Over the years I have spoken to so many parents and other family members concerned about their children. Some questions come up again and again. Here is a list of the top five most frequently asked questions.
Q. How do I know if my child is dyslexic and what are the signs?
A. It is important to remember that if a child is struggling with literacy then the most likely cause is dyslexia. Dyslexic profiles will be vary from one child to another but here are some of the key signs to look out for in school aged children:
A. It is important to remember that if a child is struggling with literacy then the most likely cause is dyslexia. Dyslexic profiles will be vary from one child to another but here are some of the key signs to look out for in school aged children:
- Difficulties with reading. Children with dyslexia might appear to know a word on one page but not on the next, they might miss letters out when reading a word or miss out whole words or even lines of text.
- Getting b, d and p confused when reading and writing is fairly common when children first start to learn to read and write but it can be a sign of dyslexia if it persists.
- Children with dyslexia often have trouble grasping letter sounds, particularly digraphs (where two letters make one sound).
- They will often struggle to recall what they've read.
- Their spelling will be largely phonetic or may seem like pure guesswork.
- They may have difficulties organising their thoughts on paper.
- Many children with dyslexia have difficulties recalling instructions and sequences, such as times tables or the order of the months of the year.
- They may appear to be daydreaming when presented with literacy based tasks or a lot of information.
Q. When should you screen for dyslexia?
A. I screen children from the age of four and a half and would recommend screening from that age if there is a strong close family history, as dyslexia is hereditary, or if you have already observed a number of dyslexic traits.
If there is no strong family history then you are more likely to be alerted to the fact that your child is struggling once they have been at school for a while. Early intervention is key, so I would recommend screening at the age of six or seven.
Of course, sometimes problems don't come to light till much later and it is never too late to make a difference, but if you have concerns about your child and they are falling behind their peers or just not making the progress that you'd expect then it is time to screen.
For more information on the screening process, please see this blog post: https://dyslexiaadvice.blogspot.com/2019/09/why-screen-for-dyslexia_17.html
Q. How can I support my dyslexic child?
A. There are many ways to support a dyslexic child and it is never too early to start. For suggestions on how to help your preschool child, please see this
blog post:
https://dyslexiaadvice.blogspot.com/2020/03/catching-them-young-how-to-help-your.html
Here are a few suggestions aimed at school aged children:
-Improve your child's confidence by providing opportunities for them to join in activities that they are able to excel at, for example, sport, dance, art etc.
- Use assistive technology to make it easier to complete homework, search webpages for information and communicate with friends and family.
- If possible, find a tutor for your child who specialises in dyslexia. They will often be able to guide and support you as well.
- Advocate for your child at school. Sadly, many children with dyslexia don't automatically get the help and support that they need in schools. There can be many reasons why they can slip under the radar but speaking up for your child and raising your concerns will help them to get the support that they need.
Q. Do I need a full diagnostic assessment in order to get help for my child in school?
A. Absolutely not. Dyslexia is covered by the Equality Act 2010 which is very clear that a person does not need an official diagnosis in order to be protected by the act. If a school has evidence that a child is likely to be dyslexic then they are duty bound to make reasonable adjustments and support the child appropriately. If they don't do this then they are breaking the law by discriminating against your child. Evidence of dyslexia can be found by looking at a child's results in standardised tests in school or the results of a dyslexia screening.
Q. What about exam access arrangements? Do I need a diagnosis to get things like extra time in exams for my child?
A. The short answer is no. Exam access arrangements are based on two things:
your child's normal way of working (in class) and tests run by or on behalf of the exam board. These tests are done in school, usually in Year Nine or Year Ten. For a more detailed explanation, please see this previous blog post:
https://dyslexiaadvice.blogspot.com/2021/04/is-dyslexia-assessment-needed-to-get.html
I hope that you've found these answers useful. Don't forget, if you'd like support or more advice then contact me today. I can help. Dyslexia and literacy tuition, dyslexia and dyscalculia screening and dyslexia training available.
