Just had a 3 hour test for dyslexia.

[atbman]

Its why I haven't posted anything on the thread since yesterday. You can make fun of people with a learning disability all you like, would you do the same to person who has a physical one?

Its extremely frustrating to have a condition that wasn't diagnosed until I was in my mid twenties. Its been an extremely hard and frustrating battle, leading to depression thinking that I'm stupid because I can't do some of the stuff that you normal people can do.

I think people should always think twice before making fun of people with some sort of condition, its how bullying starts.

Having, with some embarassment, deleted my previous contribution (part sympathy and part warped humour[?]), the student I had some dealings with went thro' much the same process and only discovered that he wasn't "thick" after he left school.

Once they'd diagnosed his dyslexia and the particular areas it covered (all sorts of graduations, apparently) he was able to work round it using various tactics/techniques that they suggested and some he worked out for himself.

As for us "normal" people, I taught students who were brilliant wordsmiths and had no feel for numbers at all.

Some could analyse stuff very well, but had never been taught to express themselves properly, so it was a bit of a beggar sorting out what they meant - tho' I could see that they'd produced some excellent ideas. On reflection, perhaps some of them were borderline dyslexic

Then there were a few who were very good but had zero social skills, to the point where they didn't even realise it. It's since occurred to me that some of them might have had Aspergers or something like that.

"Normal" covers covers one hell of a wide spectrum and "my" dyslexic student was part of that. He was in his early 30s and eventually went on to start his own company.

The point is that once you know the results of the test, there will be practical strategies you can use. Being an ex-economics and bus. studies teacher, I have no idea what they might be, but, like him, you'll find ways of doing things.

Sorry about any offense we've caused, but insensitivity and thoughtlessness is also part of the "normal", especially on this forum. Good luck and, in spite of appearances, I'm pretty sure that we'd like to know how you've got on - it might, just, teach some of us some humility.

 

[vernon]

I think the contrary, this place vhas shown itself to be hugely supportive of peoples problems. Check out threads on say Depression, bereavements (including pets), work and family issues etc. There's a lot of human kindness here.

There is but there's also thoughtless comments that are unhelpful. I prefer to seek solace from face to face communication. Forums make it all to easy to forget that there's a real human being behind the messages being scrolled down the screen.

Malice is probably not the intention behind the irreverent responses but they do form part of the 'spectrum of usefulness' and will figure in forum responses.

 

[Gromit]

I was seen by an educational psychologist who gave me several tasks to do. These were reading a few paragraphs of text, timing haw long it took me to read each one. Then she asked me a series of questions about the facts that were included in the paragraphs to see if I was any good a remembering the information I had just read.

There was a basic spelling test, so she could check how I formed the words and whether they were spelled correctly.

Word association games and spoonerisms, sequencing and using blocks formaking shapes.

It was all done to determine these things:

• When writing checks/cheques, do you frequently find yourself making mistakes?
• When using the telephone, do you tend to get the numbers mixed up when you dial?
• Is your spelling poor?
• Do you mix up dates and times and miss appointments?
• Do you find forms difficult and confusing?
• Do you find it difficult to take messages on the telephone and pass them on correctly?
• Do you mix up bus numbers like 95 and 59?
• Do you find it difficult to say the months of the year forward in a fluent manner?
• Did you find it hard to learn your multiplication tables at school?
• Do you take longer than you should to read a page of a book?
• Do you find difficulty in telling left from right?
• When you have to say a long word, do you sometimes find it difficult to get all the sounds in the right order?

 

[summerdays]

Then there were a few who were very good but had zero social skills, to the point where they didn't even realise it. It's since occurred to me that some of them might have had Aspergers or something like that.

"Normal" covers covers one hell of a wide spectrum

I agree. I think the point they are finding about many of these disorders (ADHD, aspergers etc) is that they are all spectrum disorders - that we all appear on the spectrum but in different places, and for some it impacts on their lives in a big way.

My friends son is dyslexic, aspergers, OCD and other things too, and I've learnt a lot from him, its a slightly different view of the word. For him the hardest bit is the social side trying to fit in and the dreaded school!!

 

[Bad Company]

My son is dyslexic. He gets extra time for exams at university.

He and I often share jokes about it. Why not? Nothing offensive and sometimes laughter is the best way of dealing with it.

 

[gaz]

The problem i had with the extra time i was given throughout my education during exams is that i didn't really need it. With my dyslexia i have real issues getting what i know in my head and putting it on the paper. the extra 25% i had at school and 15% i had at uni didn't make any difference

 

[summerdays]

Not quite the same at all, but my son has struggled a little at school, especially on the literacy side. He was getting annoyed that they now have a new way of testing times tables using a computer and he can't answer the questions quick enough. So although he could do his 10 and 5 times tables last year in a timed test, this year he "can't" as he can't type it in quick enough. Spoke to the teacher and they have said they could perhaps help him with the entry - so see if he comes home any quicker. So I can sort of understand your frustration with not being able to extract the information out of your head.

 

[jeltz]

I'm also dyslexic.

I find there are only a couple of funny dyslexia jokes. The vast majority are tedious and borderline offensive, the same kind of thing school yard bullies would come up with and tell within earshot of the person effected, so as to impress there mates.

You learn different coping methods, for me that was skim reading, spelling rules and these days I always type and use a spell checker. Apparently another symptom of dyslexia is that we have greater abilities to visualise in 3d and better spacial awareness and there are other thinking based advantages too.

 

[Fab Foodie]

There is but there's also thoughtless comments that are unhelpful. I prefer to seek solace from face to face communication. Forums make it all to easy to forget that there's a real human being behind the messages being scrolled down the screen.

Malice is probably not the intention behind the irreverent responses but they do form part of the 'spectrum of usefulness' and will figure in forum responses.

I don't disagree with what you've said, but sometimes it is easier to discuss private things with a broad and anonymous group of people. Of course on forums there is the risk that some will see it as a piss-taking opportunity, so you have to have some idea of the clientelle that you're addressing.

I was slightly taken aback by the responses here though, because until maybe recently this was a forum of pretty decent fellows who had a good sense of judgement of the character of other posters. This possibly has changed as the forum has grown and is less intimate overall, I guess that's inevitable. However, it's heartening to see that there are still some personal checks and balances in place to ensure that people behave 'decently' or sensitively towards others. I think that's still a good thing about CC and should be applauded.