Frequently Asked Questions

Dyslexia Cornwall has been supporting people with Dyslexia and their families for over 25 years.  Based on this experience we have compiled a list of our most frequently asked questions.

If you do not find the answer to your particular query or have further questions, please contact our Advice Team.

Q: What is Dyslexia?

A: The word “Dyslexia” comes from Greek and means “difficulty with words”.

It is a difference in the part of the brain which processes language, and it affects skills that are needed for learning one or more of reading, writing, spelling and numeracy.

This does not mean that dyslexic people cannot become literate. With suitable help they can succeed, and dyslexic people often have different and valuable problem-solving abilities.

Q: What are the difficulties associated to dyslexia?

A: There are many negative attributes associated with a dyslexic profile but with an understanding of how they impact on daily life strategies can be put in place to alleviate these disadvantages.

Difficulties are experienced with:

• Auditory and /or visual processing of language-based information
• Phonological awareness
• Oral language skills and reading fluency
• Short-term and working memory
• Sequencing and directionality
• Number skills
• Organisational ability
• Motor skills and co-ordination may also be affected.

Q: What are the strengths associated to dyslexia?

A: There are many positive attributes associated with a dyslexic profile which can be nurtured to ease the known disadvantages of dyslexia.

• Creative
• Perception: the ability to alter and create perceptions;
• Highly curious and a lively imagination
• Great intuition and insightful
• Thinking and perceiving multi-dimensionally (using all the senses);
• Holistic, see the big picture, don’t get lost in details, get to the important aspects;
• See patterns, connections, and similarities very easy;
• Concentration;
• Can be very driven, ambitious and persistent;
• Superior reasoning;
• Capable of seeing things differently than others;
• Love for complexity;
• Simultaneous multiple thought processing;
• Not following the crowd;
• The ability of visual, spatial and lateral thinking.

Q: What is a Specific Learning Difficulty?

A: Dyslexia is one of several specific learning difficulties which come under the umbrella term ‘Specific Learning Difficulties’ (often referred to as SpLD).

It means that the difficulties are specific rather than more general learning difficulties.  Other SpLD are Asperger’s syndrome, ADHD and Dyspraxia.

Q: How many people are Dyslexic?

A: It is estimated that between 10% and 20% of the population are affected, with 4% being severely affected.

Q: How soon can Dyslexia be recognised?

A: There are signs well before school age which indicate that a child may be dyslexic.

These include:

• Delay or difficulty in the development of clear speech and/or persistent tendency to jumble words and phrases.
• Persistent difficulty with tasks such as dressing efficiently, doing up buttons, tying shoelace etc.
• Unusual clumsiness and difficulty with co-ordinated activities such as hopping, skipping and catching or kicking balls.
• Poor concentration, such as difficulty concentrating on stories read to them.
  Family history of similar difficulties.

N.B. Not all dyslexic children show all of these signs, and many very young children make similar mistakes. Dyslexia is indicated where the difficulties are severe and persistent, or where there is a cluster of such difficulties in mild form.

Dyslexia Cornwall offers impartial advice and strategies to help your child.  Contact our Advice Team for further information.

Q: Can anything be done before school age?

A: Yes, there are many ways in which a child can be helped to develop skills, which he/she will need to avoid failure at school.

Dyslexia Cornwall offers impartial advice and strategies to help your child. Contact our Advice Team for further information.

Q: How does Dyslexia present in school children?

A: One of the most marked characteristics of dyslexic children is the surprising difficulty they have at school when it is clear that they are at least as able as others who have no problems. There is also a tendency for unaccountably “bad days” when they seem unable to do what they can on a “good day”. Different age groups present problems in varying ways.

