Dyslexia

[Haze]

To some it may seem like I only post here when I want something. Well they'd be right, but take it as a compliment.

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In the last few weeks my suspicions have been realised, I convinced the university to give me a dyslexia screening test, and I have a full assessment with an educational psychologist sometime soon, in the new term.

(the 'diagnosis' from screening test is accepted as they have only ever sent one person for further assessment who was confirmed not dyslexic.)

At nearly 22 years old, it is a bit of a surprise that I have managed to get through more than 15 years of education before finding this out.

Telling my mum was difficult, not just because of the worry that she would blame herself for not picking it up sooner or be concerned about my progress in education, but also because of her (lack of) understanding of dyslexia.


What are people's experiences - either directly or indirectly - of dyslexia?

What do you understand it to be all about? (without reference to the web!)



Regards,

Haze

[Dee EffEll]

Oddly enough, I have developed a mild form of dyselxia later in life. I transpose letters when typing, printing, or cursive writing. I occasionally transpose words when speaking or reading as well. I did two things to combat the effects:

1. I spend a lot of time editing; and
2. I joined DAM: Mothers Against Dyslexia.

It is just the way I am wired, I guess. I don't lose sleep over it, any more than I lose sleep over being incapable of fencing sabre. Just...can't...move...like...that....

Best of luck.

[MyraTrue]

Well... I don't know a whole lot, but I did fence for a year with a fencer who periodically gave me a thrashing. Found out later he was dislexic. It didn't translate in any way over to fencing. He helped me out a great deal, and I'd no idea. Though I know he'd had some problems in some of his classes... but don't we all?

I wish I knew more. I guess I'd agree with Dee EffEll- don't lose too much sleep over it. If you've made it through 15 years of education without realizing, it means you make it through the rest of your life, too. It strikes me a little like when I finally got my first pair of glasses. "Gee, that explains some things!"

[Mo]

One time at a meet, may have been JO's I was standing around talking to a bunch of fencing girls and made a seriously interesting discovery. It seems a lot of fencers, really good fencers, have dyslexia.
What dyslexia does is cause the brain to develop alternate pathways for information to get to your brain. The more of your brain you use, the more of it you can access.
What the heck, consider it a gift.
Do you think a dyslexic, agnostic lies awake at night wondering if there is a dog?

[akishier]

Hmmmmm...a dog??????

[Dee EffEll]

Originally posted by Mo

Do you think a dyslexic, agnostic lies awake at night wondering if there is a dog?

Especially those that are insomniacs. Lots of time. But I quickly forget about it, because of my amnesia.

[retardedspleen]

Originally posted by Mo
One time at a meet, may have been JO's I was standing around talking to a bunch of fencing girls and made a seriously interesting discovery. It seems a lot of fencers, really good fencers, have dyslexia.
What dyslexia does is cause the brain to develop alternate pathways for information to get to your brain. The more of your brain you use, the more of it you can access.
What the heck, consider it a gift.
Do you think a dyslexic, agnostic lies awake at night wondering if there is a dog?

right on the money


Im dyslexic, as well as synesthetic(not synthetic, syneSthetic)

although is "bad" it sorta isnt. it allows your mind to work in more different ways, figure problems out easier, and construct new ideas as well. The only reason is could be unwanted is if, it limits you do getting things done correctly. that was my case, now ive just made it a habbit to watch it, and think about what i do. if i make a mistake, i catch it and fix it.


Chris Triplett

[Haze]

sorry this is a bit long. Ok very long.

Im dyslexic, as well as synesthetic(not synthetic, syneSthetic)

I have never heard of synesthesia before (and I sure don't like typing it!), and a quick web search isn't all that revealing about it, but descriptions I have found kinda remind me of a friend who over two years ago told me a list of numbers and colours his mind associated with them; I have the list stored on my computer but any time I question him on a particular number, he usually comes up with the exact same colour.


Dyslexia-wise, I'm not overly worried about it, although I did get very frustrated (screamed / shouted out to the empty house) this evening when I was stuck with some work, and couldn't read the reference material for help because it was on bright white. Eventually though I realised it was also available online, and read it on my monitor on a different coloured background, and had the computer read important bits to me.

