I was stunned to learn my daughter and I were both dyslexic, when she was 9. Which explained my school years.

So I learnt as much as I could, and become my daughters advocate and support through the rest of her school years. Even to the point of teaching her teachers how to best assist her in the class, with simple things such as;

When copying notes from the board the teacher wrote each paragraph in a different colour.

Use a computer when in class especially if copying notes from the board (my daughters hand written notes were illegible)

When teachers hand out notes and assignments use different coloured paper (daughters colour was a buff/cream colour).

Assignments or other work student underlines words they have trouble spelling.

Extra time for assignments etc.

Also our daughter wears Irlens glasses which are tinted lens, her first pair were a dusky pink and the pair she wears now is a pale blue, which made a huge difference to her reading. She also had 18 months of the Davis dyslexia program which also improved her hand writing.

I have included some links for you to check out if you wish to get more information.

Good luck

“Dyslexia” is a misnomer. It simply means difficulty in learning to read. There is no way that your son at 5 years old can be said to have “Dyslexia.” It is very common to have children who are at different developmental levels at 5 years old.

Some things to consider. Many people who say they have “Dyslexia” often have a specific learning disability. These include, but are not limited to:

*Memory deficits

*Language disorders

*Information processing deficits

*Visual Motor Integration deficits

You can read up on these on the “Net. However, be very cautious about trying to label your child yourself. If in a years time you are still worried, ask the school to begin a child study on him, which eventually can lead to a special education referral and testing.

I am dyslexic and two of my three daughters are but no one was diagnosed that early because it’s common up until about the end of the second grade for them to switch letters that look alike b’s for d’s p’s for q’s. Don’t worry about it unless it continues past the end of the second grade. Age five is really to young to have a true diagnoses. Wait and don’t push the issue yet, you will only make him move nervous and make it worse. Take it from me it runs in my family there are about 15 of us with dyslexia and other learning disabilities. Relax give him time to learn how to properly form the letters and don’t get so upset this early you’ll get you self upset and it might not be what you think.

are you sure? 5 is a bit young to be diagnosed with dyslexia. If a neurological deficit really occurs, the practitioner who diagnosed him should have given recommendations. You by yourself probably won’t correct it, but with certain types of training, he might be able to overcome or compesate for his difficulties. Check out Mel Levine’s work, ‘Learning Differences’.

Talk to his teachers and learn how he should be tested to define the particular problems he is having. Put him into special reading program asap. This can be overcome. I am dyslexia. My spelling is poor. However, I became a counseling psychologist. Hired a person to review my papers in college.

It is common for 5 year olds to write letters and numbers backwards after about 8 we worry.

Trace letters. Write his family’s names in highlighter and have him trace w/in the lines- highlighters are nice and wide- easier than tracing on pen lines. Have him write all kinds of functional things. “take a note for mommy” then dictate little memos. We started with shopping lists. My daughter would draw pictures of grapes and bananas before she could write letters..you can spell out the words. It isn’t about correcting at this point, it is learning that writing serves a purpose. Good writing comes from lots of practice!!!! But ya gotta make it fun too!

Put up a black board in the kitchen or paint the inside of the pantry door with blackboard paint- comes in green too. Write him memos, chore lists, I love you notes. Have him deliver messages to family members, make place cards for family dinners. Buy a pad of tracing paper and trace letters off the cereal boxes to color in later. Shut off the T.V and read books together.

my friend is in high school and he still has problems with it but he reads a lot and it helps him. his dyslexia has really improved.

Read about Patricia Polocco