having her vision tested at the end of the week by a doctor who specializes in pediatric ophthalmology and visual processing disorders.

I really just don’t know where to turn or what to do. Any insight is greatly appreciated.

[yllek]

I'm in a rush, but I wanted to respond because my ds6 has similar issues. He has been tested extensively - big time - and he is not dyslexic (which isn't to say that your dd is or isn't, just sayin'). The best description of what my ds is dealing with is that he has a ocular-motor, visual processing, language processing and working memory issues. Oh, and SPD. Yet he reads at about a third grade level if I help him track, has a fantastic long-term memory, and really strong analytical skills for a 6yo.

I liked Overcoming Dyslexia more than The Gift of Dyslexia for trying to understand the disorder. My dh is dyslexic (as is ALL the male members of his family), so I was really getting hyped up for that diagnosis for ds.

If you end up ruling out dyslexia, you're still probably on the right track to do vision testing. Speech therapy (which is far more than just articulation disorders) can also help. I'll be back to check in. Gotta run.

[SundayCrepes]

I've just read about this book http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/061...pf_rd_i=507846

I am trying to get it through inter library loan. I don't know if it will help you and I have no experience to offer. (I'm just trying to be educated for when my little kids reach reading age.) I emailed the author (they have a website) and asked about homeschooling. He responded with a personalized response. Maybe you could email him with your questions.

[yllek]

Have you seen the list of dyslexia symptoms here?
http://www.dys-add.com/symptoms.html

After reading your post again, I was struck by how similar some of your dd and my ds' symptoms are. In my son's case, he reads at about a 2nd or 3rd grade level if I track the words for him, pointing out his place with my finger. If I don't do that, he starts skipping words, putting in words that aren't there, garbling words. But as soon as I point, he reads fluently and with expression. The difference is HUGE.

We are just getting started with vision therapy (tomorrow is our first therapy visit, as a matter of fact). I think that you are on the right track getting her visual-motor and visual-processing checked. But vision issues are sometimes present along with dyslexia. If she still has some difficulty with reading and writing, you might want to have someone to test for dyslexia.

I was told by the neuropsychologist who tested ds (and this was also stated clearly in Overcoming Dyslexia), that one of the key features of dyslexia is an issue with processing or distinguishing phonemes, not just difficulty reading and writing. Even though ds matched many of the symptoms that show up for dyslexics (like my dh), he absolutely rocks at phonemic awareness. Like, his test scores were super high. The neuropsych said that, by definition, he can't really be considered a dyslexic, so his reading and learning issues must have some other origin.

Our developmental optometrist said that her tests revealed that ds has issues with convergence sufficiency, binocularity, tracking, fixation, visual sequencing, and visual memory. More tests will be happening soon, but they decided that there was enough to start therapy for the ocular-motor stuff.

Ds also sees an OT who is addressing some of the gross motor and fine motor/handwriting issues, and he is working with a speech therapist to help him with working memory and language processing. We've already seen a big difference in how ds organizes his speech, tells stories, remembers directions, etc.

If there's any way that you can get the testing done, I'd do it. The tests have totally helped me see exactly where ds' learning issues are. If I just assumed that he was dyslexic like his dad, we'd be spinning our wheels on strategies that he just wouldn't need.

Best of luck to you guys. It's really hard to see your bright kid struggle with what seems like such basic stuff like reading and writing.

[JavaFinch]

Kelly,
Do you have a link on the vision therapy stuff? I'd like to kind of try it at home to see if this sounds like something for DS.

My son sounded just like the OP at 8. He is 11 now and usually no longer switches the b's and d's, but still every once in a while he will when writing, but he will usually correct himself after he does it (now, not at 8).

I don't want to hijack and start listing my son's issues, so I'll just watch this thread intently.

[yllek]

Hmmm... I've heard that there are some computer-based VT exercises that are available online, but since we're just starting our vision therapy, I don't really know what I could recommend.

I do have this book, and it's a wonderful compilation of exercises. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/155...ef=oss_product

However, I haven't used it yet, since I wasn't sure what set of issues that ds was dealing with in terms of his eyes. This book is not light reading. Still, it's way cheaper than vt, so I'm hoping that once we get started, I'll be able to supplement with this.

Reversals, btw, are really common and can continue to be an issue well into ages 8 and 9 for some otherwise perfectly normally developing kids (or so I've heard). It's more of a red flag when reversals occur with other issues with reading, writing and learning.

I received these links from our dev. optometrist for information about how vt helps convergence insufficiency. I don't know if this is the type of online information that will help you, but here it is:

http://www.nei.nih.gov/news/pressreleases/101308.asp

http://www.convergenceinsufficiency....n_Scheiman.pdf

http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/545210

Good luck with your son. It's so hard to figure out all these learning differences. It's so amazing to me how complex cognition and learning is. When I was in teacher training, I did take those educational psychology classes, but the broad overview made it all seem so tidy. Even the learning disability classes were so pat. These issues with my son have really made me have to do a ton of research. I'm really happy to help any other mamas who are on this journey too. It's so hard to find good information. We really need to root for each other, you know?

[SundayCrepes]

Originally Posted by JavaFinch

Kelly,
Do you have a link on the vision therapy stuff? I'd like to kind of try it at home to see if this sounds like something for DS.

This was posted in a thread I recently started about similar concerns

Originally Posted by laundrycrisis

If you are only worried about reading, I would start with a COVD developmental optometrist to rule out any vision/eye control/eye teaming/visual processing issues first.

http://www.childrensvision.com/

[gwen's mom]

Well a little bit of good news...DD had her appt with the COVD developmental optometrist today and she was found to have 20/20 vision with farsightedness. I don't completely understand how this works but the Dr. told me that a small percentage of children have such an anomaly. The Dr. showed me how DD sees things...my goodness its no wonder she has trouble reading! I could barely sort anything out when I saw things the way she does!

So we ordered her glasses today and the COVD developmental optometrist wants to see her back in a few weeks to see if she might need some additional vision training.

[yllek]

Originally Posted by SundayCrepes

Quote:

This was posted in a thread I recently started about similar concerns

http://www.childrensvision.com/

Thanks so much for posting that. I had not seen that before and there was a lot of great information on it. Ds' first session of vision therapy went really well today. I've got my fingers crossed.

[Lillian J]

My son started the therapy program based on The Gift of Dyslexia, and then the therapist noticed his eyes weren't moving smoothly across the page when he read, so she sent us to her developmental optometrist to get tested. It turned out he needed vision therapy, and things cleared up soon. Here are articles I wrote about both those things, with links to resources for both.

Dyslexia - A Gift?
Taking a Look at Vision Skills

I just saw your update, Gwen's mom, after posting the above - sounds like good news! Lillian

[AAK]

Kelly had some great info for you.

I also saw your update and it sounds like you are on the right path.

However, I just wanted to mention that the WISC and Woodcock Johnson aren't useless. My dd only had the WISC, but it was helpful because I know now that she isn't stuggling with reading because of an intelligence issue. I know to look for an answer. If, however, my dd's test results had ended up being well below average, I would have come to the conclusion that she really does just need more time with it all.


Oh, also here is another link for everyone on vision skills. It isn't meant to be vision therapy--but if your child really struggles with a section you might want to see a vision therapist.
http://www.eyecanlearn.com/

Amy