School say the boy's dyslexic
Discussion
Son is in Y13 (Upper sixth) and about to submit his UCAS application for a competitive course in a competitive university
Hes bright and has never struggled at school however written stuff was never his strongpoint
School suggested he may be dyslexic and my wife is buying into this and wants him tested formally as if proven he will get extra time for exams
This sounds like a win and Im wondering what the flipside is, if any?
Is there any negative consequence if he has a dyslexia label?
I imagine that extra time for uni exams would be beneficial and presumably he can then bury it when in the big bad world when he applies for jobs
The school is state but has a reputation for being pushy and crowing about its students achievements so its in their interests if he gets into his first choice university.............
Cheers
numtumfutunch said:
Son is in Y13 (Upper sixth) and about to submit his UCAS application for a competitive course in a competitive university
Hes bright and has never struggled at school however written stuff was never his strongpoint
School suggested he may be dyslexic and my wife is buying into this and wants him tested formally as if proven he will get extra time for exams
This sounds like a win and Im wondering what the flipside is, if any?
Is there any negative consequence if he has a dyslexia label?
I imagine that extra time for uni exams would be beneficial and presumably he can then bury it when in the big bad world when he applies for jobs
The school is state but has a reputation for being pushy and crowing about its students achievements so its in their interests if he gets into his first choice university.............
Cheers
A diagnosis before now would have been helpful.Hes bright and has never struggled at school however written stuff was never his strongpoint
School suggested he may be dyslexic and my wife is buying into this and wants him tested formally as if proven he will get extra time for exams
This sounds like a win and Im wondering what the flipside is, if any?
Is there any negative consequence if he has a dyslexia label?
I imagine that extra time for uni exams would be beneficial and presumably he can then bury it when in the big bad world when he applies for jobs
The school is state but has a reputation for being pushy and crowing about its students achievements so its in their interests if he gets into his first choice university.............
Cheers
Will a diagnosis at this stage negatively impact the child? I doubt it, if that is the sole diagnosis. Were he to be diagnosed with other conditions at the same time I believe some professions are off limits.
Does he really need it though? Will 25% extra time really be required? I don't recall Uni exams taxing me that much timewise and I am not quick at processing or writing.
one of my lads pals is dyslexic , he is bright and had great support at school for A levels, got into a competitive course, and then really struggled with written exams / assessments at uni, as precious little support available at Uni
he is now rethinking his study, and will probably go down some sort of apprenticeship model
he is now rethinking his study, and will probably go down some sort of apprenticeship model
numtumfutunch said:
Son is in Y13 (Upper sixth) and about to submit his UCAS application for a competitive course in a competitive university
Hes bright and has never struggled at school however written stuff was never his strongpoint
School suggested he may be dyslexic and my wife is buying into this and wants him tested formally as if proven he will get extra time for exams
This sounds like a win and Im wondering what the flipside is, if any?
Is there any negative consequence if he has a dyslexia label?
Yeah, don’t do it. Don’t get diagnosed and don’t tell anyone about it, otherwise people just automatically assume that you’re thick, even well into adulthood, and I can speak from experience in this regard.Hes bright and has never struggled at school however written stuff was never his strongpoint
School suggested he may be dyslexic and my wife is buying into this and wants him tested formally as if proven he will get extra time for exams
This sounds like a win and Im wondering what the flipside is, if any?
Is there any negative consequence if he has a dyslexia label?
My other half discovered she has dyslexia during the course of her PhD.
To be honest - and though she’s too proud to admit it - it would have helped her enormously had she known earlier. In fact (though she and I met at university) I suspect she’d known much earlier than she would have been helped in developing effective exam strategies before the more adult pressures of university (ie you’re on your own).
These days she is responsible for postgraduate students, so sees it from the other side as well. Not sure what help - if any - one would get at undergrad level.
Now would be a good time to find out and rapidly develop some strategies to ensure he is able to fulfil his potential in A levels and at undergraduate level.
