Frequently Asked Questions
The CDA regularly talks to people on the helpline and at events and before contacting us it is probably worth you looking at our list of frequently asked questions as these may well answer your queries.
Q: What is Dyslexia?
A: The word "dyslexia" comes from Greek and means "difficulty with words". It is a difference in the part of the brain which processes language, and it affects skills that are needed for learning one or more of reading, writing, spelling and numeracy. This does not mean that dyslexic people cannot become literate. With suitable help they can succeed, and dyslexic people often have different and valuable problem-solving abilities.
Q: What is a Specific Learning Difficulty?
A: Dyslexia is one of several specific learning difficulties which come under the umbrella term 'Specific Learning Difficulties' (often referred to as SpLD). It means that the difficulties are specific rather than more general learning difficulties. Other SpLD are Asperger's syndrome, ADHD and Dyspraxia.
Q: How many people are Dyslexic?
A: It is estimated that 20% of the population are affected, with 4% being severely affected.
Q: How soon can Dyslexia be recognised?
A: There are signs well before school age which indicate that a child may be dyslexic.
These include:
- Delay or difficulty in the development of clear speech and/or persistent tendency to jumble words and phrases.
- Persistent difficulty with tasks such as dressing efficiently, doing up buttons, tying shoelaces etc.
- Unusual clumsiness and difficulty with co-ordinated activities such as hopping, skipping and catching or kicking balls.
- Poor concentration, such as difficulty concentrating on stories read to them.
- Family history of similar difficulties.
N.B. Not all dyslexic children show all of these signs, and many very young children make similar mistakes. Dyslexia is indicated where the difficulties are severe and persistent, or where there is a cluster of such difficulties in mild form.
Q: Can anything be done before school age?
A: Yes, there are many ways in which a child can be helped to develop skills, which he/she will need to avoid failure at school. For some suggestions see 'Early Help, Better Future' by Jean Augur.
Q: How does Dyslexia present in school children?
A: One of the most marked characteristics of dyslexic children is the surprising difficulty they have at school when it is clear that they are at least as able as others who have no problems. There is also a tendency for unaccountably "bad days" when they seem unable to do what they can on a "good day". Different age groups present problems in varying ways.
For children aged 9 or under
- Particular difficulty learning to read, write and spell.
- Persistent and continued reversing of numbers and letters, (e.g. 15 for 51, 'b' for 'd').
- Difficulty telling left from right.
- Difficulty learning the alphabet/multiplication tables, and remembering sequences such as days of the week and months of the year.
- Continued difficulty with shoelaces, ball catching and skipping etc.
- Inattention and poor concentration.
- Frustration, possibly leading to behavioural problems.
- Difficulty following instructions - verbal and/or written.
For children aged 9 to 12
- Continued mistakes in reading, and/or a lack of reading comprehension.
- Strange spelling - perhaps with letters missed out or in the wrong order.
- Taking longer than average over written work.
- Disorganisation at home and at school.
- Difficulty copying accurately from blackboard or textbook.
- Difficulty remembering and processing oral instructions.
- Growing lack of self-confidence and increasing frustration.
For pupils aged 12 and over
- Tendency to read inaccurately, or without adequate comprehension.
- Inconsistent spelling.
- Difficulty with planning and writing essays.
- Tendency to confuse verbal instructions and telephone numbers.
- Severe difficulty in learning a foreign language.
- Low self-esteem.
- Difficulty with perception of language, e.g. following instructions, listening comprehension.
N.B. Not all dyslexic children/pupils will display all of these characteristics.
Q: How can parents ensure their child's difficulties are recognised? And how can they get a dyslexia assessment?
A: - Have your child's sight and hearing checked. For sight, consult your optician and if you are still concerned get a referral letter from your GP to an orthoptist. For hearing, your GP needs to refer you to the audiology department of a general hospital.
