Diagnosing Dyslexia

CUTS LIKE A KRIS

CUTS LIKE A KRIS

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Sep 28, 2005
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Hello all. I was just wondering what the benefits of actually being diagnosed with dyslexia are. After my first University degree (in biology of all things) I have discovered, mostly because of my wife, that I really mix things up, and am most likely dyslexic. For example Vileda mops have always read as Videla, Titusville is Tutisville, and others that I find all of the time now that I am aware of it. I never had a problem with scientific nomenclature, but day to day reading I tend to mess up. Thinking back I've always been a bit backwards Trilobites were Tribolites- my favorite "dinosaur" as a very young kid. I have successfully completed 2 university programs- Bio degree and Massage Therapy Diploma- over 7 years so I know I can work around it.

Is there any benefit to getting properly diagnosed at this point in my life- other than to say I have the condition, not that I self diagnosed it? Does it get worse with time? I know some members here have this condition, so would like some feedback from those with close association with it. The time and effort to get diagnosed could be spent here...... I mean getting things done around the house, ya...that's it!

Thanks
Kris
 
I have a friend who is a retired therapist who worked with mentally handicapped people. He told me that most people who think that they a dyslexic aren't. Many people do exactly what you describe.
I do it with some words. A mutual friend claims to be dylexic as an excuse for his poor spelling. Our therapist friend says that he is just lazy.
 
Like the Agnostic, Dyslexic, Insomniac, he sat up all night wondering if there really was a Dog. Or the dyslexis devil worshipper, he sold his soul to Santa.
 
Has it prevented you from reaching a goal or living the life you choose? If in fact you are dyslexic, you have successfully coped with it and I see no reason to seek diagnosis.

Some forms of dyslexia may be inherited. If you have children, by all means have them tested at the first sign that they may be dyslexic. Depending on your community and its public policies, you might want to have the testing done outside the public school system. In the Chicago public schools, a diagnosis of learning disability can be a far greater handicap than any problem learning to read.
 
Dyslexia used to be a sight problem but then it seemed to include other things more and more ! That's when I stopped reading about it !. The problem you give as examples are common errors .In fact the most common error in accounting is transposing numbers - reading 46 as 64 for example .Proofread carefully !
The whole subject of diagnosing a "disability" with it's social and political implications is very sad.When I was a kid we didn't have these labels and if youn had a problem you just worked twice as hard to overcome them. Today if you're labeled they tell the kid that he can never achieve as other kids do -that;s terrible thing to tell to a kid. Some parents want their normal kids to be labeled because the special ed classes are smaller . Shame on all of them.
 
Thank you for the responces. Part of thinking about diagnosis was for my childrens sake, but forgot to mention it. Luckily where I live it doesn't seem to be much stigma associated with a disability/condition, so there should be no negatives in that regard. I am surprised to hear of trying to get a positive diagnosis for smaller classroom size, but would not go that route, just try harder on my own time with the kids. I have been able to adapt well, with numbers I trace the outline with my mind as I type/write it, and have gotten better at noticing when my mind doesn't match my actions. There are still some words I can not ever read properly (Titusville being one of them), but I'm learning what they are and transpose the proper word when "reading" the word wrong. Hopefully the difficulties stop with me and our kids take after their mom- she is a professional editor so doesn't have the traits I do.

Thanks for the opinions, they are appreciated.
 
I'm one of those people who transpose letters and numbers. Spelling is not that big a problem to me. I am pretty finicky about spelling an grammar, so it is easy for me to catch. Numbers threw me for a loop for many years. I have trained my self to double check numbers when I write them down, I also let my co workers know that I do sometimes transpose numbers and will not be offended if they call my attention to it.

One of my kids is a little like me that way, not as bad though. So we talk had about it and discuss ideas and strategies about ow to deal with it. it really hasn't slowed either of us down. She graduated with a degree in chemistry and minor in physics. I'm in the biotech industry, doing process development and smoe (see I do transpose letters, this is probably the 10th pair I've done typing this:grumpy:) prototype manufacturing.

I'm glad you are being proactive with your kids, hopefully it will take care of itself and be a non issue.

Ric

Oh yeah, I used to be a little left-right challenged. What cured me of that was learning martial arts and having to constantly work with left and right side punches, kicks, blocks, and foot movements.
 
Have you thought about contacting the local chapter of DAM? (Mothers Against Dyslexia)
 
Shouldn't bother, you just work around it. A good friend, a few years my senior & one of my personal heroes is quite dyslexic. He flew jet fighters & B-52's in Viet Nam, spent a twenty year career in the Air Force. Went on to be a CPA & teach college level accounting & economics. It pisses him off when I correct his email transposings, though. Proofread & spellcheck.
 
I'm dyslexic and transpose numbers. I also was diagnosed with an Auditory processing disorder. Certain word combinations are difficult for me to say. For a very long time, I had trouble pronouncing the words "Aluminum", "ambulance", and the name "Earl" (amongst others). Also, if I read "the brown cow" out loud, it came out "the crown brow". I have a tendency to transpose words and sounds that rhyme.

Proofreading and spellchecking has helped. If I have to read out loud (public speaking)...practice, practice, practice if possible. I also rewrite certain parts of I can to eliminate parts that I could stumble on (if possible). I learned to study with no music or tv, sometimes the overlapping of sound and words caused problems with what I was doing. Drop the tv or headphones while studying.

Not really a ton you can do, but just being aware of your problems and what to look out for makes a world of difference.
 
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Transposing while typing is not dyslexia, in fact, it may be a sign of manual dexterity outrunning the keyboard's ability to keep up. Slow down and type better. :)

Reading or studying without distractions has always been a good idea, which many people refuse to accept: 'Oh, I can sing and dance while I'm doing my math homework!' Sure you can ...

Einstein felt his greatest strength was his ability to concentrate, Edison said genius was 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration.

Like many mental dis/abilities, dyslexia forms a spectrum of related processing glitches. If you know you do it, you've got it under control.
 
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