which specialist could i take a child to, who is a excellent reader, very good with maths but can't spell

Question

This child is getting A's for reading, he is eight yrs old, very good in every subject but is spelling is very bad, he reads above his grade two level, his teacher and everyone finds this very surpising.

Answer 1

It isn't a surprise to me at all. I am a special education teacher... with a speciality in Learning Disabilities.

I would suggest that you have the school screen him for Phonemic Awareness issues through the Speech-Language Pathologist. He may have an overall auditory processing disorder. This would interfere with his learning of spelling, but not his overall comprehension of materials.

A student with auditory processing difficulties, who is also very intelligent, learns to compensate for most of the interference from the disorder, but spelling is just too precise and complex, without a professional helping him.

If the testing does identify him as having a Language Disorder-Auditory Processing Disorder, he will need to see the Speech-Language Therapist, and should take only spelling (other subjects should continue in his regular classes) through a Special Education teacher trained in the instruction of advanced phonetic rules (such as the 3 sounds of "s" -- sun, is, sure; the 5 expectations for double vowels -- bead, bread, great, country, oil; etc, etc, etc.). For example, the Orton-Gillingham method.

Also, think about his apparent attentiveness, etc. There are additional symptoms listed on these links, which in him would appear VERY mild, because with his smarts he's masking them well.

http://www.ldonline.org/articles/8056

http://ericec.org/digests/e634.html

http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/voice/auditory.htm#4

Here's information about children who are both gifted AND dealing with a learning challenge:

http://uniquelygifted.org/top10.htm

http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/asynchrony_squared.htm

http://www.newhorizons.org/spneeds/inclusion/information/nowak1.htm


Get him tested as soon as possible... the sooner you get him help, the sooner he can complete programming and "exit" from special supports... I have an APD student who may be exited this year... if he maintains his age-level spelling skills over the summer, that he finally achieved by last April, after 2 years in program.

You sound like a wonderful parent. Take this step. It can change your child's life for the better.

Answer 2

I couldn't tell you what expert to take your child to, but I can tell you that my family faced a similar situation with me. I read far above my grade level, was excellent at math, science, and basically anything else, but could not spell. My answer would be to just give it time. Be gentle on your kiddo if the spelling tests come back with low grades, praise for the high grades in other subjects, and eventually the spelling will come around. I was in college before I noticed that I could start spelling anything correctly, and I'm entering med school now. It was frustrating at the time, but not something that was detrimental. Just be patient, and it will fix itself.

If you want to work on the spelling, try to make it fun...and covert. *smile* Write stories with your child. Look up fun words in the dictionary. Make up silly songs to spell words out. Try clapping out syllables. Start spelling out the spelling words at the dinner table between conversation "I was s-u-p-r-i-s-e-d when your teacher called with the great news today."

I wish you both luck!

Answer 3

No specialist needed. Just spend a bit more time on his spelling, and he should be fine.
Have him try to visualize the word that he's trying to spell. That got me through third grade, and now my spelling is nigh impeccable.:) KEEP HIM AWAY FROM SPELL CHECK!
Good luck!

Answer 4

Maybe the Sylvin learning center. They could challenge his reading more and get him help with his spelling at the same time.

Answer 5

If you're looking for help with something specific, you may want to try Sylvan. They have places all over the country. They may be able to help.