To be honest - and though she’s too proud to admit it - it would have helped her enormously had she known earlier. In fact (though she and I met at university) I suspect she’d known much earlier than she would have been helped in developing effective exam strategies before the more adult pressures of university (ie you’re on your own).
These days she is responsible for postgraduate students, so sees it from the other side as well. Not sure what help - if any - one would get at undergrad level.
Now would be a good time to find out and rapidly develop some strategies to ensure he is able to fulfil his potential in A levels and at undergraduate level.
numtumfutunch said:
Is there any negative consequence if he has a dyslexia label?
I imagine that extra time for uni exams would be beneficial and presumably he can then bury it when in the big bad world when he applies for jobs
Bury it? Why would he/you want to bury it? He will still have dyslexia and will still benefit from adjustments so why not take them?I imagine that extra time for uni exams would be beneficial and presumably he can then bury it when in the big bad world when he applies for jobs
The world has moved on significantly, having a dyslexia diagnosis holds very little stigma. My kids get extra time and a reader/scribe if needed and I have never seen any classroom comments or the like. It is rather more than an inability or slowness of processing info etc...and can manifest itself in many ways, severly impacting on some sufferer's mental health if they are left to sort things out for themselves. Take the help.
My lad had aways been an atrocious and really slow writer although a good reader and brain much faster than his ability to get his thoughts down on paper.
The school recognised this during A levels and he got extra time for exams.
He hasn't had any assessment or a formal diagnosis. Just started Uni, so time will tell as to whether he needs allowances or support there.
Logically, we must all sit on a distribution curve for reading, writing and other educational abilities. It doesn't follow that these abilities should align. I'd be inclined to reap the benefits but not get too hung up on a label.
The school recognised this during A levels and he got extra time for exams.
He hasn't had any assessment or a formal diagnosis. Just started Uni, so time will tell as to whether he needs allowances or support there.
Logically, we must all sit on a distribution curve for reading, writing and other educational abilities. It doesn't follow that these abilities should align. I'd be inclined to reap the benefits but not get too hung up on a label.
Worth noting that some very well known figures had dyslexia…. Most notably Albert Einstein. Evidently being thick and having dyslexia are two very different conditions. Dyslexia can be helped with suitable adjustments following advice from a qualified educational psychologist. Being thick can not be cured so easily!
Remember that dyslexia is a spectrum of difficulties and each person will have different needs.
As others have said, it would have helped him in his gcse and a level years to have been diagnosed earlier. There used to be financial support for dyslexia at university but not sure these days if still available.
Instill in your son that dyslexia diagnosis should be used as an impetus to adapt and overcome, it’s not an excuse for subsequent failiure!
Remember that dyslexia is a spectrum of difficulties and each person will have different needs.
As others have said, it would have helped him in his gcse and a level years to have been diagnosed earlier. There used to be financial support for dyslexia at university but not sure these days if still available.
Instill in your son that dyslexia diagnosis should be used as an impetus to adapt and overcome, it’s not an excuse for subsequent failiure!
My son has been through this, albeit diagnosed at an earlier age, so has received some additional support at school, this mainly involved extra time in exams, and being allowed to use an ipad and keyboard instead of hand writing in lessons and exams. I can't say the diagnosis has had any negative impacts, and like you mention it can just be ignored if needed.
He has just started at university and the diagnosis has helped him get a lot of additional support. From what we have seen so far universities seem to provide lots of support for educational needs. Once he had confirmed his university place he had a short telephone call with an educational needs assessor - he did already have a written diagnosis from a few years ago On the basis of that call has been provided with a laptop and printer, which he has had to pay £200 towards. I think he also receives an hour a week with a dedicated tutor to go through his written work. He should also be getting extra time in exams. Overall I can't say we have seen any negatives to the diagnosis.
