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I Spy Dyslexia

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Intrigue, mystery, unknowns. It’s no wonder that kids love spy games, television shows, and the popular graphic novel series Spy School. Unfortunately for parents, characteristics of intrigue, mystery, and unknowns are concerning when you worry your child might have dyslexia. However, astute, and intuitive parents like you can spy the symptoms of dyslexia. You just need to know what clues to look for.

Spying Dyslexia Clues

Spying clues early and confirming a diagnosis can position you to solve the dyslexia case. Look for these clues.  Elementary age clues:

  • trouble memorizing his address, phone number, or the alphabet
  • can’t create words that rhyme
  • messy handwriting, letters that are formed differently and don’t sit on the line
  • letter or number reversals continuing past first grade
  • slow, choppy, inaccurate reading and mispronouncing small words
  • terrible spelling
  • often can’t remember sight words
  • trouble with math: memorizing multiplication tables
  • extremely messy bedroom, backpack, or desk

Spying Dyslexia Clues in Middle and High School

Middle and high school age clues can encompass the above as well as:

  • dreads going to school
  • limited vocabulary
  • poor written expression
  • problems mastering a foreign language
  • does not like to read for pleasure
  • would rather listen to an audio book than read one

A Hurting Mom

If you observed three or more dyslexia clues in your child, seek school neuropsychological testing. Along with being informative, it can give you peace of mind and direction. As one mom put it, “It hurt to see him struggle. We just need to know so we can move forward.”  She had to convince her husband to agree to testing because he thought the boy was being lazy or needed more time. Our testing is not simply meant to put a label on a child but to help direct you to solve the mystery of why your child is struggling and give support.

Call to discuss your child as we test children ages 5.5 through college for dyslexia, learning disabilities, ADHD, depression, anxiety, and other processing disorders.  Call (561) 625 4125

6 Reasons Why Waiting to Test Your Child for Dyslexia Will Cost You More In the End

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Moms and dads, trust your intuition.  If you have been thinking about getting your child tested for dyslexia, just do it.  The peace of mind you will have after the testing is worth every penny of the testing cost.

Here are 6 reasons why waiting to test your child for dyslexia will cost you more in the end.

1. The longer you wait, the more hours of tutoring that will be needed. This is going to cost you more money because tutoring is typically $65/hour and up.

2. Waiting to get the right type of reading instruction increases the chance that your child will never catch up. The gap between your child and his/her peers will widen.

3. There is a greater risk of loss of self-esteem as your child fails for a longer period.  We can make accommodations for academic weaknesses much easier than trying to fix a child’s self-esteem.

4. The longer he/she struggles to learn to read, the more likely he/she will never love reading.  I’ve worked with many families of boys and girls where the kids don’t love reading and will not read for pleasure.  These kids are missing out on one of life’s greatest joys.

5. The child’s vocabulary will end up smaller than peers because he/she is not reading as many books and words as their peers.  This becomes a disadvantage when your child is trying to write descriptive essays.  His/her vocabulary weakness becomes a huge issue when it’s time to take the SAT or ACT.

6.  If your child is not a proficient reader then by the fourth grade his/her grades will be much lower and your child won’t be working to his/her potential.

In addition to being a private practice school psychologist, I am also a dyslexia testing specialist and have completed specific training in how to test and teach children with dyslexia. Additionally, I have a child with dyslexia and have helped him overcome dyslexia.  If you need dyslexia help in the Palm Beach, Jupiter, Stuart, or anywhere in Florida, contact me.  The truth is that public schools usually do not test for dyslexia nor do most provide the type of dyslexia teaching that will help your child overcome dyslexia.  As I stated at the beginning, trust your intuition!  If you have been concerned that your child might have dyslexia, get it checked out.  The longer you put off testing, the more it will cost you in the end.  It probably does not cost as much as you think so call Dr. Forgan for details and payment options.