- Talk to your child's teacher who should be able to watch your child more carefully and possibly do some tests to understand his/her difficulties better.
- If you are still concerned ask them to assess your child under the Code of Practice for Special Educational Needs, saying that you suspect he/she is dyslexic. Once your child is under the school based stages of the code, (School Action or School Action Plus) you should be asked into school for regular reviews to discuss your child's progress, so make sure this happens. See What is an IEP? What is the Code of Practice for Special Educational Needs?
- If your child's problems continue to cause you concern ask the school to call in one of the Dyslexia Advisors, who can do a basic assessment and advise the school on how they can best help your child. If things do not improve you may need to request a visit from an Educational Psychologist, who can do a detailed series of tests to assess your child's level of difficulty. If necessary you can refer your child direct to the Educational Psychology service at County Hall, if the school is not prepared to do this.
- You can also have your child assessed privately by a dyslexia trained teacher or Educational Psychologist (EP). See Useful Information pages - Useful Information for Parents for lists of local dyslexia trained teachers or Educational Psychologists.
If your child's difficulties are very severe the Local Education Authority (LEA) may decide to carry out a Statutory Assessment, with a view to making a Statement of Special Educational Need. See What is a Statement of Special Educational Need?
Q: What is the Code of Practice on Special Educational Needs?
A: Once it has been decided that your child has Special Educational Needs (SEN), your child's teachers should plan their education in line with the guidance given in a document known as the Code of Practice for Special Educational Needs.
Initially your child should be placed on the school based stages of the Code, School Action or School Action Plus and an Individual Education Plan (IEP) should be written to explain your child's difficulties and set targets for overcoming these difficulties. See What is an Individual Education Plan (IEP)?
School Action - This is the stage at which a teacher or Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) identifies a child with special needs. In consultation with the child's parents, they will agree to provide additional support beyond what is provided as part of the standard curriculum.
School Action Plus – In some cases, it may be necessary to seek help from specialist outside services. At this stage, School Action Plus is implemented.
For children under the compulsory school age but over 2 years old, the Code of Practice recommends the same stages, but calls them Early Years Action and Early Years Action Plus.
If your child's difficulties are severe and they are not making progress it may be necessary for them to have a statutory assessment with a view to making a Statement of Special Educational Need. See What is a Statement of Special Educational Need?
You can obtain a copy of the Department of Education's SEN Code of Practice (Ref: DfES 581/2001) on the Identification and Assessment of Special Educational Needs (SEN) and also the Guide for Parents and Carers (Ref: DfES 0800/2001), which is a simplified version. Both are available free from the DfES. 0845 6022260 Email: dfes@prolog.uk.com
Q: What is an Individual Education Plan (IEP)?
A: If your child is on the Code of Practice on Special Educational Needs stages, School Action or School Action Plus an Individual Education Plan (IEP) should be written to explain your child's difficulties, describe the action that will be taken, any targets you agree that should be set, and the help he/she will receive. The IEP will note when reviews will take place to discuss whether the help is working, and whether your child needs more or possibly different support. You should be fully involved in your child's IEP and in discussions about progress.
Q: What is a Statement of Special Educational Need?
A: For some children, the school based stages of the code are not enough to meet their additional needs. In this case, either the school or the parents may ask for a statutory assessment. If you as a parent request this statutory assessment, the LEA will still need to contact the school or other professionals for evidence of your child's needs. Statements are only issued if the child’s difficulties are severe and cannot be met within the normal school arrangements. A Statement is a legal document which sets out exactly what the child's difficulties are and what help will be provided. Extra money comes to the school attached to the Statement to provide the extra help required.
Q: Where can I find an Educational Psychologist and will I have to pay for an assessment?
A: School children can be referred to their local education authority educational psychologist for assessment and unemployed adults can sometimes be referred via their job centre. The Cornwall dyslexia Association has a list of independent Educational psychologists, who will do assessments. The cost is often between £300 and £500. See Useful Information pages - Useful Information for Parents and Useful Information for Adults However assessment by a dyslexia qualified teacher may be perfectly adequate for most needs. See Where can I Find a Specialist Teacher?
