How many other children out there are being pigeon holed like this????

Why is there a persistent belief in the medical community that dyslexia is ONLY flipping letters around, poor reading and spelling? And how do we change it?

I have a co-worker who has a 5th grade daughter who is very behind for her age and she was tested and found to be ADD. I had to probe deeper because almost every day she says I remind her of her daughter...I asked her if they tested her for dyslexia, she didn't know so she sent an e-mail to the psychologist. The response she got really upset me, he basically said "Your daughter has no problem reading, and therefore is not dyslexic."

I have read at a college grade level since 9th grade, and yet I am moderately to severely dyslexic.....this child is not getting what she needs to thrive, and she is being told by medical professionals that with a bit more FOCUS she could succeed. It just makes me wonder, how many other kids out there are being pigeon holed like this? And how do you overturn a medical definition?

Here is a more recent article:

http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=3138

and I really thought they were getting it right at first....until they made sure to mention that "

Dyslexia is different from reading retardation which may reflect mental retardation or cultural deprivation."

I find it odd that they failed to mention that dyslexia is different than being blind, which has just as much as a link for me as being associated with the concept that being dyslexic has anything to do with mental retardation. I mean I see the world differently...

I don't know, things like this just frustrate me...so I blog!

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Comment by Eric McCormick on April 2, 2012 at 6:05pm: One of the problems is that general medicine, neuroscience, genetics, and psychology are operating on different ideals.

General medicine and old school psychology work off the old definition: trouble reading. They tend to ignore the genetic and neurological studies that have shown that the same exact traits and areas of the brain related to trouble reading are also involved in other issues. There is now a very large pile of evidence showing a group of issues, of which reading is one of the more common, that all stem from the same genetic markers and changes in basic brain structure. These changes cause a trouble (dys - un, not) in communicating (lexia - Greek for speech or word and common in phrases that meant communication) between specific parts of the brain, so the scientists involved like reusing the term dyslexia. But the old school people hate that and are fighting against the change in their term.

As for why they mention retardation, it is to be clear that dyslexia has nothing to do with retardation. In other words, people of ANY level of intelligence can have dyslexia. At least they got that part right. And because many used to think the two were related, it is good they mention it.

Comment by IMD on January 6, 2012 at 6:54am: Saw something I have never seen before. The main web page of a school in my area that serves dyslexic students, The Jemicy School, has its mission as "Educating students with dyslexia and related language based learning differences." An acknowledgment toward language learning difference. Not a generalized term like "Learning Disability." This seems to me to be moving in a direction...

Comment by Brittony T. on November 18, 2011 at 11:11am: My friend got a DUI in GA, and before getting his driver’s license back he was required to take a Substance Abuse Evaluation, to determine if alcohol or drugs ruled his life before they gave him his license back and he drove drunk again...anyway, there is a law in GA that the person who performs your evaluation CAN NOT be the one that treats you. It makes sense!!! Some people would say a first offender, on their 21s birthday needs a year of therapy at $80 a pop, which is over 4 grand in one year!

Maybe the person or practice that diagnoses the dyslexia should be barred from the treatment of that patient????? It’s just so subjective though, without a complete neuro scan at thousands of dollars you can’t tell if someone actually is dyslexic, I mean not for sure! Maybe there needs to be better tests, that can more easily identify the condition.

Is THAT possible?

Comment by JayneC on November 17, 2011 at 9:44am: Maybe what we need to come up with is a listing of practioners who are able to recognize it...unmotivated by money, drug company perks, self proclaimed programs... etc. Impossible and yet so desperately needed!

Comment by Drs. Fernette and Brock Eide on November 17, 2011 at 9:28am: The diagnosis of dyslexia is a complicated issue. Dyslexia was first recognized by an ophthalmologist, then characterized by a neurologist (Samuel Orton), and now today is diagnosed by a hodge-podge of professionals - some psychologists, some teachers or other education professionals, some physicians, and the specialities themselves have undergone tremendous changes as well as the diagnosis. Even universities with learning and or dyslexia clinics vary widely in how they arrive at a dyslexia diagnosis. You cannot be sure just on the title of a profession that that person will know much about dyslexia. The additional complicating factor is that some professionals who diagnose dyslexia are also advocating their particular 'dyslexia program'. It is a messy area for sure!

Comment by JayneC on November 16, 2011 at 11:20am: So I suppose it comes down to knwojg what your State does and does not allow a certain Physician to do...we have been to a pediatric neurologist and a developmental Pediatrician..both covered by insurance, neither able to address dyslexia...

Comment by Dr. S on November 16, 2011 at 11:14am: It really depends on the state. I know some Pediatric Neurologists that Diagnose Dyslexia. I'm in Florida.

Comment by JayneC on November 16, 2011 at 11:04am: For what it's worth, a Pediatric neurologist does NOT diagnose dyslexia...been there, tried that. Also keep in mind, that the school has no obligation to accept or follow privately done evaluations. (Sorry to rain on your parade.)

Comment by Dr. S on November 16, 2011 at 10:44am: Hi Brittony, the majority of these people-- seem to be psychologists and teachers--who answer to the School District and are instructed on what they can and cannot do. They are governed by the Dept of Education in your state, and the states answer to the Federal Government. There is some difference between the states.

It is our Government-- the political machine that it is---and the mandates thrust on the schools --mostlybteachers/ psychologists-- and once they shut you down, you must seek private evaluators. All the while the clock is ticking--wasted time.

How do we fix it for now- a private evaluation - for a child -a Psychologist, a Pediatric Neurologist, perhaps a Developmental Pediatrician--and some general Pediatricians. It is costly though. At the end of the day though-- saving a year or two of your child's life--in the sense-- that they do not spend it feeling stupid or different-- is worth it. Just my opinion.

Comment by JayneC on November 16, 2011 at 10:15am: The answer to that is, the school psychologist is not qualified to diagnose anything other than to say there is or is not a learning disability. They can not say ADD but they can slant their interpretaton of the data to encourage you to go see the Pediatrician and get medication for that. You can certainly get a Neuropsych test privately but it is not generally covered by insurance and is hugely expensive and time consuming, and the school does NOT have to accept or follow the outcome of the testing...just another piece of the catch 22 these kids face.