He has just started at university and the diagnosis has helped him get a lot of additional support. From what we have seen so far universities seem to provide lots of support for educational needs. Once he had confirmed his university place he had a short telephone call with an educational needs assessor - he did already have a written diagnosis from a few years ago On the basis of that call has been provided with a laptop and printer, which he has had to pay £200 towards. I think he also receives an hour a week with a dedicated tutor to go through his written work. He should also be getting extra time in exams. Overall I can't say we have seen any negatives to the diagnosis.
I am one of the ones that got diagnosed later in life in my late 20s whilst in my second degree at uni as a mature student. I've subsequently been diagnosed with ADHD after a traumatic misdiagnosis of bipolar. It's also looking like I have Asperger's. I wish someone had helped me when I was younger as it was obvious something was not quite right. I struggled through school, college and the first time I went to uni, but because I didn't fail anything it was often brushed aside. Now I know, I can make sure I make adjustments of my own to better deal with things day to day. In fact I've had a complete career change in my 40s to a job that is far more suited to how I am. I now feel so much better and happier, despite now being on half the salary.
I got diagnosed as a kid with dyslexia. I thought it was great as I got more time in exams and got to do my schoolwork on a laptop.
Yes, there is a little bit of a stigma, but times have changed. I do think that people understand it more in fact I’m just understanding it more as a 30 something year old.
I was always pushed into uni and getting a IT job. Turns out I am very good at understanding systems, building kit and also have some very good people skills.
Look up made by dyslexia, it’s a fantastic way to understand dyslexia from a child’s point of view, but also from a parent or a teacher or a manager view.
I’m glad to say, I now use my dyslexia strengths to my advantage I’ve kept falling into roles that I thought I would never be good at but some good managers spotted on my skills and let me grow into roles.
Get the report is done it’s good to know if he is or he isn’t. The extra help never helped me but it has made me realise why I do things the way I do.
Just today my boss told me off because I’m meeting targets but my paperwork is terrible. He knows I am doing a great job but his boss would look at my pipeline and think I’m doing terrible. It’s something I have to work on every day.
Yes, there is a little bit of a stigma, but times have changed. I do think that people understand it more in fact I’m just understanding it more as a 30 something year old.
I was always pushed into uni and getting a IT job. Turns out I am very good at understanding systems, building kit and also have some very good people skills.
Look up made by dyslexia, it’s a fantastic way to understand dyslexia from a child’s point of view, but also from a parent or a teacher or a manager view.
I’m glad to say, I now use my dyslexia strengths to my advantage I’ve kept falling into roles that I thought I would never be good at but some good managers spotted on my skills and let me grow into roles.
Get the report is done it’s good to know if he is or he isn’t. The extra help never helped me but it has made me realise why I do things the way I do.
Just today my boss told me off because I’m meeting targets but my paperwork is terrible. He knows I am doing a great job but his boss would look at my pipeline and think I’m doing terrible. It’s something I have to work on every day.
Edited by pacenotes on Monday 2nd October 23:13
From linked in last March
"From today, “Dyslexic Thinking” will be recognised as a vital skill by LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network. They’ll offer their 810+ million members globally the chance to add “Dyslexic Thinking” to their profile.
In another incredible step forward, Dyslexic Thinking will enter the dictionary as a valuable and vital skill set – as dictionary.com confirms it will add it as an official term.
Both of these amazing developments are all thanks to a successful campaign spearheaded by Made By Dyslexia, in partnership with Richard Branson.
This is a monumental milestone for Made By Dyslexia, our allies and our amazing community – on the eve of our fifth birthday. Together, we have redefined Dyslexic Thinking as a valuable skill set and, in doing this, we’ve helped the world to properly understand and value it. This giant leap in the workplace will help us to influence how Dyslexic Thinking is seen in the education system and beyond – helping us to drive the change that’s needed in these spheres – fast.
Dyslexic Thinking matches with skills needed for the future as defined by the World Economic Forum. They also match with the Top Ten skills workplaces need today as found by our latest report, The Dyslexic Dynamic, produced in partnership with ManpowerGroup Talent Solutions.
