Is dyslexia real

[myksav]

To be officially diagnosed with dyslexia requires a psychological assessment using the WISC-R or WAIS-R and a variety of educational tests. A dyslexic will have a very specific, well recognized results profile. The dyslexic child with an average IQ usually gets picked up quite quickly in school as their performance in reading (and sometimes maths - dyscalculia) will not mirror their performance in general. The child who is well above average may not get picked up until college when their organisational skills in particular tend to let them down. To get extra benefits like you describe a child would have to have reading difficulties significantly below average and well out of kilter with their IQ. A child can also be dyslexic when they have average reading skills but perform at a very high (genius) otherwise but such a child would not be entitled to the benefits you describe. In Ireland getting access to an educational psychologist is an added problem with most schools only entitled to two assessments per annum. They tend to save those inputs for children with major problems educationally and behaviorally. Private assessments are costly. Addressing dyslexia requires a multi-sensorial teaching method which is time consuming and most teachers don't have the training (not even the remedial teachers). Many dyslexic children in Ireland attend Saturday workshops organised by the Dyslexia Association for their local area but again these are very expensive.

+1
A good synopsis.

[Theowolfe]

Not sure about 3rd level here as yet but we do not get any extra tuition or resources so no funds being used or diverted on my young lad. The one concession we did get was that he was allowed an exemption from Irish, which was proving very very difficult from him. This did not come easily and we had to get assessments done which we paid for to present to the School/Dept. of Education.
After that I got some scanning software which he can use to scan in sections of schoolbooks and they read the text to him but i had to fund this.
It may well be as you say in US/UK but anything we have had to do we paid for, if that is of any help to your enquiry.

That sounds quite reasonable and I am glad that your son is doing well.

I have been reading an article by Adam Caller, a teacher of children with "dyslexic profiles" where he says

"So where does this leave the thousands of parents who know that their child is struggling to flourish in a system that cannot cater for their needs? Many go down the route of getting their child formally assessed and labelled as having a learning difficulty, which can create other problems. I believe instead that a different approach is required, one that is at the centre of my attitude towards every aspect of a child's education and development: avoid labelling. In my experience, and those of the private tutors that work for my agency, when one adapts the teaching style to the needs of the child, the 'need' for that label disappears."

There seems to have been a rush to medicalise learning weaknesses over the past 10 to 20 years. From ADHD to Dyslexia to Dyspraxia so many people seem to want to abdicate their personal developmental autonomy and hand it over to a diagnosis.

The explosion in dyslexia diagnosis is understandable in today's society but there is an underlying unhealthiness in our willingness to accept medicalised labels for many of the shortcomings in our children.

[Mr Magoo]

The labelling can indeed cause problems..... to the child himself/herself in self confidence and in outside class situations with other students.
I found at the early stage of labelling lets call it, the lad himself was quite low and seems to doubt his ability to do anything right..... this took some time and still does by bit of building/chats from myself, wife and I found from his siblings which works wonders.
The harder one to solve is the school yard type of scenario and bit of bullying/name calling. Kids can be cruel and in situations of dissagreement ( not physical ) he has had lads who know he has dyslexia call him ' go away ya retard' and 'never mind that retarded boll i x'
So would have to say that labelling does itself throw up new hurdles

[imokyrok]

That sounds quite reasonable and I am glad that your son is doing well.

I have been reading an article by Adam Caller, a teacher of children with "dyslexic profiles" where he says

"So where does this leave the thousands of parents who know that their child is struggling to flourish in a system that cannot cater for their needs? Many go down the route of getting their child formally assessed and labelled as having a learning difficulty, which can create other problems. I believe instead that a different approach is required, one that is at the centre of my attitude towards every aspect of a child's education and development: avoid labelling. In my experience, and those of the private tutors that work for my agency, when one adapts the teaching style to the needs of the child, the 'need' for that label disappears."

There seems to have been a rush to medicalise learning weaknesses over the past 10 to 20 years. From ADHD to Dyslexia to Dyspraxia so many people seem to want to abdicate their personal developmental autonomy and hand it over to a diagnosis.

The explosion in dyslexia diagnosis is understandable in today's society but there is an underlying unhealthiness in our willingness to accept medicalised labels for many of the shortcomings in our children.

Where appropriate the dyslexic diagnosis has the positive effect in my opinion. Children who were afraid they were "stupid" and frustrated by their inability to do what comes easy to others are relieved that it a specific learning difficulty shared by many others including many very successful people. Children who were demoralised often gain much encouragement from discovering what their difficulty is and that there is help to be had. Dyslexia is no more something to be ashamed of than deafness or any other difficulty.

[TommyO'Brien]

I have noticed that in the past decade or so there has been an explosion of those diagnosed with dyslexia.

In Britain it is claimed that about 10% of the population suffer from dyslexia to some degree. 6 million people?

In the US the claim is between 15 - 20 % . About 50 million people as an average.

Is it possible that dyslexia has become a very convenient excuse for many underachieving students?

No it is not.

[Didimus]

Is dyslexia real?
On.

[Trmr09]

Dyslexia real, is yes.

[factual]

I have noticed that in the past decade or so there has been an explosion of those diagnosed with dyslexia.

In Britain it is claimed that about 10% of the population suffer from dyslexia to some degree. 6 million people?

In the US the claim is between 15 - 20 % . About 50 million people as an average.

Is it possible that dyslexia has become a very convenient excuse for many underachieving students?

Yes it is real, as is disphraxia, dysmathia and disgraphia.

I believe it is rather sad that the question was asked.

[Newsy]

I believe it is rather sad that the question was asked.

Agree.

[Theowolfe]

Yes it is real, as is disphraxia, dysmathia and disgraphia.

I believe it is rather sad that the question was asked.

Why? Do you not believe in open debate?

Or perhaps there are certain subjects that are above question.