| Dyslexia is often thought of as the switching of letters | | | | After the test for dyslexia is given, and you have a |
| within a word or seeing or writing letters backwards. | | | | positive diagnosis, listen to the recommendations you |
| While both of these indicators may be present in the | | | | get. If the school officials tell you they do not have the |
| dyslexic, they not always are. Dyslexia is a neurological | | | | appropriate setting or staff to provide specialized |
| disability that makes learning to read, spell, or | | | | instruction for your child, again, don't give up. There are |
| comprehend, difficult. If you suspect your child has | | | | schools that specialize in educating dyslexic students. |
| dyslexia what should you do? | | | | There is also a lot you can do yourself to help your |
| The answer is simple. You should test for dyslexia. | | | | child. Read anything you can get your hands on and |
| Okay, now you know what to do, how should you you | | | | then read some more. Talk to other parents of |
| go about it? It is not surprising how many people have | | | | dyslexic children and to a reading specialist or |
| no idea how to have their child tested for dyslexia. | | | | educational psychologist to acquire as much |
| Testing could be coordinated with your child's school. | | | | information as you can. |
| The school may have a standardized method to test | | | | Another important thing to remember is that your child |
| for dyslexia. If it doesn't, do not give up. The school | | | | is not damaged. Your child's brain just needs to |
| reading specialist may have recommendations pointing | | | | process the words in a different way than most |
| you toward a testing facility or an educational | | | | students. There is no cure for dyslexia but with hard |
| psychologist. | | | | work, your student can do significantly better if given |
| Another possibility is your child's pediatrician. While the | | | | the proper tools and practice that they need to learn. |
| MD probably will not have the resources or expertise | | | | A test for dyslexia is hard to do accurately at an early |
| to do the testing, they may have sources or | | | | age. Regular developmental bumps may be mistaken |
| connections to which they can direct you to get the | | | | for a true case of dyslexia. Leading specialists suggest |
| testing that your child needs. | | | | that you wait until your child is at least 6 years old and |
| In any case, the diagnosis will not (or at least should | | | | recommend waiting until your child is between 8 and 10 |
| not) be a single session with the person being tested. It | | | | years old before testing. Being misdiagnosed, either |
| should encompass interviews with you and your child's | | | | positively or negatively can lead to a whole different |
| teachers, and will probably include more than one | | | | set of issues. So thoroughly question your child's test |
| written or verbal test over more than one session with | | | | results and consider retesting as they get older. |
| the tester. | | | | |