My kid's teacher said he could potentially have dislexia. He's only 5, isn't he too young to be diagnosed?

Answer 1

Not necessarily. It is true that the younger the child is, the more complex making the diagnosis can be, however, I was diagnosed as dyslexic when I was 7, so 5 isn't out in left field. The sooner the better, I'd say. It allows you to get ahead of the game. Please see the article listed in the source section, below.

Answer 2

That's why teacher would have said 'potentially',
as five is too young. It's an excellant professional call by teacher to identify this so early on so steps can be taken in school and at home to stop the dyslexia from 'potentially' detracting from his education.
I know it must be hard not to get defensive when a teacher says something about your lad. However, dyslexia isn't a disability and he can live a normal, happy and successful life if he
does turn out to have dyslexia. The fact that teacher has highlighted the potential for this to happen means that he will have greater support.
You should buy the teacher a beer and try to accept what their saying as they understand the learning curves of children (academically) more than your average parent would.

Answer 3

I don't know whether they can test definitively for dyslexia at 5. My youngest son was 7 or 8 when he went through the testing. If the teacher recommends testing, however, I would go ahead and get it done. It could save an amazing amount of heartache and frustration for you child.

My son struggled so much with reading, which of course filtered down to the rest of his classes. He had no trouble with math or language, but you'd never know it because he had so much difficulty reading the tests or problems. When he was diagnosed with a specific reading disability he was placed in a separate reading class to learn the skills he needs to help him read. There is also a teacher's aid in his room to help him when he gets hung up during tests in other subjects.

Since these modifications to his classroom routine he's done a 100% turnaround. He used to cry and have stomach aches before school...now he bounds out the door every morning with a big smile on his face. He's bringing home all A's and B's instead of C's and D's.

Answer 4

Actually five or six is about the time when you usually begin to test for dyslexia.

A picky eater??? What are you a retard???

What does that have to do with dyslexia????

I don't think the teacher is telling you outright that your child has dyslexia. I think she is probably picking up on something unusual in the child's response to his lessons or in the way he has trouble learning one thing or the other.

Sometimes children with special learning disabilities may be handled harshly by instructors or parents when they fail early on in their studies. I don't mean that anyone is beating them, but that they are driven to hard when the problem is not a lack of effort but a special need.

The teacher, noticing something unusual is probably just trying to give you a heads up as a parent to be aware later on if some kind of unusual scenario or need does develop.

Not everyone knows about all issues, and hardly any parent has as much as experience in dealing with children in learning situations as teachers who are around numerous children all day long year after year.

Just watch how the child progresses and make sure to get the necessary tests and expert advice if there later does seem to be a problem other than just normal laziness or attention issues.

One thing, be sure not to overreact and start persuading yourself that the kid does have dyslexia. It is always a possibility that the teacher is jumping the gun a little, but I am sure she is concerned and not just a know it all.

Answer 5

She did say potentially - not definitely. In the public school system in Texas, we don't test for Dyslexia until around second grade, unless they have severe traits that are hindering all learning. Some times in one so young, the problems with writing, spelling, handwriting, and numbers could simply be maturity or left-handedness. Be happy that your child' teacher has noticed some difficulties. Many don't or won't say anything to a parent. Teacher's ;in the US are legally bound to seek help and testing for children they suspect might be Dyslexic.

Answer 6

No, but the younger the child is, the harder learning disabilities are to diagnose... a very good diagnostician will be needed.

If he does have a learning disability, the earlier he is identified as needing specialized instruction, the better he will do in high school... and possibly college. Early intervention is very important (although the actual "jump" to reading fluency may not happen until between the 4th and 8th grades)... constant exposure to research-based instruction for dyslexic issues, starting at an early age, means an almost magical moment when the jump does happen... and he/she is suddenly racing toward grade-level fluency.

