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-   -   The Dyslexia Thread (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/shifting-gears/169820-dyslexia-thread.html)

Mod Note: For Autism, check out this thread

I did not find a thread on this topic. Hope knowledgeable TBHPians will add lots of useful information here.

I was trying to help a kid with his homework, when I realized he was not dumb but just could not read very well. I Googled a bit and got a bit of enlightenment about dyslexia.

I got nowhere asking people about where to send someone for help with this. All the links and news items on dyslexia in Bangalore are not very informative.

I'm hoping that people who have used the services of specialists in this area can provide some information.

I would like to know: (location: Bangalore)

1. Where to go for an evaluation
2. What kind of programmes are available
3. Any self-help programmes?
4. Any software to help dyslexics?
5. Other Inputs

Thanks.

Someone I know had taken their kid to Parijma for an evaluation (http://www.parijmaneurology.com/contactus.php and http://www.parijmaneurology.com/branches.php). They have a center in Wilson Garden (quite close to the Shanti Nagar Bus Stand), and another one in North Bangalore (near the Nagawara flyover).

After the evaluation, you can contact Jessy (will PM you the number) at Parijma, Nagawara ORR to assess the results and work out a remedial plan.

If you are going to the Wilson Garden centre, brace yourself. It is a neurological centre that caters to children with varying neuro disabilities, and it strikes a chord in your heart. This is not at all a criticism of the centre (quite the opposite, in fact), but just the fact that it makes us forcefully aware of the difficulties that various kids go through.

:thumbs up

I don't know much about any specialists in Bangalore but I am Dyslexic.

Sadly this is just some unusual circuitry in the brain and one cannot outgrow it. Over the years (I am 52 now) you learn to cope with it. For example, I read most things twice and I use notepad to type long posts and then copy paste to this forum.

When I was a teenager there was not the wealth of information available as there is now. I got diagnosed much later and suffered for quite a few years because the quality of my knowledge as evaluated by my verbal answers did not match my written tests (I also had some hyperactivity issues and poor handwriting).

So that's the bad news. The good news it is far from a learning disorder, I think of it as "a different way to learn". The human form is amazing and it finds ways to cope. In my case, found I could listen to a class lecture, absorb it, and reuse the information without having to write much down. Even years later I could reproduce much of the lecture without much of an effort.

With Dyslexia (and whatever hyperactivity thing they labeled me with) I graduated from a good engineering college and have had a pretty decent professional life. I see no reason why this child cant do the same or ever better (given the resources available today).

Sorry I cant offer you too many answers. What I can offer you however you is hope. If I can "make it" so can anyone else.

Thank you arunphilip and navin

I know this is not an informative post by me, but as there is no "Thanks" button on this thread, I wanted to convey my thanks, especially to navin for his encouraging words :thumbs up and the trouble he took to post.

You're welcome. Its stuff like this that elevates our forum beyond just a community of petrol-heads to a community of people.

And, from your initial post, it sounds like its not your kid that you're talking about, but someone else's - so the biggest round of thanks is to you for helping identify a possible problem with that child and taking steps to address it. Who knows, without you, that poor kid would have been branded a dullard all through his/her school life, with the associated stigma and criticism.

Thanks Arun, for the kind words.

He's my maid's son. She and her husband (a security guard) have ended up putting the child (he is in the 9th standard) in a "prison" - Tuitions, throughout the day. I have no idea how it will improve anything. Not to mention that they spend their hard earned money to educate their kids in a private school. The younger son is not dyslexic, so I want to use him to help his brother get started on helping himself.

That's why I was looking for software that would help in this case. I gave them an old PC with some educational software (math games and the like); I am not sure where to get them started. Both kids have fallen behind in school and obviously the older one has a huge gap.

(This is probably OT here) Something like Khan Academy self help groups might also help the younger one.

