Is this dyslexia? Are these some of the signs?

Question

I was sitting with my niece today trying to help her with her homework because I saw her strruggling, hard with her math. Shes a shy child so she was afraid if saying the wrong answers, but I was paitent and helped her through it. I knew she always had a problem with reading, so I decided that I'd let her read a story to me and help her along the way. While she read, I was greatly disturbed at how far behind she was. She's 10 and she has been left behind twice. She is in the third grade and no one in her family seems to care. My sister, her mother, instead just calls her stupid and they've actually made fun of her reading and expected me to laugh along with them. I did NOT find this amusing but when I told my sister how disgusting this was she just blew me off. As my niece read I noticed that she constantly skipped over or missed words that were there. She skipped whole sentences as well and confuses the letters B and D all the time. Instead of 'our' she replaces it with 'your' she als

asol takes very long pauses and stares at the word intensely as if shes trying to get it out but she can't. She confuses There with where and this ith we and she constantly messes up the word 'up'. She is smart, I know this but If this is what i believe I can relay this to my sister and explain to her that it isn't because she's 'stupid' or doesn't try because I've seen this litttle girl sitting up until all types of the night trying to figure out her homework without the help of her older sister and brother or her mother. I am not over my sisters house often but whenever I am I take the time, and it does take alot of time and practice to help her understand. I'm just wondering if this could be Dyslexia or maybe a form of it, and if not does anyone have any tips to help her with her reading. I'm doing all I can o help but I am not a professional.

Answer 1

What amazes me is the holding her back but she hasn't been referred for any type of testing ?( Sounds like the school has dropped the ball) You are stating many red flags of something inhibiting her learning experience. If I was the case manager I would refer to a good physical, eye appt, hearing appt and then educational testing at school. Only a doctor can diagnose certain issues but school testing such as the Weschler and other tests can help point to possible learning disabilities. The main issue you may encounter while trying to advocate for your niece is that only a parent or guardian can sign the papers for testing. I admire your interest in her and wanting to help - you may be her only real voice. It may cause a rift in the family but you may need to call social services as this may technically be neglect. Try to work on her mother to at least initiate referrals through the school - the homeroom teacher, school counselor or head of special ed can help with this process. All she really needs to do is sign the paperwork, follow through though is essential and it sounds like that may not happen but the school should help with what they can do during the day for her. Best of luck with you, persistence will pay off and your niece is worth every tree you have to shake.

Answer 2

She may have a visual problem. Your niece needs to be tested for convergence problems. The normal eye exam does not reveal these disorders and so may go unnoticed for a long time (try 33 years for me). Symptoms include squinting, one shoulder higher than the other, turning the head (putting one eye forward), headaches, avoidance behaviors (looking away, having to get up to go to the bathroom frequently etc.), diffuculty reading, reversing letters, poor spelling etc. Please look into this as much as 10% of the population has this problem and it can seriously affect learning. The eyes get very fatigued from how hard the child has to work to focus properly and they don't know they aren't supposed to be working that hard so they don't say anything.

Answer 3

She needs a tutor. Sounds like dyslexia. With intensive help she will improve.