I have had many students, who were with me for anywhere from 6 months to 3 years, have that "jump" happen, and make up to 2 1/2 YEARS of skills flash into existence over a couple of months. Next year, I am looking at 3 of my Dyslexic students who will be converting from my specialized instruction to regular ed language arts through gradually increasing regular ed inclusion. Two are going to be in the 5th grade, and one in the 4th grade, and this last year went from a 1.0 or 1.5 reading level to a 3.5 to 4.0 reading level. Of course, prior to that jump, we were measuring their reading gains a 1/4 to 1/2 year, and I have students who are still not at their "jump" point yet.... it takes lots of patience and persistence.

If your child is referred for special education, tested, and doesn't qualify, that doesn't mean he doesn't have an LD. If he continues to struggle, by the end of 2nd grade have him re-tested again.

Answer 7

it's so great that a teacher spotted that so young and DEFINITELY worth investigating at least.

I spotted a kid at 11 and the school I was visiting was not happy - they had missed it.

Be grateful and support them. Most of all LISTEN to them. If they are wrong you have not lost anything and even if it turns out that the kid has not got dyslexia there might be SOME sort of problem...which hopefull will then come to light.

I wish you good luck!

:-)

Answer 8

Yes, Probably a bit young - give it aother year or 2 - in any case

NINDS Dyslexia Information Page

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Table of Contents (click to jump to sections)
What is Dyslexia?
Is there any treatment?
What is the prognosis?
What research is being done?

Organizations
Related NINDS Publications and Information


What is Dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a brain-based type of learning disability that specifically impairs a person's ability to read. These individuals typically read at levels significantly lower than expected despite having normal intelligence. Although the disorder varies from person to person, common characteristics among people with dyslexia are difficulty with phonological processing (the manipulation of sounds) and/or rapid visual-verbal responding.

Is there any treatment?

The main focus of treatment should be on the specific learning problems of affected individuals. The usual course is to modify teaching methods and the educational environment to meet the specific needs of the individual with dyslexia.

What is the prognosis?

For those with dyslexia, the prognosis is mixed. The disability affects such a wide range of people, producing different symptoms and varying degrees of severity, that predictions are hard to make. The prognosis is generally good, however, for individuals whose dyslexia is identified early, who have supportive family and friends and a strong self-image, and who are involved in a proper remediation program.

What research is being done?

The NINDS and other institutes of the National Institutes of Health, including the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and the National Institute of Mental Health, conduct research on dyslexia. Current research avenues focus on developing techniques to diagnose and treat dyslexia and other learning disabilities, increasing the understanding of the biological basis of learning disabilities, and exploring the relationship between neurophysiological processes and cognitive functions with regard to reading ability.

Select this link to view a list of studies currently seeking patients.

Organizations

International Dyslexia Association
8600 LaSalle Road
Chester Building, Ste. 382
Baltimore, MD 21286-2044
[e-mail]
http://www.interdys.org
Tel: [phone]-ABCD123
Fax: [phone]

Learning Disabilities Association of America
4156 Library Road
Suite 1
Pittsburgh, PA 15234-1349
[e-mail]
http://www.ldaamerica.org
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]


National Center for Learning Disabilities
381 Park Avenue South
Suite 1401
New York, NY 10016
http://www.ld.org
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
National Institutes of Health, DHHS
31 Center Drive, Rm. 2A32 MSC 2425
Bethesda, MD 20892-2425
http://www.nichd.nih.gov
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]


National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
National Institutes of Health, DHHS
6001 Executive Blvd. Rm. 8184, MSC 9663
Bethesda, MD 20892-9663
[e-mail]
http://www.nimh.nih.gov
Tel: [phone] (TTY) 866-615-NIMH (-6464)
Fax: [phone]

Answer 9

I'm no professional, but I think 5 is a little young to know, reading and writing are still new to them at that age, but you should contact someone who specializes in dyslexia if you believe he is has it. I don't know what specific problem he's having, but my kids would write some letters backwards in their early years of learning and I was told that was normal, and they did outgrow it. Best wishes to you.

Answer 10

But he wasn't diagnosed. Depending how long the teacher has been teaching, I would think they become aware of warning signs. Just something for you to watch out for.