For children aged 9 or under:

• Particular difficulty learning to read, write and spell.
• Persistent and continued reversing of numbers and letters, (e.g. 15 for 51, ‘b’ for ‘d’).
• Difficulty telling left from right.
• Difficulty learning the alphabet/multiplication tables, and remembering sequences such as days of the week and months of the year.
• Continued difficulty with shoelaces, ball catching and skipping etc.
• Inattention and poor concentration.
• Frustration, possibly leading to behavioural problems.
• Difficulty following instructions – verbal and/or written.

For children aged 9 to 12:

• Continued mistakes in reading, and/or a lack of reading comprehension.
• Strange spelling – perhaps with letters missed out or in the wrong order.
• Taking longer than average over written work.
• Disorganisation at home and at school.
• Difficulty copying accurately from blackboard or textbook.
• Difficulty remembering and processing oral instructions.
• Growing lack of self-confidence and increasing frustration.

For pupils aged 12 and over:

• Tendency to read inaccurately, or without adequate comprehension.
• Inconsistent spelling.
• Difficulty with planning and writing essays.
• Tendency to confuse verbal instructions and telephone numbers.
• Severe difficulty in learning a foreign language.
• Low self-esteem.
• Difficulty with perception of language, e.g. following instructions, listening comprehension.

N.B. Not all dyslexic children/pupils will display all of these characteristics.

Dyslexia Cornwall offers impartial advice and strategies to help your child. Contact our Advice Team for further information.

Q:  How does Dyslexia present in adults?

A: Dyslexia will present differently in adults reflecting their personal and educational experiences.  There is also a tendency for unaccountably “bad days” when they seem unable to do what they can on a “good day”.

Dyslexia can present as difficulties with:

• Poor auditory and /or visual processing of language-based information
• Lack of phonological awareness
• Problems with oral language skills and reading fluency
• Concerns with short-term and working memory
• Issues with sequencing and directionality
• Poor number skills
• Issues with organisational ability

Motor skills and co-ordination may also be affected.

Q: How can parents ensure their child’s difficulties are recognised? And how can they get a dyslexia assessment?

A: Have your child’s sight and hearing checked.  For sight, consult your optician and if you are still concerned get a referral letter from your GP to an orthoptist. For hearing, your GP needs to refer you to the audiology department of a general hospital.

Talk to your child’s teacher who should be able to watch your child more carefully and possibly do some tests to understand his/her difficulties better.

If you are still concerned ask them to assess your child under the Code of Practice for Special Educational Needs, saying that you suspect he/she is dyslexic. Once your child is under the school based stages of the code, you should be asked into school for regular reviews to discuss your child’s progress, so make sure this happens.

If your child’s problems continue to cause you concern ask the school to call in one of the Local Authority’s Dyslexia Advisors, who can do a basic assessment and advise the school on how they can best help your child.

If things do not improve you may need to request a visit from an Educational Psychologist, who can do a detailed series of tests to assess your child’s level of difficulty. If necessary you can refer your child direct to the Educational Psychology service at Cornwall Council, if the school is not prepared to do this.

You can also have your child assessed privately by a Dyslexia trained teacher or Educational Psychologist.

Cornwall does not offer an assessment or screening service for children.  For more information on accessing these services visit:

• Dyslexia Screening for children
• Dyslexia Assessment for children

Please contact our Advice Team for further information.

Q: What is the Code of Practice on Special Educational Needs?

A: Once it has been decided that your child has Special Educational Needs (SEN), your child’s teachers should plan their education in line with the guidance given in a document known as the Code of Practice for Special Educational Needs.

The terms School Action and School Action Plus have been replaced under the new Education Act 2014 and Schools can decide to record levels of need within SEN support in whatever way they want. For example, some schools are now describing levels of need as: School Support and School Support Plus, K1 and K2, SEN 1 SEN 2, as well as continuing to use School Action or School Action Plus.  The plan should identify and explain your child’s difficulties and set targets for overcoming these difficulties.

Under the new Code of Practice, the Statement process is being replaced with an Education and Health Care Plan.

Q: What is an Individual Education Plan (IEP)?

