Dyslexia

[kittynh]

I have a daughter with severe dyslexia. We are talking thousands of hours of tutoring since she was quite young, and we are thrilled she can "kind of" read enough to barely function in the real world. Forget school, books on tape and an intensive LD program (along with even more expensive private tutoring) will get her through that AND through college.

I still get the "You didn't talk to her enough as a baby...."

or

"What did you feed her when she was young? Did you let her have sugar?"

or

"You should have read her books." (I DID!)

She has been down to Yale where important work is being done. There is now a gene that has been identified. I've seen the brain scans of my daughter that SHOW her brain works differently when attempting to read. So I'm familiar with the fact that she just IS this way.

I've also learned over the years that there is nothing wrong with her being this way. The differences in how her brain works may result in trouble reading and writing. But it has so many benefits also. She is a very creative thinker, and has a sense of empathy that I would not trade for making her "like everyone else". We need people with dyslexia. Walt Disney, Churchill, there are so many that has added so much to our lives, that I don't let her or myself think of this as a "problem" anymore. It's a pain, she STILL has to learn to read and write, because that is the way life it. But it is also a good thing.

here is the link to the latest "news". But the important part for me is at the end.....

http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20051028/hl_hsn/researchersmayhavediscovereddyslexiagene

"Whether or not these findings translate into concrete gains for people with dyslexia, the research sends "a very important message to educators, parents and children, which is that you're not dumb. This isn't your fault. You're not a bad parent," Gruen said. "This is a transmitted difference in our gene that makes one person learn differently than another. That's all it is."

 

[shanek]

I've come to the same realization with my son, who as you know has autism. I should say, "is autistic," because autism isn't like a virus or disease or anything; it's just how he is. And since I love him, I have to love the autism.

And I know that his autism can also be a gift; I know that from the Temple Grandin books you clued me in on. Thanks!

 

[kittynh]

I feel for you Shanek. My friend with an autistic son said that people have said to her, "well, if only you hadn't had him vaccinated." What a guilt trip! She ofcourse knows that isn't true.

I wish we could just accept that people are all different, and that goes for brain activity too. Some work a different way. To imply that if you had done something "different" is to imply that the way your child is, is "wrong". That's confusing, but who is to say who is or is not important to our society and to the world?

 

[Lisa Simpson]

My younger brother is autistic. Back in the 70s, when we were kids, my mom was accused of 'not loving him enough' and that's what caused the autism.

 

[Boo]

Something I have noticed is that parents of children that are 'special' is that the diagnosis tends to drive them either over the edge woo or teaches them to become critical thinkers.

While I had some skills in that area it wasn't until my twins were diagnosed that I really learned how to apply it. There is so much information that needs to be gone through as you attempt to educate yourself and those around you. Unfortunately, there are those that, for whatever reason, need to find someone or thing to blame while searching for a miracle cure.


Those of us that learn or rely on critical thinking skills are to busy working to find root causes and supporting research then to go out chasing every miracle cure that comes down the path. Personally, I wasn't all that suprised to find a number of JREF folks that have children or family members that have any number of medical conditions. We either started out as skeptical/critical thinkers or developed into them and ended up here.


Being here has helped me more as a parent thyan any number of the autistic support sites I tried.



Boo

 

[kittynh]

And it's important to value all people.

Being there is more important than as I read from one autistic site, "Making sure this doesn't happen to another child". Hello???

 

[Zep]

Autism has germs?

Dyslexia is a virus?

 

[Roboramma]

I was diagnosed with severe dyslexia when I was young. Of course I don't really know how extreme my case was, because they don't tend to tell the kid that, but my mother told me at one point that it was a severe case anyway.
I hated reading for so long. I remember how difficult and confusing it was. Such a struggle didn't seem worth it for a long time. On the other hand I always wanted to read. I loved being read to, but picking up a book, when every line I would get tripped up. Ugh.
I also remember teachers calling me stupid because I did poorly on spelling tests.
Ah, well. I still don't read as fast as most people, but it's my favorite past time. And its not at all painful anymore, not for a long time. So that's saying something.
How old is your daughter? Not saying its easy or will be the same for her as for me, but with the right teachers and people who know that she won't learn in the same way as everyone else, I'm sure she'll be able to cope quite well. And it sounds like you're giving her that.