Q: Where can I Find a Specialist Teacher?
A: The Cornwall Dyslexia Association has a list of dyslexia trained teachers. See Useful Information pages - Useful Information for Parents and Useful Information for Adults. Hourly teaching rates are in the region of £18 to £25. Most teachers will also do assessments which cost in the region of £80 -£120.
Q: Can my dyslexic child get exam concessions for GCSE and A Level Exams?
A: Yes, depending on your child’s difficulties they may be allowed things like extra time up to 25%, a reader to read out the questions, the use of a word processor, use of an amanuensis (person to take dictation) etc.
For some concessions a dyslexia trained teacher can now supply supporting evidence on behalf of a candidate with dyslexia and the school can make the decision. However check with the school well before the exams so that if it is necessary to call in an Educational Psychologist to do an assessment there is plenty of time. Booklet on the regulations available from the Joint Council 02076 384225 or www.jcgq.org.uk
Note it is not necessary for a pupil to have a Statement to be allowed concessions such as extra time in their exams. See Useful Information pages - Dyslexia, Exams and Revision
Q: Can my child get exam concessions in SATS Exams?
A: Yes dyslexics may also be allowed certain concessions in SATS exams and schools now have guidelines on what concessions they can make. Remember, however that the SATS are partly to identify areas of difficulty both for the school and nationally, so in some ways it is a test of the level the child is working at under normal circumstances. We recommend you discuss this with your child's teacher and a school well before the exams. See Useful Information pages - Dyslexia, Exams and Revision
Q: Can coloured lenses or overlays help my child?
A: You may have heard that coloured or tinted lenses can help a dyslexic child with reading. This is because some dyslexics find print is blurred or jumps around, a condition known as Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome. Evidence is by no means conclusive, but certainly some children do seem to benefit from this - coloured acetate sheets laid over writing can be tried first to see if this helps. We know of three Opticians who can provide these glasses or acetate sheets:
Angie Taylor at Specsavers 01872 223818
Grant Reid at Reid & Gordon 01872 275225/01726 73614
Janet Blything at Bradleys 01736 363339
Bradleys has a colorimeter - a special instrument used to determine the exact tint, as does Specsavers in Barnstable. Charges vary so phone around and check prices, also ask your local optician if they offer this service.
Q: What is Dyscalculia?
A: Dyscalculia is like dyslexia for numbers. People with dyscalculia experience great difficulty with the most basic aspects of numbers and arithmetic. They may have difficulty understanding simple number concepts, lack an intuitive grasp of numbers, and have problems learning number facts and procedures. See BDA leaflet Dyscalculia, Dyslexia and Maths. www.bdadyslexia.org.uk
Q: Is it possible to drop learning a foreign language at school when a child has difficulties with their own language?
A: Yes sometimes, so discuss this with your child’s school. However, many dyslexic people do experience great success with foreign languages and there should be no generalisation. Some languages are easier than others for example German and Spanish are easier than French.
Q: What is the Dyslexia Friendly Schools Quality Mark and which schools in Cornwall have been awarded it?
A: In Cornwall the CDA forms part of the accreditation team that visits schools applying for the Dyslexia Friendly Schools Quality Mark. There is a stringent set of criteria that schools have to meet and an inspection process which takes a full day. However parents should bear in mind that none of these schools are claiming to be perfect and they all recognise that they still have plenty of room for improvement - some of the criteria will have been classified as "working towards" rather than "achieved" and the process will require regular follow-ups to see how they are progressing. For more information and a list of schools that have been awarded the Quality Mark in Cornwall, go to Useful Information pages and click on Dyslexia Friensly Schools Quality Mark.
Q: How can I tell if I am dyslexic?
