Do you think I could be dyslexic?

Question

Or have some other related learning difficulty?

This is going to be a bit long because it's not the typical situation.

I am 16 years old. I can read fiction fast and well and learnt to read with little difficulty (I am left handed and used to sometimes read things backwards, but grew out of it)
When I was younger a had very big issues with spelling words correctly, especially simple short words such as who, how etc. I had a special teacher help me with this for about a year when I was 7 or 8 but was never tested for dylexia. I don't want to sound big headed, but I think it might be relevant that I am considered signifacntly above average intellegence wise.

The things that make me thing I have a problem are:

I nearly always mix up simple words such a by and my, go and do, especially when typing (but I usually notice immediatdly and correct it so my teachers probably haven't noticed.

I often misprounounce things by mixing up syllable sounds, for example prodigy I often pronounce as progidy.

I have a terrible memory for names (not sure this is relevant, but it was a question on an online dylexia test)

This sounds stupid, but I have difficulty with the alphabet. If someone spells out a words for me, I usually have to ask them to write it down, or at least repeat it a couple of times slowly

I remember conversations well in general, but often forget the order that things were said, sometimes immediately.

I love to read and have no problem reading fiction, indeed when I was younger I was judged to have a high reading age. However non fiction, especially dry descriptions of a situation I find very hard to read.
This is mainly a problem in mechanics (In UK we choose only a few subjects after 16 and I do no writing ones) because the questions are a solid block of text along the lines of " a block of mass m which can be modelled as a dimensionless particle is connected to a light inextensible string of uniform diameter...." and are about 100-150 words long, sometimes more. When I open a mechanics practice paper (it's not as bad on textbook questions) there's just a wall of text that seems to swim in front of me and I have to read the question many times to grasp the idea, wasting valuable time, and sometimes I still don't understand it.
This is very frustrating as I am good at mechanics, but my test scores are poor because of the exam format and my difficulty reading the questions.

I have developed various coping strategies, such as highlighting key words (with minimal sucess) and carefully watching each word I write to make sure don't accidentally put the wrong letter. I also sometimes write words I have forgotten to spell down on a scrap piece of paper with the letters in different combinations until I recognise one from my reading.

I would really like some help and advice, but I feel that if I go to someone at school they won't take me seriously because it's not so obvious to my teachers and I read lots and I am very old to be diagnosed with dylexsia.
Also I think that even if I was told I was dylexic I wouldn't be given extra time (although with it I could score even higher, especially in mechanics where I understand the maths but not the wording of the question) because I am intellegent and already get quite could exam scores.

Answer 1

I was diagnosed at 34 following an awarness program at my work, so you are far from to old.

Some children with IQ's at gifted or above sometimes do slip through the system.

Subjects that interest you are a lot easier to read as your focus will remain constant and you will be less likely to switch off and read in auto-pilot (where you come round from a day dream and realise you are still reading the words, but nothing is going in)

I empathise with you regarding the long winded questions, as they fry my brain. Maybe re-write the question being asked in bullet point form, so that you are breaking down the info into much smaller chunks.

● a block of mass

●can be modeled

●as a dimensionless particle

●is connected to

●a light inextensible string

●of uniform diamiter

This way you can understand each chunk before you move onto the next. You could also put little doodles or explanations next to each segment.

This is also why we need extra time in exams to allow for copping mechanisms and strategies to put into practice.

Good luck

Answer 2

Seem's to me that you are not a literacy type of person.

These are your problem area's:

. Spelling

. Writing

. Pronouncing word's

. Memory

. Understanding concept easily

. Putting sentence's together



To be honest... You could have a problem. I am not a hundred percent sure but there are ton's of kid's with your same issue. But they are not dyslexic. In fact I have seen kid's that are much dimer then you my fellow. But they are not dyslexic. Not to say that you are dyslexic, but there is a low possibility. Just like you I am a bad speller and couldn't spell friend until grade 5.

Here is a tip on how to get better at writing. "Say" as you write. That way if you mix up the word's you will know easily. I think the only reason you mix up with word's is because you go to fast.

Also remember to think before you say. That way whatever you say will come out proper. Notice how I am trying to be professional while I am typing. Notice my grammar. You should also try to be as professional as you can to make sure that your writing is not jumbled up.

I think you are just forgetful, not dyslexic. Those are two different thing's. If you can put sentence's together properly and can see writing properly then your fine. I have seen kid's that get awful mark's, fail in there classes and don't listen to anyone. I assume that they have a little bit of ADHD. If you were dyslexic your teacher's would have noticed back when you were in kindergarten.

You wouldn't have been reading, writing or speaking properly.

You said that you sometime's struggle with the alphabet. That my friend should concern you.

There were some stuff that you mentioned that made you seem normal and other stuff that you mentioned that made you seem dyslexic.

I recommend getting tested. That's the only way to know for sure.

Answer 3

It is possible to get evaluated from the school. It depends if their is a school psychologist or any other related educational professional. It mostly depends if it is a public school. Private schools are not required to diagnose people.



You cannot just get permission from the school. First, it is your parents decision because they can't just make accommodations without the parent because the parents must be there to provide you with support. That is because they are your parents and they have to play the role in how your education would work for the rest of your life. It is VERY impossible for your parents to be uncontacted for a evaluation, unless you are over 18. If the school decided whether you have a learning disability or not, they will put you on something called an "IEP".



The IEP, Individualized Education Program, is a written document that's developed for each public school child who is eligible for special education. The IEP is created through a team effort and reviewed at least once a year.



Before an IEP can be written, your child must be eligible for special education. By federal law, a multidisciplinary team must determine that she's a child with a disability and (2) she requires special education and related services to benefit from the general education program.



The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), a federal law, requires certain information to be included in the IEP but doesn't specify how the IEP should look. Because states and local school systems may include additional information, forms differ from state to state and may vary between school systems within a state.



You may not have dyslexia. A person with dyslexia may have a hard time reading and spelling because they see letters and words backwards. For example: they may read the word "Was" and "Saw or the word "gum" as "mug". They may also read the letter "b" as "d" and "m" as "w". That's what affects a dyslexic ability to read and spell. But if you just have a hard time reading in general and just have spelling problems, then it doesn't automatically means that it's a disability. You may just have visual tracking problems or sounding out words in general. But then again, it doesn't hurt to get evaluated. They won't just evaluate you with dyslexia. In general, they would try to evaluate you in areas of learning disabilities. It also doesn't hurt to see a neurologist or psychiatrist.



If you do have a specific learning disability, DO NOT let it take over your life or let it define who you are. You have to simply make the best out of it, and gain the coping skills that is needed when you have a disability. Life is a challenge for everyone at some point. Everyone has a different style of learning. Let's use Albert Einstein for example. He is one of my inspirations. He was speculated to have dyslexia and a form of autism (aspergers). He struggled academically, and socially as a child. When Einstein didn't talk until he was three years old, his parents worried something was wrong with him. Einstein also failed to impress his teachers. From elementary school through college, his teachers and professors thought him lazy, sloppy, and insubordinate. Many of his teachers thought he would never amount to anything. That's a huge inspiration. Due to my mathematics delays, I thought that I was never going to make in anywhere. So please refer these specific issues to your parents. They play an important role in your education.. Here are a list of all types of learning disabilities:



http://www.helpguide.org/mental/learning…



Another coexisting disorder is Irlens syndrome.

Answer 4

Some people only get diagnosed in university.

They tend to be high-functioning dyslexics how have learnt ways to cope and succeed.

Go and see the school SENCO and ask for their advice.

They will probably have a dyslexia screening program that you can use.

Answer 5

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