Whilst dyslexia seems to immediately draw up the association of spelling, then writing and reading, what made me pick it up was semantic memory problems, very disconcerting if you are not used to it.

Don't know what started it off but previously thinking of a word meant that i could also work out how say it and write it, the whole process in an instant without having to think about how it was happening. Now it can be a bit more of a guessing game.

Then I made a few more associations, like a fellow student saying she could just see white lines all through the text on a page, and the others in the group commented how odd it was, and what lines. It had always been quite a game for me making shapes out of the lines after reading got too boring

Then it occurred to me that i had never actually got written work finished throughout my schooling (I was rarely in much trouble for this due to the quality of the work I did do, though I remember a couple of arguements with one particular teacher as to why I had not finished my homework), and infact that i had submittedly a less than half finished report this term, again, despite much effort (but got 68% for it!).

Also I remembered being quizzed in primary school about why i crossed out so much, and I checked my notes from the last 3 years and I have been doing it still without thinking about it, getting letter order wrong and having several goes at words. (I am specific on letter order rather than spelling, as I have the correct spelling of most words I use in long-term memory, but that doesn't always translate to the page first time.


Anyway, the things I expect the proper assessment to bring up are: (these are summarised from my uni's webpage on awareness when teaching students with dyslexia - i picked out the ones that I feel apply to me)


- Copying and note-taking takes longer
- Writing takes longer – letter and word order, recall of words
- Difficult to read red-coloured text
- (Sometimes very) difficult to read text on a white / pale / bright background
- Slow reading:- glare from background, tracking, often read without “absorbing” meaning of text – have to go back and read again.
- Poor short-term memory, especially verbal
- Poor organisation


The organisation one is also a major problem for me, something that everyone expects me to have mastered by now, and doesnt help with managing large projects which i (try to) do a lot of.

I've been gradually sorting things out, and I sort of feel now that this is the final piece of the puzzle between the work standards my lecturers expect of me and what they get - most are quite surprised when I tell them what grade I got for something. This does however mean that whatever class of degree I leave with, the department should still write me a good reference. It is frustrating though at the moment as I know there are ways I could get help with work but until the full assessment report they cant be implemented.

Example, I read a lot easier through a coloured (blue?) transparency put over the white page, its like a switch that means I can see all the letters properly - but at the moment I am using a piece from a translucent folder as I have not been assessed for that yet. I have some exams in 2 weeks, I'm not sure they will allow me to take something like that in with me. (though I get in touch with the appropriate people to ask about it all as soon as it the university re-opens! I might be able to get an exam printed on a different colour or something. Basically it is just the waiting over Christmas that is getting me.


Regarding fencing and dyslexia, thanks Mo, maybe I will take up fencing again after I graduate later this year!


Haze

[sjpfencer220]

One of the kids in my club has dyslexia and he won a couple world cups this year and is on the world team. All I know is what dyslexia is, that a lot of fencers seem to have it, and that those who do have it sure make good fencers.

[Kenji]

The correlation between fencing and dyslexia seems pretty interesting. If I was a more pro-active kind of person, I might even try to do a study on it, but alas, I'm lazy =)

[jBirch]

I've heard that shorthand is really useful for dyslexics as you don't have to write a whole word or phrase to record it. And it helps with the "FedEx Arrow" effect of black on white.

The problem (from my understanding) is that your mind doesn't need to be precise in its communication to get the concept down pat and your perception of pattern is different. You see the space between the trees instead of the forest as it were and recognize words by their shape. In short, UR TO SMRT 4 precise communication.

Three other bits of advice I've heard:

1) Slow down and take lots of breaks when writing.
2) Learn caligraphy (so you can draw your letters).
3) Find a font you like and try to always read in that same font.

Hope this helps.

James.

[Epee_Pox]

I'm not dyslexic, but typical assessments will conclude that I am.