Dyslexic Thinking skills like creativity, problem-solving and leadership are vital to the 21st century workplace, when we reach a 50-50 work split between machines and humans, as predicted for 2025 – the skills humans will need are Dyslexic Thinking skills. The world’s largest professional careers platform, LinkedIn, has recognised this.
Now is the time for dyslexics to stand out, rather than blend in – and share their sought-after skills with organisations who are actively recruiting for them. And now is the time for Dyslexic Thinking to be empowered in every workplace to harness the power of those who think differently.
Watch the film below, featuring brilliant minds who are Made By Dyslexia (including Richard Branson, space scientist and educator Maggie Aderin-Pocock and many more) and see how easy it is to add Dyslexic Thinking to your profile today."
https://youtu.be/PHvpqvsCtvc
"From today, “Dyslexic Thinking” will be recognised as a vital skill by LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network. They’ll offer their 810+ million members globally the chance to add “Dyslexic Thinking” to their profile.
In another incredible step forward, Dyslexic Thinking will enter the dictionary as a valuable and vital skill set – as dictionary.com confirms it will add it as an official term.
Both of these amazing developments are all thanks to a successful campaign spearheaded by Made By Dyslexia, in partnership with Richard Branson.
This is a monumental milestone for Made By Dyslexia, our allies and our amazing community – on the eve of our fifth birthday. Together, we have redefined Dyslexic Thinking as a valuable skill set and, in doing this, we’ve helped the world to properly understand and value it. This giant leap in the workplace will help us to influence how Dyslexic Thinking is seen in the education system and beyond – helping us to drive the change that’s needed in these spheres – fast.
Dyslexic Thinking matches with skills needed for the future as defined by the World Economic Forum. They also match with the Top Ten skills workplaces need today as found by our latest report, The Dyslexic Dynamic, produced in partnership with ManpowerGroup Talent Solutions.
Dyslexic Thinking skills like creativity, problem-solving and leadership are vital to the 21st century workplace, when we reach a 50-50 work split between machines and humans, as predicted for 2025 – the skills humans will need are Dyslexic Thinking skills. The world’s largest professional careers platform, LinkedIn, has recognised this.
Now is the time for dyslexics to stand out, rather than blend in – and share their sought-after skills with organisations who are actively recruiting for them. And now is the time for Dyslexic Thinking to be empowered in every workplace to harness the power of those who think differently.
Watch the film below, featuring brilliant minds who are Made By Dyslexia (including Richard Branson, space scientist and educator Maggie Aderin-Pocock and many more) and see how easy it is to add Dyslexic Thinking to your profile today."
https://youtu.be/PHvpqvsCtvc
An interesting set of comments. I worked as a Learning Support teacher for a number of years in both primary and secondary sectors, and I would say t hat teachers were generally pretty good at flagging up concerns about children who were struggling. We would run numerous tests which would indicate a specific learning difficulty of a dyslexic nature - the actual definition was down to the Educational Psychologist who would assess our work. (We did the hard bit!) Then extra support along the lines reported by posters could be put in place. I think dyslexia is much better understood now, and helping to fulfil full potential is never wasted.
Perseverant said:
An interesting set of comments. I worked as a Learning Support teacher for a number of years in both primary and secondary sectors, and I would say t hat teachers were generally pretty good at flagging up concerns about children who were struggling. We would run numerous tests which would indicate a specific learning difficulty of a dyslexic nature - the actual definition was down to the Educational Psychologist who would assess our work. (We did the hard bit!) Then extra support along the lines reported by posters could be put in place. I think dyslexia is much better understood now, and helping to fulfil full potential is never wasted.
Unfortunately that's not been my experience with my daughters primary school. It's been a constant battle with the school, ultimately leading to no additional support, shes not the only one. All the assessments were done privately in the end and we pay for a tutor to go into school one day a week to help her. I spent about 8 years working with schools (not the teaching side) but it was apparent that not all schools are equal when it comes to supporting students.Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff