Dyslexia

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 16 Sep 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

moonman	16 Sep 2002
Hi folks, I found out that I am dyslexia about 6 months ago. I had a very strong idea that I was especaily when I was at school......many years ago. I had a lot of problems with my speech, spelling, cordination, maths will you might as well say everything that wasn’t creative. I managed to avoid reading aloud. It was a nightmare when friends asked me to read their stars in the paper. Anyway to cut a long story short I had a test done and boy did I feel good when I found out that my dyslexia was severe. This was such a big relief for me! I could now get on with things without having a big complex. I now focus on the best in me, but one thing that was sad about was that I didn’t get any help at all from parents and my schooling. I just kept on saying to myself I was think. I know that’s not true. Anyway I would like to hear your stories and how you worked round it as there is no cure for dyslexia.___ Seb

Supletion	16 Sep 2002
i dont suffer of that problem, but in my small school class (17 people), 6 have dylexia, 2 of them severe cases. today, the situation is completely different than what you have described: they get a time expansion in exams (25%), in humanic subjects they are tested by words and not in writing (first they get a paper and a certain amount of time to write down for themselves in headlines what they want to say, and then the teacher asks them the questions), they are allowed not to take notes in classes, and in the matriculation exams (where they have to write), an external worker of the ministery of education writes down for them what they say (the only problem with this method is that it can last hours and tire them). they are also not obligated, unlike the rest, to study a third language (arab or french), and in english (that everyone has to learn and pass a 5pts matriculation test), they write on the top of the page ISM (Ignore Spelling Mistakes), and suppose they've presented the required authorizations, points cannot be taken off for them for mispelling. the 2 severe cases are allowed to bring a laptop to the class and type instead of writing. the school counsellor is in charge of sending those who ask for dyslexia diagnosys, and of arranging the special conditions for the students having dyslexia. the teachers have to respect those conditions, and they act thoughtfully and sensitively about it. the only bad aspect is that some people take advantage of the efforts that schools do to help students with dyslexia. buts thats better than students not getting the relieves they deserve.

fairyhedgehog	16 Sep 2002
My husband is dyslexic, but he was lucky to be diagnosed when he was young and get extra help. (Not as much as Supletion has described though.) Computers have been a real blessing to him, but if he has a very important document to hand in he will often get me to spell-check it for errors that computers miss. Both my sons have struggled with English Language, especially spelling and writing, although neither of them is dyslexic as such. I wonder if it is something you have in different degrees? If so, my husband had it mediumly and the boys have it very mildly.

the hermit	17 Sep 2002
Quote: Originally posted by fairyhedgehog Both my sons have struggled with English Language, especially spelling and writing, although neither of them is dyslexic as such. I wonder if it is something you have in different degrees? If so, my husband had it mediumly and the boys have it very mildly. there are in deed disorders and dysfunctions related to dyslexia that are hereditary. my son suffers from one such learning disability that was diagnosed early. we believe that my younger brother and our father suffered from the same dysfunction, though it skipped me. neither of them was ever diagnosed but both suffered problems through out school and the rest of their lives. neither was able to graduate from highschool and both had trouble with reading and other language skills through out life. you need to speak with a learning dysfunction specialist about your sons and see if there is help available for them.

Diana	17 Sep 2002
Quote: Originally posted by fairyhedgehog Both my sons have struggled with English Language, especially spelling and writing (grammar), although neither of them is dyslexic as such. I wonder if it is something you have in different degrees? If so, my husband had it mediumly and the boys have it very mildly. Fairyhedgehog: My son has been diagnosed with dysgraphia, which is an off-shoot of dyslexia. His problems lie mainly in spelling and writing, like your sons. It has caused great self-esteem problems (I suspect it was one of the reasons he fell so ill towards the end of the last school year). It was diagnosed only last year, and is now getting help from a written language therapist for this. And praise the heavens, he actually has a French teacher this year who knows what dysgraphia is all about, and she has assured me that any spelling mistakes will not be taken into account in his final marks. She also told me that she has noticed that many people, when given the right help, can overcome their problem to some degree, because they are taught ways to get around the difficulties. They will never be able to go in a straight line - have to make detours. My son's therapist has adults going to her too, so it is never too late to attack the problem.

fairyhedgehog	17 Sep 2002
That's interesting, Diana, I'd never heard of dysgraphia. It really does sound like my younger son, who always loved reading but had terrible trouble writing. Both of them have gone for physics and maths at A level, and my older son is off to university to study computers soon, so they seem to have managed with what help they got. Younger son is relieved not to have to write any more essays, though :) I'm glad your son is getting the right sort of help and that he has such an understanding French teacher.

floracove	19 Sep 2002
There was something on TV awhile back. They said something about color tinted glasses or a colored sheet of paper that the children used on top of their reading material. Something to do with being blind to some colors. Most used blue to help them.

Diana	20 Sep 2002
Moonman: I got so caught up answering fairyhedgehog, that I forgot to tell you that I'm really pleased that at last you know that you are not stupid (we all knew that!) but that you have dyslexia. Yes, it must be a big relief. Now, you have a lot of past feelings bottled up somewhere in your mind and body. Past frustrations, anger, feelings of injustice, and such-like. Even if now you are feeling relieved, these feelings are locked up somewhere. Without wanting to sound all patronising or anything, I would really advise you to try and release them with a method that appeals to you. Meditation, cell-reprogramming (if you know of someone), journal writing, painting or drawing, finding a tree in the forest to talk to, etc. etc. etc. Then you can really turn the page and move on. I am happy for you. :)

VGimlet	20 Sep 2002
My husband also has a kind of dyslexia, although he was tested as a kid and told he didn't have it, both his mom and I think he does have some kind of learning disorder. Reading has always been a chore for him and not a pleasure. When he was in school (and yes, I knew him then) he did well in classes where the teacher was very verbal, and struggled when most of the lessons were from books. He's always been very good at math, can fix anything that breaks. As an adult, he still has to read things two or three times sometimes before they make sense, but he's learned to compensate - spellchecker when he writes, giving himself time to go over written materials, and other tricks he doesn't even think about. One of the only things I always wished I could share with him was my love for reading and books. We recently started listening to books on tape together in the car, and it's *so cool*. He's even started asking me to find him other stuff to listen too. So, you might want to give books on tape a try Moonman. They have them for lots of books now. :D

floracove	20 Sep 2002
Awww VGimlet, that's so sweet! [[[[one of the only things i always wished i could share with him was my love for reading and books. we recently started listening to books on tape together in the car, and it's *so cool*. he's even started asking me to find him other stuff to listen too. ]]]

The Dyslexia thread was originally posted on 16 Sep 2002 in the Chat board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Chat, or read more archived threads.