For example, although I don't see words as misspelled, and I always spelled very well, and started reading at an unusually young age, became a very fast reader, I do reverse numbers -- if you ask me to multiply 6 x 7, I'll sometimes think "42" and say "24." In school, depending on the school and teacher, I was thought not to be trying hard enough, or not challenged enough, easily distracted by tangential studies, prone to get ahead of the class then get bored and fall behind, and the like. Did very well on standardized tests, but performed poorly on written tests. Tendency to zone out, inability to process or even hear spoken instructions. Always having to go back and check and re-check written work, even after confirming that it was done correctly. Sealing an envelope is the hardest thing to do, because omigodwhatif... When writing rapidly, some letters get transposed. Words seem to dance about on the page sometimes. The spaces between the words are just as visible as the words themselves. Often read and re-read the same passage without comprehension. Difficulty putting thoughts into speech when discussing personal experiences, but none whatsoever when discussing anything else. Bizarre handwriting, bizarre uncomfortable-looking pencil grip. Print very neatly, however. Ambidextrous. Tend to confuse right and left. Excellent long-term memory for locations, faces, and experiences. Cannot remember names or conversations. Excellent comprehension of legal rulings, but cannot cite cases or statutes. Compulsively orderly with respect to data and written work, but very disorderly with respect to physical items. Etc. etc. etc.

Most of these things are red flags for dyslexia assessments. Especially so many together. But I don't have it. And I'm glad, because friends of mine suffer from it, and it's no fun for them.

Because symptoms can exist without the underlying disorder, it's important that assessments be done by a well-qualified professional to insure against misdiagnosis. That's no fun, either.

[Fencergrl]

My sister got diagnosed with dyslexia in her late 30’s when she went back to school. After learning new studying techniques, she’s refined them over time and is doing quite well. For the first time in her life she’s doing well in school.

So hang in there. Getting diagnosed opens up resources and opportunities to learn to learn in a way that works for you

[D'Artag-NOT]

My father (G-d rest him) was dyslexic. (He said the letters "jumped around on the page".) Because in the 1920's and 1930's when he was in school no-one knew about dyslexia, he was told that he was "stupid".

He managed to graduate from high school (passing the exit exam required by the State of New York) and did some business school, but never even tried for college because he thought he was "stupid".

Well, despite his difficulties, my dad was a voracious reader and earned our living for about 20 years in a clerical type of job. He was intensely proud of putting both his daughters through private college. And he was NOT stupid!!

My sister now teaches kids with learning disabilities.

So dyslexia's not the end of the world--especially now, when the problem is recognized and ways to compensate are more readily available.

[Gav]

I'm going to suggest something controversial here. Recent studies indicate that the number of people diagnosed with Dyslexia are nowhere near the actual number. In fact it is possibly "fashionable" for a kid to be diagnosed with something like dyslexia to cover some other fault. People frequently quote dyslexia but are not, in fact, dyslexic.

Example: Row erupts over dyslexia 'denial'

There is no doubt that some people have difficulty with language, however the over-diagnosis of "dyslexia" because "something must be wrong* with Little Johnny" could actually stop some people from getting the help they need.

* aka He's a bit slower than the rest of the class ...

[Go? Fencing?]

Originally Posted by Gav

I'm going to suggest something controversial here. Recent studies indicate that the number of people diagnosed with Dyslexia are nowhere near the actual number. In fact it is possibly "fashionable" for a kid to be diagnosed with something like dyslexia to cover some other fault. People frequently quote dyslexia but are not, in fact, dyslexic.

Same thing with ADD/ADHD. It's easier to say that a kid has ADD and stick him on a medication than to try to find out what the real problem is.

[TrainingDummy]

Originally Posted by Go? Fencing?

Same thing with ADD/ADHD. It's easier to say that a kid has ADD and stick him on a medication than to try to find out what the real problem is.

Easier for whom? According to my psychologist ADHD and depression are often overdiagnosed because of pressure from insurance companies: Patient A had a major depressive episode, but feels much better and is continuing therapy to see why it happened and possibly prevent it from happening again. HMO won't pay for self-enhancement or psychological "check-ups" and argues with psychologist/psychiatrist's office about the bills. Result: doctor relents and says the patient "has depression."