General Chat

Just spent an hour trying to do homework with dyslexic 7 year old....he was fidgety, grumpy, kept walking off, I had to try and be patient and think to me its easy, to him its like climbing everest, Does Mazs special needs thread cover dyslexia? I am also very sure he has hyperactive tendencies.....still awake at 12.45 and up by 9, Caz xxx

I sympathise for you, G.son is like that, but also throws tantrums if he asked to sit for more that 5min. (he has ADHD) Lots on the thread - have you found it?

Thanks Carol. I'm going to go right through it, caz xxxx

Caz, are you trying out any supplements for your son, fish oils are supposed to help them concentrate and can't do any harm after all? My son had cod liver oil off a spoon when he was small, he actually liked it and would remind me to buy it, the girl in the chemist couldn't believe her ears when she heard him remind me. As he got to 7 or 8 I stopped buying it and thinking back, that was when he started slacking off at school. Wish I had known the probable benefits now,got it to help against winter colds, but had I known what it can do in other ways, I would have continued to give it to him Might be worth a try, you could give it to the others too, so he didn't feel singled out! Liz

There are so many forms of dylexia (sp). I faught for ages to get my younger son statemented. OK know you are not supposed to compare children but there was only 13 months between my 2 sons. Knew there was a problem with his reading. Teacher told me that 'dyslexia is a problem with middle class parent who do not believe that their child is meeting their achievements'.. Doohh - I only wanted him to keep up with the rest of the class. End result - they admitted that he had special needs - so took him out of maths for reading, so consequently he became behind with maths !!. What a load of b*llo*ks!!. Sent him for private tuition with a retired teacher who taught him to read the old fashioned way (my way - C.A.T. spells cat). Came on loads. Reading age increased over two years within 6 months. Parent and teacher approach though. Confidence booster. No negative comments. Wait for them. Patience is a virtue plus a lot of tongue biting. Good news is son is now earning more than OH !! plus in the last three years has actually read a book for fun and because he wants to. Now 24 and still learning. Love him to bits. lIBBY X From a proud mum

Libby well done for helping to sort your son out, it is hard to see them fall by the wayside when the school does not help. My son is 24 too. Luckily he has always been ok with reading, I taught him some words by the age of 3 and he reads for pleasure when ever he can, just like his mum! Liz

Caz Have you been able to get anywhere with a test using coloured overlays? I know you've mentioned it before. I went to a presentation last week given by a small charity 'Reading with Colour'. I don't know if they have groups nationwide. They were saying that some children have been wrongly diagnosed with all manner of things but have come on in leaps and bounds, when given help to read using coloured filters. It's not the right answer for everyone of course. Gwyn

I have no experience of this - so cannot really offer advice - just to say thinking of you and keep your chin up and stay sane - well try too. Take care Caz Love Mary in Spain xx

Hi Caz, His behavioural problems may not be hyperactivity but caused by frustration. This isn't unusual with dyslexic children. What support are you getting for him? Gwynne

Thanks all of you for your help, I too believe he isnt hyperactive as he can sit for ages on a playstation or watching TV but the moment I mention reading he gets very distracted, his little sister of 4 loves books as did my eldest, I believe he had undiagnosed dyspraxia and I know they are linked, I have an appointment at opticians hopefully to get overlays, He is waiting for the literacy team after being diagnosed 5 months ago, I should be hounding them more but I must be honest and say keeping everything running this year has been hard enough, I've just joined a local dyslexia group, Ta again, caz xxxxxxxxxxx

Caz I was just thinking of you xxxxx

Hi Hayley, hope you are well! Caz xxxxxxxx

I am ,got a week off...and still sat about in my pj's...lol