A: There is a dyslexia checklist on the BDA website www.bdadyslexia.org.uk which can give an indication of whether you are dyslexic.
If the answer to a number of the questions below is "yes", you might well be dyslexic, but you will probably need an assessment to confirm this. Also see How can an adult get an assessment to see if they are dyslexic?
- Do you find difficulty telling left from right?
- Is map reading or finding your way to a strange place confusing?
- Do you dislike reading aloud?
- Do you dislike reading long books?
- Are your spelling and/or handwriting poor?
- Do you avoid writing letters and reports?
- Do you sometimes jumble long words?
- Do you sometimes dial telephone numbers in the wrong order?
- Do you find form-filling difficult?
- Do you confuse dates and times and sometimes miss appointments?
Q: How can an adult get an assessment to find out if they are dyslexic?
A: There are various ways of getting an assessment, for example you can get an assessment privately from a dyslexia trained teacher or Educational Psychologist, through your local Link into Learning Centre (if you enrol on a course), through your college or university, (if you are a student), and sometimes through your employer or your JobCentre if you are unemployed. See Useful Information pages - Useful Information for Adults.
Q: I've heard about voice activated programs which you can use to dictate text to your computer, can they help dyslexics?
A: Yes voice activated programs can be very useful, for older dyslexic children and adults. The one that is recommended for dyslexics is Dragon Naturally Speaking. However some patience is required as the program gradually learns your voice by you talking to it and reading out a set text. The latest version of Dragon Naturally Speaking Preferred 9, allows you to start using the program without reading out any text and this may be easier for some dyslexics.
Q: What Software is suitable for dyslexics?
A: There are many useful programs available see suppliers of software and other equipment for dyslexics listed below. If you ask, many software suppliers will supply you with free disc with a limited version of the programme for to try out before buying.
Iansyst: 0800 0180045 www.dyslexic.com
REM: 01458 254700 www.r-e-m.co.uk
SEN: 01924 871697 www.sen.uk.com
See also Useful Information page – Computer software reviews
Q: What help is there for dyslexic students undertaking a Higher Education course at university or college? Disabled Students Allowance (DSA)
A: Dyslexic students in Higher Education, who have been assessed as dyslexic, can apply to their Local Education Authority (LEA) for a DSA. Part-time students, studying at least 50% of a full-time degree course and post-graduate students are now eligible for this allowance. (Also students studying a degree through the Open University.)
The DSA may include equipment, such as a PC, hardware and appropriate software, an annual non-medical helper's allowance, which can include funding for ICT training, proof-reading, and an annual general allowance for books etc. See DfES Leaflet Bridging the Gap - A Guide To Disabled Students Allowance (DSAs) in Higher Education, 0800 73199133. www.dfes.gov.uk/studentsupport/formsandguides/index.shtml
Q: Are There any Training Courses on Dyslexia in Cornwall, I would like to Train as a Dyslexic Teacher?
A: Yes there is an OCR Dip in SpLDs. This is a level 5 course for teachers/trainers - Assessing and Teaching Learners with SpLDs (Dyslexia) OCR DIP. It takes place over 4 terms starting in September each year, evening or day workshops. Based at St. Austell College. Run by Cornwall College 01209 616161
Q: Can Someone Come into School to Do a Training Session on Dyslexia for Teaching Assistants or Teachers?
A: The CDA is able to offer a variety of training sessions for schools and colleges delivered by experienced CDA trainers. Sessions can be adapted to suit a variety of needs for example: Dyslexia Awareness (an opportunity to acquire knowledge and understanding of dyslexia and the ways in which it manifests itself); Improving Communication with Parents; Dyslexia from a Dyslexics Point of View, etc
Sessions are normally two to three hours long, but we can adapt to fit particular needs.
Cost in the region of £100 to £140 depending on precise requirements. Contact the CDA 01872 571038.
See Workshops/Training Sessions - Workshop sessions for schools