dyslexia concerns

[MOM2ANSLEY]

Dd is 4 and I have noticed she occasionally "reads" right to left... numbers on my alarm clock for example.
When is it developmentally that she should be "reading" left to right
She also sometimes seems to have trouble telling me what sound a word starts with...ex. she says soup starts with "P" or cactus starts with the "T" sound. It is not necessarily the last phonetic sound...maybe the one with the strongest sound???
Should I be concerned or is this normal for her age...just turned 4 about 7 weeks ago
any thoughts are appreciated

[LauraLoo]

From what I understand, it's common for kids to do this until about age 5. It also could be an indication of a visual spatial learning preference. If you want some good reading on dyslexia and VS check out both of these links:

http://www.neurolearning.com
http://www.visualspatial.org

It is also my understanding that the tests for dyslexia begin after 5.5 years old.

[Sandymc]

One thing I finally realized with my son is that he did not see things in any particular order. He saw the whole thing. In other words, a child of 4 sees a word as he would any other object. There is no right or left, or up or down. He might draw the letter in the opposite manner, and even if upside down it is the same object. Does that make sense?

I believe it is nothing to worry about at age 4 at all.

In fact, my first grade teacher entered a beautiful notebook I had made in the State Fair on the life of Abraham Lincoln with illustrations. It was perfectly written, but you couldn't read it unless you held it up to a mirror.

My mother was concerned, and the teacher wisely told her not to mention it to me and that I would automatically sort it out myself. I did.

By the way, I am left handed. So I think that makes a difference. My son did these things too and became an excellent speller and reader, and very artistic, I might add.

[LauraLoo]

Originally Posted by Sandymc

One thing I finally realized with my son is that he did not see things in any particular order. He saw the whole thing. In other words, a child of 4 sees a word as he would any other object. There is no right or left, or up or down. He might draw the letter in the opposite manner, and even if upside down it is the same object. Does that make sense?

What you described would indicate a visual spatial orientation. Not all 4 year olds would "see" this way. It's not a deficit by any means, it's just a different way of processing. And actually, VS processing has some great advantages, too.

[menudo]

You described my 5yo DS who is in Kindergarten. I just got a note for an IEP meeting today. He does all these things too. We are watching, we were very caught off guard by this as he was in preschool and the ylied ot us about what he was doing (writing and all) there. Makes sense in hindsight!

[rachelagain]

I wouldn't be concerned about it at 4 yrs old-- but if you want more info-- this place is wonderful:

http://www.dyslexia.com/

I read the book- it was very helpful, for me and my son and one of my friends is certified in it to teach people with that method- really helped her and her son as well, so much she really got into it.

[mommy68]

My youngest DD is 4.5 and writes her name out of order constantly. She has all the right letters in her name but always puts them out of order. I've often wondered if she has this problem. She doesn't look at things backwards though, atleast not that I've noticed.

[Flor]

I taught 1st grade and what you are describing sounds normal for a 6 year old so of course fine for a four year old. Kids really have to be taught to read from left to right and even then, it takes a while for it to become automatic. And as for the beginning sound, it is great that you are even talking about it, but I wouldn't expect her to be able to do it consistantly for some time yet. You are right, she is probably hearing the strongest sound. I have kids "finger spell" though I don't know if I can describe it without showing you. I'll try:

1. Start with a fist.
2. hold up thumb for first SOUND (not letter, for example, in SHEEP your thumb would be up for /SH/)
3. Raise pointer finger for next sound /EE/
4. Raise middle finger for next sound /P/

5. Last, we "grab" the whole world (make a grabbing motion and put hand back into a fist) and say the entire word /SHEEP/

For some reason, kids are really able to go back and tell you what the last sound was and what the first sound was. They will often point to their thumb and they remember what sound they said with that finger.

I have used this with 1st graders as well as 8th graders who are learning English and I think it is a great tool for segmenting and blending.

[MOM2ANSLEY]

Interesting concept flor, I'll try it with dd
I can't believe she already can identify all of her letters and knows sounds of most. She really wants to read, but I don't want to be pushy. I feel her school is too aggressive with teaching (does that make sense) but she loves it.It seems she craves structure, so maybe it was good I couldn't afford montessori. She wants to be "taught"