Dyslexia/dysgraphia -- specific LD vs formal diagnosis?

[Anonymous]

Our child was evaluated at school and diagnosed with specific learning disabilities in reading and writing. The school will not diagnose dyslexia and dysgraphia, though concur in conversation that our child has both. We're trying to figure out if we should still seek a private evaluation in search of official diagnoses. Child has IEP, sees ASDEC tutor, and does not present any co-existing issues (ADHD etc).

Does anyone have experience getting by successfully with just a specific LD diagnosis, OR where having the formal dyslexia/dysgraphia diagnosis mattered?

[Anonymous]

I’ve worked with kids whose parents paid for full 2-3 day private reading evals for more information about how the child learns and to get placement into dyslexia-focused classrooms or pull outs for specific reading programs as part of the IEP. I think there’s a lot of value in this type of assessment if you have the resources to do it. Often times the best reading program for a child with dyslexia is not the one being offered by the school system (though some schools will recognize it’s a need and offer a classroom to meet needs of several children). At this age I think the more information you can get the better, and the best thing you can do early on is find the right program to teach. It’s an easy age to catch up to peers with the right services. I find the more information you bring to the table at an IEP meeting, the less the school argues with you and just gives you the necessary services. So for that reason I’d do it, but it’s not cheap or quick to do this right. You might also consider an OT assessment for writing accommodations.

[Anonymous]

specific learning disability in reading is the same as dyslexia

specific learning disability in writing is the same as dysgraphia

Do not spend your money on an additional evaluation when the school already identified the problems you've observed. Most school systems have one type of intervention/program for dyslexia/dysgraphia, and the two neuropsychs we did didn't identify a specific program that DS should get.

Save your money for outside tutoring because the school provided pullouts will probably not be sufficient to remediate.

We paid for private evaluations because the school was gaslighting us about DS's problems, and paid an advocate to help us in IEP meetings, and the school was unable to fulfill the hours in the IEP because of short staffing.

[Anonymous]

DS has dysgraphia. Originally dx in his neuropsych in middle school. Having a dysgraphia diagnosis in school (and now college) allowed (via his 504) him to use a keyboard for all assignments (vs handwriting (which is illegible) plus extra time since writing is laborous for him.) And now he has access to transcription software/note taker in college for note taking.

DSs college didn't require a new neuropsych to get accommodations in college - but did require an up to date OT evaluation for the dysgraphia.