A: Following changes in the new Education Act 2014 the term Individual Education Plan is no longer in the Code of Practice on Special Educational Needs.

Q: What is a Statement of Special Educational Need?

A: Statements of Special Education Needs are being replaced with Education and Health Care Plans under the new Education Act 2014.

Q: What is an Educational and Health Care Plan?

A: The Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan focuses on education and health needs of children and young people (0 – 25 years).  It replaces the statutory assessment and statement of special educational needs process.  It puts children, young people and families at the centre of the assessment and planning process.  The local authority is responsible for ensuring that assessments are effectively co-ordinated.

Q: Where can I find an Educational Psychologist and will I have to pay for an assessment?

A: School children can be referred to their local education authority’s Educational Psychologist for assessment.

Unemployed adults can sometimes be referred for an assessment via their local Jobcentre.

Independent Educational Psychologists or registered with:

• The British Psychological Society (BPS)
• Health and Care Professional Council (HCPC)

The cost of an assessment is often between £400 and £600+.

NB: Assessments can also be conducted by a Dyslexia qualified teacher.

Dyslexia Cornwall provides the links on our website for your convenience.  When you click on these links, you will leave our website and be redirected to another site.

These sites are not under our control. We are not an agent for these third parties; we neither endorse nor guarantee their products or the accuracy of their information. We suggest that you always verify the information obtained from linked websites before acting upon the information.

For further information please contact our Advice Team.

Q: Where can I find a specialist Dyslexia qualified teacher?

A: Dyslexia trained teachers are registered on Professional Association for Teachers and Assessors of Students with Specific Learning Difficulties (PATOSS) website.  Hourly teaching rates vary significantly.

The costs are in the region of £20 pounds to £40.

Dyslexia qualified teachers can also conduct diagnostic Dyslexia Assessments.  The costs are in the region of £300 – £500.

Dyslexia Cornwall provides the links on our website for your convenience.  When you click on these links, you will leave our website and be redirected to another site.

These sites are not under our control. We are not an agent for these third parties; we neither endorse nor guarantee their products or the accuracy of their information. We suggest that you always verify the information obtained from linked websites before acting upon the information.

For further information please contact our Advice Team.

Q: Can my dyslexic child get exam concessions for GCSE and A Level Exams?

A: Yes, depending on your child’s difficulties they may be allowed things like extra time up to 25%, a reader to read out the questions, the use of a word processor, use of an amanuensis (person to take dictation) etc.

For some concessions a Dyslexia trained teacher can now supply supporting evidence on behalf of a candidate with Dyslexia and the school can make the decision.  However, check with the school well before the exams so that if it is necessary to call in an Educational Psychologist to do an assessment there is plenty of time.

Note:  It is not necessary for a pupil to have an Education and Health Care Plan to be allowed concessions such as extra time in their exams.

Q: Can my child get exam concessions in SATS Exams?

A: Yes.  Dyslexics may also be allowed certain concessions in SATS exams and schools now have guidelines on what concessions they can make.  Remember, however that the SATS are partly to identify areas of difficulty both for the school and nationally, so in some ways it is a test of the level the child is working at under normal circumstances. We recommend you discuss this with your child’s teacher and a school well before the exams.

Q: Can coloured lenses or overlays help my child?

A: You may have heard that coloured or tinted lenses can help a dyslexic child with reading.  This is because some dyslexics find print is blurred or jumps around, a condition known as Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome.  Evidence is by no means conclusive, but certainly some children do seem to benefit from this – coloured acetate sheets laid over writing can be tried first to see if this helps. We know of three Opticians who can provide these glasses or acetate sheets:

• Noakes, Habermehl & Kerr Opticians: Callington  Tel: 01579 382 345 or Saltash 01752 847477
• Specsavers Tel: 01872 223 818
• Bradleys Tel: 01736 363339

Charges vary so phone around and check prices, also ask your local optician if they offer this service.

Q: What is Dyscalculia?

