Switching Letters and Numbers

I just read the other posts and some ideas may help, however, I would suggest getting a diagnosis. I also am a teacher, and have a daughter with slight dyslexia. Checking it early will give you peace of mind,knowing how to help him.

Past 2nd grade,these are often symtoms of something like dyslexia. It can be treated. Talk to your pediatrician because it can need visual/educational therapy. He can probably refer you. Be encouraged,you have caught it early!

Writting letters and numbers backwards is very normal for his age. Like other posters have mentioned have an alphabet and number posted for him to refer to:)

If you want a second opinion, I know a wonderful tutor. Her name is Lisa Popper and she works with kids of all abilities. I'm not saying he needs a tutor, but she would be able to evaluate and provide recommendations. http://www.clcmi.com/index.htm, or ###-###-####.
Good luck.

Switching numbers and letters while entering 3rd grade is still considered developmental. If he is still doing this at the end of 3rd I would talk to his teachers and see what they think. Regardless, he should never have an answer counted as incorrect or have points taken off for reversals. It could be a sign of dyslexia but seriously it is way more common than you think! Don't panic!

S.,

I am a teacher and agree with the previous post that you should not worry that much at this point. However, I would suggest something we try to do in the classroom which is to create a "print-rich" environment. I'm sure you don't want to decorate your home with the alphabet, however perhaps in his room, or in the area that you usually work with him he could have a poster up just to refer to. That way when he is writing letters and numbers he could have something to check back on to see if his matched those on the chart/poster. His errors will not become fosilized this way either.

S. -I have two children son and daughther they both did it into 4th grade. My son extremely bright reading way above his level and testing in top 5% regularly. My son is now going into 8th grade still an excellent student. The reversals for him stopped about 5th. My daughter had some speech issues and some other stuggles but I have been told they are not related she stopped at about beginning of 4th. I worried and was going to have it looked at I asked several teachers and as I held on it cleared up. Keep him reading and writing and that should help. When I would focus on it the kids both would get exremely frustrated and that didn't help so I let it go even though it would make me crazy. I thought it was a huge issue and it wasn't. Dyslexia has other symptoms and he would not be able to read or do math well. I don't think it is laziness either I think right in the momemnt it doesn't matter to him because he is thinking ahead of where he is and focusing on what is next.

Good luck-I sure he is Practically Perfect!

It could be dyslexia. It might be a good idea to read up on this and just watch for other signs. If it doesn't resolve or if you see other signs then you could check into it further.

I would get him checked out. I have dyslexia and it went undetected until I was almost through college. You can be good at math and reading and still have it. I can read well but I don't comprehended what I read unless I read it out loud. I miss pronounce words though. My math skills are ok. The thing is that people with dyslexia have the tendency to naturally come up with skills to help them cope without realizing. Like I have always read out loud I never knew why I just always remember doing this. The counselor I meet with in college say because I remember conversion so well that when I read out loud that it helps me to comprehended what I read. I would say to be on safe side it can only help. Kids and adults with dyslexia have low self esteem. I know I still do.

I was told this is very common until 4-5 grade, so as long as he is progressing in other areas I wouldn't think too much about it. Having a letter and number chart in front of him to refer to is a great idea!!

Hi there! While I am unsure what the abbreviation DS means...the problem you are describing sounds like dyslexia. Many children have some form of it til all the letters/numbers register correctly from the optical senses to the way the brain "reads" what is being seen. Most outgrow it, some stay dyslexic throughout their lives, but learn to deal & cope with the problem. At least this is how it was explained to me. Check it out. Could be it!

There are companies who help parents at home -- google Bonnie Terry Learning and Educational Diagnostic Prescriptive Services, for starters, and for handwriting, check out Peterson Directed Handwriting, if you want something to help work on directionality in making letters and numbers.

I would be concerned if he is still switching letters and numbers. Having him assessed would either get him the help he needs or reassure you that it is developmental issue only. I seem to disagree with your other responses. I, too, am a teacher and have taught K-5th grade as well as preschool. By 3rd grade most of the reversals were gone and if not I would recommend testing. If there was no problem, then I would adjust my teaching to address his reversal problem to help correct over time. Print rich environment is an excellent thing to do; also play word games with him where he must spell or put letter cards together. Remember, however, that learning should still be fun!

It wouldn't hurt to get it evaluated by a professional. Like one of the ladies, I, too, am dyslexic and it does take different forms in different people.

The sooner you as a parent know where his weaknesses are, you can help him develop methods to work around his problem and just be supportive and understanding.

If he is dyslexic, the sooner he knows, the sooner he can realize that he isn't the only person who flips numbers around or turns his "b" into a "p"and didn't see it until he goes back to proofread it.

There is power in knowing that you aren't the only one who struggles with these issues. I have issues with it, but not as severe as my dad. That makes coping with it easier and I know that he understands when I talk about how I told someone (for instance) that the address was 650 when the address was really 560 ABC street.

There are a lot of resources out there, so take advantage of them.

I wouldn't think it would be "persistent" as you say at this age, but I am not an expert. One thing that you may want to consider is his vision - not necessarily that he needs glasses, but I have heard more and more about vision therapy lately and it has a lot to do with training the muscles in the eyes to focus properly. It may be worth exploring.