[senco-forum] infants and dyslexia

Look for a mismatch between oral and written (reading, writing, spelling)
levels.

Martin Turner (former head of psychology for what was the Dyslexia
Institute, now Dyslexia Action) wrote the following, which is helpful too.

SEVEN RISK FACTORS IN EARLY SCREENING FOR DYSLEXIA

Although one cannot definitively diagnose or predict dyslexia in the years
before school, one can evaluate known risk factors and be specific about the
degree of risk a child shows of following a dyslexic developmental path

Broadly the most important risk factors are as follows:

1.   A family pattern of literacy difficulty, especially in one or both
parents.

2.   A history of speech delay or abnormal development.

3.              Difficulties with the *sounds *of words, as in rhymes,
sequencing of syllables, auditory

memory or imitation.

4.              Failure to learn, already in the early years, those academic
skills which others of similar

age and ability are able to learn.

5.   Difficulty with naming of pictures or objects; finding the right or
obvious word.

6.   Assimilation of information visually when this entails attaching words
to things in a

     verbal strategy.

7.              Unhappiness at school from the beginning, where this is hard
to explain on grounds of immaturity or dependence noticeable before the
start of school.

Martin Turner, Head of Psychology, The Dyslexia Institute, 15th May 1995.

On 9/2/07, Amanda <amandavh at btinternet.com> wrote:
>
> Hello
>   Can you give me some advice please.
>   What would you  advise an infant / reception teacher to look for as
> evidence of dyslexia in a child of 5 or 6 where the family has a history of
> dyslexia and is anxious that the school picks this up as soon as possible.
>   Thanks for your help.
>   Amanda
>   Secondary SENCO
>   Cornwall
>
>
> Amanda
> Secondary SENCO
> Cornwall
>