A: Dyscalculia is like Dyslexia for numbers.  People with Dyscalculia experience great difficulty with the most basic aspects of numbers and arithmetic.  They may have difficulty understanding simple number concepts, lack an intuitive grasp of numbers, and have problems learning number facts and procedures.

Q: Is it possible to drop learning a foreign language at school when a child has difficulties with their own language?

A: Sometimes, so discuss this with your child’s school.  However, many dyslexic people do experience great success with foreign languages and there should be no generalisation. Some languages are easier than others for example German and Spanish are easier than French.

Q: What is the Dyslexia Friendly Schools Quality Mark and which schools in Cornwall have been awarded it?

A: Dyslexia Cornwall forms part of the accreditation team that visits schools applying for the Dyslexia Friendly Schools Quality Mark.

There is a stringent set of criteria that schools have to meet and an inspection process which takes a full day. However, parents should bear in mind that none of these schools are claiming to be perfect and they all recognise that they still have plenty of room for improvement – some of the criteria will have been classified as “working towards” rather than “achieved” and the process will require regular follow-ups to see how they are progressing.

For more information and a list of schools that have been awarded the Quality Mark in Cornwall please contact our Advice Team.

Q: How can an adult get an assessment to find out if they are dyslexic?

A: There are various ways of getting a Dyslexia assessment:

• Privately from a Dyslexia trained teacher or an Educational Psychologist.
• Sometimes your college or university will pay for (or subsidise) an assessment.
• Employers or your local JobCentre will pay for an assessment through Dyslexia Cornwall.

Dyslexia Cornwall does not offer an assessment service.  Specialists offering this service can be found through:

• Professional Association for Teachers and Assessors of Students with Specific Learning Difficulties (PATOSS)
• The British Psychological Society (BPS)
• Health and Care Professional Council (HCPC)
• British Dyslexia Association

Dyslexia Cornwall provides the links on our website for your convenience.  When you click on these links, you will leave our website and be redirected to another site.

These sites are not under our control. We are not an agent for these third parties; we neither endorse nor guarantee their products or the accuracy of their information. We suggest that you always verify the information obtained from linked websites before acting upon the information.

If you have difficulties accessing a Dyslexia Assessment please contact our Advice Team.  In exceptional circumstances we can arrange an assessment for you. We charge for this service.

Q: I’ve heard about voice activated programs which you can use to dictate text to your computer, can they help dyslexics?

A: Yes. Voice activated programs can be very useful, for older dyslexic children and adults.  More information is available from:

Iansyst
Tel:  0800 0180045
www.dyslexic.com

Dyslexia Cornwall can offer impartial advice on the range of products available. For further information please contact our Advice Team.

Q: What software is suitable for dyslexics?

A: There are many useful programs available to support people with Dyslexia.  For further information, please refer to the supplier’s catalogues available from:

Iansyst
Tel:  0800 0180045
www.dyslexic.com

Dyslexia Cornwall can offer impartial advice on the range of products available.  For further information please contact our Advice Team.

Q: What help is there for dyslexic students undertaking a Higher Education course at university or college?

A:  Dyslexic students in Higher Education, who have been assessed as dyslexic, can apply for a Disabled Students Allowance (DSA). Part-time students, studying at least 50% of a full-time degree course and post-graduate students are now eligible for this allowance. (Also students studying a degree through the Open University.)

The DSA may include equipment, such as a PC, hardware and appropriate software, an annual non-medical helper’s allowance, which can include funding for ICT training, proof-reading, and an annual general allowance for books etc.  For further information contact GOV.UK by using the following link https://www.gov.uk/disabled-students-allowances-dsas/overview

Q: What is Access to Work

A: Access to Work is a Government funded scheme that provides practical advice and support to help people overcome work related obstacles.  It can also provide grants towards extra employment costs.

Access to Work Tel:  0345 268 8489
Text Phone:  0345 608 8753
Opening Hours: Monday – Friday / 8:00am – 6:00pm