Child that may have dyslexia and/or Auditory Processing Disorder, any info??

Question

I would like to know what type of professional can diagnose dyslexia. I have been told that an Audiologist can diagnose the APD.
Does any one have experience with either or both of these with children?? My child is 6. Any help would be great!! Thanks!!

Part of the problem is our school. We had written a letter to the school, namely the principal, about the concerns we had. That had been last August. It was early November when we found that the childs teacher did not even get a copy of that letter. And the speech therapist had seen her about 6 times through the year and we finally got an OT "visit" in school the last Friday of this last school year.
I feel they are not equipped to deal with anything and did not take our concerns seriously at all!!!!! So I am looking to see professionals on our own. SHe is seing a speech therapist twice a week. I just don't know who to seek out to have some sort of evaluation done for dyslexia.

Thanks for the help!!!!

Answer 1

Get to know how to advocate for your child. You WILL have to threaten due process if your school is acting like this, and it is up to you to learn your rights and the laws.

According to law, from the time of your request the school MUST take your child into a Child Study Team (of which you are a member), and hold a meeting within 60 days from when your written request was delivered to them. The Child Study Team, together, will determine if a referral for testing is warranted.

http://www.specialeducationlawyers.info/evaluations.htm

Schools avoid diagnostics at your child's age because of the high margin of error for that age group (age 5 through 7) in the testing process. Also, there is lots of experience in the schools with 6 and 7 year olds "growing out of it" when they start slow on learning to read... it being a slight developmental delay rather than a permanent condition. That does not make their delaying on your request right. They are out of compliance.

I would strongly recommend that you once again ask (in writing) for a Child Study Team, to pursue the possibility your child may have Auditory Processing Disorder and possibly a Learning Disability (avoid using the word "dyslexia"). Emphasize APD, because APD is easier to diagnose at that age, through the Speech Pathologist, and the school may be more open to considering it as a primary concern.

Although it is not required, do use the following symptom list to compile which (if any) symptoms you have observed in your child AT HOME. Do not "guess" at symptoms you have not directly seen, or make statements of symptoms in the classroom, unless you have been in your child's classroom several times and regularly seen them.

Auditory Processing Disorder:

http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/voice/auditory.asp

http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/medical/ears/central_auditory.html

http://www.kidspeech.com/index.php?page=72

Specific Learning Disability

http://www.ldonline.org/ldbasics/signs

http://ericec.org/digests/e603.html

Make it clear to the principal (politely) when you drop off your written request, that you expect a Child Study Team meeting within the next 2 months. If he says he can't guarrantee that, or you don't have a date for the meeting by week 3, start using the words "due process." Once again, politely, tell him you've been doing research, and you know he has 2 months, by law, to get the team together from the date you hand him your request.

Here's a site to get you started on your advocacy education:

http://www.wrigthslaw.com/ (the links down the left hand side of the page bring you to very detailed information in each area)

http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/lre.faqs.inclusion.htm (scroll down and see #12)

Once your child is in the system, keep on them to ensure they're doing the right thing for your child:
http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/fape.dyslexia.kate.htm

Wrightslaw also can link you to advocates in your area. Look in their advocacy section (from the left-hand links on the page), or enter your state's name and "advocate" in their search box.

Be strong, and good luck!

Answer 2

Ok, to help clear things up and some of the answers provided. I am a school psychologist and I can NOT diagnose dyslexia! What I would tell you to do is to re-write that letter and address it to the CHILD STUDY TEAM, not the principal. From there, you may have a CST evaluation which consists of several evaluations, including the speech eval, the psychoogical, the learning, ect.. However, to determine dyslexia, the school will have to send you out to see a neurologist (at their expense). But like someone else said, avoid using that word dyslexia, but instead, describe the things you are seeing at home. Dyslexia can often be mistaken for other types of disabilities, but all of which fall under the classification of "specific learning disabitlities".

As for the APD, any good speech therapist will tell you to hold off on an audiological evaluation. This is b/c kids are still growing & developing and shouldn't even be considered until after age 7.

Answer 3

The diagnosis of dyslexia is no longer coded in the DSM-IV. Meaning no one can officially give your child that diagnosis. It would simply be called a reading disorder. That said there are some assessments out there that look specifically at dyslexia. I'd start researching outside your school system for someone to test your child. Major universities in your area would be the best place to start.

Answer 4

I am a sufferer of dyslexia and I can tell you that it is not easy to tell that you have it if you do not know what to look for, I was in grad six before I found out. A reading specialist diagnosed me. If your son dose have it then take it from me that life will be a lot better once he receives the tools he needs.

Answer 5

I'm guessing your child is in school, if so, let the school know that you have a concern, and have them have him diagnosed by the school pyschologist. From there, they will lead you to the specialists.

Good luck :)

Answer 6

a school psychologist and or a education specialist. Someone that is specializing in testing for that.

Answer 7

why do u have to be so f*ckin rude. i was just wondering how much it was going to cost to get her tooth checked.