Dyslexia?? - Beloit,WI

I would ask her Ped about it because my niece was doing the same thing and I suggested that my sister ask the dr. about it (she was 5 at the time) and my niece is dyslexic. it will be easier for her if it is diagnosed now because the school will be able to begin helping her sooner.

Both of my daughters did this. I have a ten year old and a almost 6yr old. They both have grown out of it. Their teacher said most kids do it. So dont worry.

My niece also does this and my sister was concerned. Is your child a lefty? My niece is left-handed and it turns out she was mirror-image writing, hence the backward letters. She does read correctly, however. Anyway, it's something to consider.

I would address this ASAP! If the teacher doesn't take you seriously go above her. My daughter is also 5 in kindergarten and I just felt something wasn't right last year and after dragging her to several doctors, and her pre-kindergarten screening we found out she was delayed in her gross motor skills and needed physical therapy. I'm really glad I listened to my mommy instincts that something just wasn't quite right. Also my daughter occasionally writes a letter backwards which is normal but if your daughter is writing everything backwards you definately want her checked out and maybe a eyedoctor appt. as well couldn't hurt.

This is something that you should address now. Dyslexia is a serious thing and at this age, it is important to start learning how to adapt to different methods of learning and recognizing words. If it is dyslexia, it is also important because it can become very frustrating for your daughter and yourself.

L.,

I would definitely bring it up to her teacher, but in my experience, they do nothing about it. I was told from Kindergarden to now this far into 3rd grade that it is just a phase. When is the phase going to end? That they have no answer for. I have gotten her tested for ADHD since she is now acting out in school, and the psychologists cannot believe the school will not do testing, as she is plenty old enough now.

I am sure you will be met with she is not old enough for the testing, wait until the end of 3rd grade, and if your concerns are still there, we will assess it then. Well that should not be good enough. My daughter is at 2nd grade level for reading and spelling. She was proficient in math until this year, but now is failing. Put your request in writing and give it to the teacher, then keep on them to find out why your daughter is doing this, so you are not in my boat in 3 years.

Good Luck!

H.

Backwards is very normal for kids from 4 to bout 7 yrs of age. Dyslexia is not where everything is backwards but where everything is jumbled. Someone with Dyslexia will see T - C - A instead of C - A - T.

Hi My son has been doing the same thing since he was in pre-k. I talked with his Dr. and she said most kid's will do that and it's very common. I recomend just watching and corecting the errors and going from there once children start to write more and more they will start to remember how the letters go.

I wouldnt worry about it too much, I used to draw all my people upside down, no problems now.

I agree with the "lefty" thing...I am a lefty, the only one that was in my small class, and I was constantly mirroring everyone...writing numbers, letters and sometimes words. I straightened out fairly quickley, but it is very frustrating being the child that cannot figure out the problem, we copy the exact thing everyone else does and it comes out backwords!! Hearing that from the teacher is great, but if still concerned ask the ped, my bet is you will get the same answer, but it is always good to hear things are the "norm".

I would mention it to her Ped as well. They may be able to refer you to a specialist.

As a teacher, I would really not worry. Most kindergarteners start making letters backwards, and it takes a bit of practice for kids to learn to read left to right as well. I wouldn't go assuming that your daughter has dyslexia. If she did, chances are that the images we call letters would look like garbleygook to her and she wouldn't be able to identify the images as letters at all. Your child's teacher would let you know if he/she thinks there is a problem--obviously ask this person if it'll make you feel better.
As a parent, I would ask my pediatrician just to put my mind at ease. The last thing you want to do is subject your perfectly age-appropriate daughter with lots of unnecessary testing, especially if she's enjoying the learning process!

Definitely mention it! You never know what information might help the teachers guide her learning, even if it isn't dyslexia.

I was a kindergarten teacher and now I am a private reading tutor for students who have learning delays (primarily Dyslexia). I would watch your daughter closely. When I taught kindergarten many of my students transposed letters. That is common at this age. Although I did have a student who was dyslexic, tranposed letters and he could never tell me the letter names but was able to say the sounds to most of the letters. I would also bring up your concerns with your child's teacher. He/she would be able to give direct insight into how she is doing as a whole, look out for progress and perhaps help you with strategies to do with her at home.

You may also want to go to the International Dyslexia Association Website and read their information to see if your daughter has the other symptoms. If down the road your daughter did have a reading concern this site is a great resource. Tutors who have Orton-Gillingham training are ideal for students with dyslexia and other reading delays.

I also have a student who has special needs and my pediatrician kept telling me when he was three I had nothing to worry about. Well she was wrong and I had him assessed and now he has received services for 3 years from the schools. I am so glad I followed my instincts because he has made so many gains due to early intervention. As a side note my son who also is in kindergarten this year is already reading and continually is transposing letters even in his own name. I have been using the program Hand Writing Without Tears to help him learn the correct pattern for forming his letters which has helped enormously. Although fine motor is his big weakness.
Good Luck

my son is witing his letters and numbers backwards or at least starting from the bottom to write instead of the top. his teachers also were seeing it to. I took him to

Glasses Menagerie
3142 Hennepin Ave S.
Mpls ( uptown)
###-###-####

They are a very good childrens optometry place. My son is far-sighted and straining his eyes to see letters and numbers...hence the dyslexic numbers and letters.

He's only had the glasses for a couple of days, but I see an improvement with the way he writes now and he's writing smaller instead of big now too.

good luck,
H. King

single mother of a 6 year old with ADHD.

L.,

We've seen a similar thing from our 5yr old. Her teacher told us it is a pretty normal phase. I'd mention it to her teacher - hopefully you'll get a good response. Good luck!

these have all the earmarks and early warnings of the same visual disorder I have (however your 5 year old could be copycating another student ) who is dyslexic , she sees them writing that way thus she thinks thats the way it should be (of my 15 offspring ) I did a simple test , I would have them look at the pages of a book viewing the pages in the mirror (not from the pages themselves ) if each child told me either they could or could not read the page while viewing it in the mirror then I would know what steps to take next . the medical term for what you are explaining is strephosymbolia , it is not uncommon for children prior to age five to mirror write but past 5 and still being a persistant issue , then it becomes almost impossible to unlearn it past the primary developmental years / the formative years when the brain has formed all of it`s (locked in) neuro pathways most often found to be an issue of genetics of recent discovery in medical science , look up the DCDC2 gene helix found to cause dyslexia . paschar

Dyslexia is a serious problem!! Although it is normal for children to see and write letters backwards at that age. My son is Dyslexic and in 2nd grade. It is not just, as someone else said that the letters would be jumbled up, that is incorrect. Watch and see what happens when she starts to learn to read. My son has a horrible problem because he sees the words wrong and leads to wrong answers. Note to you.....school DO NOT test for Dyslexia,nor do family doctors. A school can give you a reading problem diagnosis and that is it. You must go to a neuropychologist to get a diagnosis of Dyslexia. It took me 6 months to figure out that little bit of information, so just note that in your mind should things progress.
Good Luck