An overdose of tuitions or extra classes will not help a Dyslexic mind. It might even be detrimental. A Dyslexic mind is not a slow mind or one that requires additional training. In many cases it is an active mind and Dyslexics can have excellent grasp of concepts but are unable to express it in writing because of their "wiring".

What will help is recognizing the challenge and finding methods of learning that suit this child. In my case it was the aural memory that helped. It could be different with this kid. It will take a lot of experimentation to find what works. It might also necessitate a different type of schooling where the exams are verbal or multiple choice.

That said, it is encouraging and inspirational to see the effort you are putting in for a child that is not your own.

Don't rely too much on Google knowledge. I tried to google and this is what I got.
http://www.pbs.org/parents/readingla...the_facts.html

Some of the indicators they listed was
◾Has trouble rhyming
◾Has difficulty listing words that begin with the same sound
I can tell you (and other Mods will agree) that I can rhyme better than most.

However most of the other indicators were bang on. Maybe there are different types of Dyslexia.

Dyslexia is easily curable by therapy, it is just a matter of a year or two. It is usually done by clinical psychologist. Dyslexia is considered a small matter in the hallowed halls my family wanders, my son has autism.

Since the OP is Bangalore, he has choice of consulting with S.R.Chandrashekar Institute of Speech and Hearing or AIISH in Mysore. We have been to both places.

Go there for an evaluation.

@ Samurai, navin and arunphilip - Thank you. I am glad I posted on TBHP.

I have contacted these institutions and will be sending the child to one of them for an initial evaluation soon.

There also seem to be quite a few online tests and resources (I have looked at them cursorily, will post links after I go through them and find the best ones).

@Samurai - I went through your Autism thread (the initial few pages) and was overwhelmed by the dedication and courage with which people are tackling problems. More power to you! And thank you for the information and encouragement.

@navin - I gave your inputs a lot of thought and hope to empower this child with your determination.

@arunphilip - thanks Arun, I can feel your empathy for people with problems. Your encouragement is very welcome.

Navin - I'm blessed with not having dyslexia, but I imagine it must be like when I read on a Kindle reader - it just doesn't seem to register in my brain and I long for a 'real' book to really 'read'! [Sorry, if it is all wrong]

Thanks Samurai, seriously. I have been living with Dyslexia for years. I was not diagnosed with it till I was half way through college. 40 years ago no one was aware of such stuff. Anyway I wonder what good can come now at age 52.

mvadg, Samurai is far better researched than I am on this topic. I would take his advice over mine. All I can say is despite all the labels the world throws at you or boxes the world wants to put you in. Anyone can make it. It the best snub - making it when everyone said it was not possible.

When I say curable, I don't mean the condition goes away. What I mean is people can be trained to overcome the problem so that it doesn't affect them in daily life.

Navin, you have done the same. You learned to overcome the problem on your own since no other help was available. However, these days clinical psychologists can help you in that process at a very young age. It is just a matter of training the mind.

Same goes for autism. Behavioral, speech and occupational therapy are the only things that work. Everything else is just a scam, so far.

My mom is involved with a School(for kids with special needs) in Shankar Mutt, ChamrajPet.

Check out with IRC. www.autismirc.org/
Also check out FAME India

Firstly, kudos to you for trying to help a kid.
The Spastics Society of Karnataka helps individuals with special needs, including learning difficulties. They are located in Indira Nagar.
http://www.spasticssocietyofkarnataka.org/

Hope this helps and good luck!

Do you guys think that someone who has an issue to write sentences and remember spellings can be a case which needs to be evaluated ? Otherwise this person is good in remembering and singing songs and the only issue comes up while writing...

Your inputs on this will be very helpful and Thanks in advance for this informative thread.

I am the least qualified to answer this, but as no one has answered yet:
I cannot see anything wrong in just evaluating, unless there are some other concerns I'm not able to see.

@landcruiser123 . @Isnescrpy

Again, thanks to everyone who posted and shared their experiences and suggestions and those who PM'd me with helpful suggestions and offers of help.