 

[Zep]

Robo and Kitty, I'm sure you will find a number of regular posters here who are affected by dyslexia to varying degrees, and have many ways and means to cope with it. AND! Kitten2 gets free membership in the DNA - National Dyslexics Association!

 

[wollery]

Dyslexia comes in many different guises.

I have no real problem with reading or writing, but I do have a problem with symbol recognition. I had to spend ages learning the Greek alphabet when we started using it for maths and physics at school. I've been doing physics in one form or another ever since, so I've been using the Greek letters on a regular basis for more than 20 years, but I still have difficulty with some of them!

 

[shanek]

I feel for you Shanek. My friend with an autistic son said that people have said to her, "well, if only you hadn't had him vaccinated." What a guilt trip! She ofcourse knows that isn't true.

As long as no one tries Facilitated Communication on him. All she needs is some sick-minded facilitator conjuring up stories of sexual abuse...

 

[shanek]

Something I have noticed is that parents of children that are 'special' is that the diagnosis tends to drive them either over the edge woo or teaches them to become critical thinkers.

Well, I was a critical thinker to begin with, and even I found myself to be vulnerable. Of course (with some help) I was able to realize that these things were bunk, but I certainly felt the compelling emotional need to find something to blame, someone to explain to me WHY.

Being skeptics doesn't make us immune to that.

 

[Chaos]

Well, I was a critical thinker to begin with, and even I found myself to be vulnerable. Of course (with some help) I was able to realize that these things were bunk, but I certainly felt the compelling emotional need to find something to blame, someone to explain to me WHY.

Being skeptics doesn't make us immune to that.

I wonder, are there any brands of woo that claim to be able to heal dyslexia or autism?

 

[Boo]

I wonder, are there any brands of woo that claim to be able to heal dyslexia or autism?

There are some who believe that gluten allergy in young children causes the signs and symptoms of Autism and that by removing all gluten from the diet "cures" the child. From what I have found in my own reading is that if a gluten free diet cures your child then they weren't Autistic but they had a gluten allergy. Simple research shows that there are several conditions that have similar presentations as Autism including Fragile X and left temporal lobe seizures, as well as gluten allergies.

Another fairly common "cure" is B complex vitamin deficiency and that by giving your child a special vitamin with a specific level of the B vitamins it will also cure them of Autism.

When I am approached by people that have heard of "cures" for Autism my standard reply is "If the child was cured then they didn't have Autism."



Boo

 

[brodski]

I wonder, are there any brands of woo that claim to be able to heal dyslexia or autism?

I've seen all manners of woo which claim m to be able to treat dyslexia/dyspraxia, from "teaching yourself adult reflexes" to "brain gym" type claims that dyslexics are just dehydrated. Every so often I get told that macro doses of evening primrose oil can "cure" my dyslexia.

Of course the other woo type claim is that "dyslexia doesn't exist", but then their's no money to be made from that opinion, so it doesn't get touted about quite so often anymore.

 

[shanek]

I wonder, are there any brands of woo that claim to be able to heal dyslexia or autism?

Wakefield, the guy behind the autism/MMR claims, claims to have medicine that will heal autism.

 

[Chaos]

Wakefield, the guy behind the autism/MMR claims, claims to have medicine that will heal autism.

An anti-vaxxer?

Well, one wonders why he hasn´t yet sent his medicine through the proper scientific channels and made billions off his world-shattering discovery.

On the other hand, that being a typical sCAM woo, one doesn´t really wonder all that much.

 

[kittynh]

I get more dyslexia stories. My daughter is one of the worst tested by Yale University! You should see what areas of her brains light up (and don't light up when she reads). The average reader has these lovely bright red areas, and Kitten2 has this little pale blue blob. Only on one side!

What a bummer I fed her sugar.

 

[Zep]

Which side of her head is the one that "lights up", Kitty?

 

[kittynh]

this little spot in the back on the right side...if I'm not looking at it upside down! It should be RED and on both sides. Oh well...blue is good too!