Reading is fine, but 8 year old’s spelling is terrible. Should I test/worry/resources?

[Anonymous]

I was diagnosed with dyslexia this way - when my parents started working with me on spelling test practice I added lots of extra syllables, strings of consonants, odd vowels, etc. Also never have had trouble reading, and never needed accommodations. I did some phonics tutoring but I don’t really think it helped. I eventually just memorized how to spell most words. The only time it affects me now as an adult is with unusual names - I misread/add syllables still.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I usually come to this forum for my older child, but I’m worried about my 8 year old’s “creative” spelling with all sorts of weird vowel combinations and missing letters. There’s no other way to put it: it’s just really bad.

It was this way in K, but we didn’t worry. Last year was online and this year there is maybe very slight marginal improvement but not much. Teacher is good and working on writing and spelling a lot—the whole class is behind basically—but should I get him tested?
There is dyslexia on my husband’s side but he doesnt have it.

Any other resources/practice you’d recommend?

My 9YO is NT and can’t spell. Words like “money,” “house,” etc. He still spells -tion as “shun” more than half the time. He was in Catholic last year and aced every spelling test, so I don’t think he is behind standards but I would expect a third grader to be able to spell simple two syllable words. He reads at about a sixth grade level, so the juxtaposition is jarring.

If you have an instinct that something is off, testing can’t hurt. But they don’t teach phonics anymore, and so this is what happens to all kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was diagnosed with dyslexia this way - when my parents started working with me on spelling test practice I added lots of extra syllables, strings of consonants, odd vowels, etc. Also never have had trouble reading, and never needed accommodations. I did some phonics tutoring but I don’t really think it helped. I eventually just memorized how to spell most words. The only time it affects me now as an adult is with unusual names - I misread/add syllables still.

Was it helpful to have the diagnosis? I have always assumed I managed enough but you always feel differently for your kids than for yourself!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you want to work with him on it at home, this is a good resource - https://www.allaboutlearningpress.com/all-about-spelling/

My ds was diagnosed with a form a dyslexia that results in horrible spelling. He is able to read very well (decode), but has poor writing (encode). And reading did not come easy to him, but he did eventually figure it out and now reads at a high level.

We paid out of pocket for testing at Mindwell. It showed a very specific phonological processing disorder. It was helpful to understand what was going on with him.

Thanks for mentioning this.

Having similar issues with 8 yo DC. Reading came slowly and painfully, but it’s coming. Writing and spelling and still very problematic. Going to Mindwell for testing later this year. Good to hear they were able to pinpoint the problem for your DC.

We live in this neighborhood too. Reading at O level in second. Doing well in Math. Spelling and writing are a challenge. Unsure whether it’s ADHD or “dyslexia” of some sort or both…? Headed to Mindwell next week.

Just chiming in to say I also have an 8 yo 2nd grader reading at level O, diagnosed with ADHD in first grade, went back this year due to continued challenges in writing/spelling and just diagnosed with dyslexia and dysgraphia. I knew something wasn’t write when learning basic reading was so hard, but DC was able to learn to read at grade level by the end of first grade so didn’t retest until this year when the spelling was not improving.

We used Mindwell both times and really pleased with the level of detail in their testing for the dyslexia and dysgraphia.

Are you sure you’re not talking about my kid? Wow. Too similar sounding!

We will see what the evaluation uncovers. Which person at Mindwell did you use? Curious. TIA.

Dr. Pamela Smith.

[Anonymous]

I really, really wish we'd done the testing. My 17 year old HS junior was in early intervention for articulation errors, so had speech therapy, but as she was always at the very top of her reading group we never knew to test for dyslexia. I just always thought she was a lousy speller in a school system that doesn't teach spelling anymore. She went to GT programs for language/humanities for crying out loud.

We just got a full neuropsych done for different reasons last summer and I can't remember all the tests but the deltas between her brain power for lack of a better technical term and her spelling, word attack, those kinds of tests was ridiculous. We also figured out that she has to read sentences multiple times but never said anything as she thought it was like that for everyone. The psychologist said that if we'd done the testing in early elementary DD probably would have gotten a dyslexia diagnosis. I wish we could have a do-over and do dyslexia therapy in elementary.

[Anonymous]

What you are describing sounds a lot like dysgraphia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I usually come to this forum for my older child, but I’m worried about my 8 year old’s “creative” spelling with all sorts of weird vowel combinations and missing letters. There’s no other way to put it: it’s just really bad.

It was this way in K, but we didn’t worry. Last year was online and this year there is maybe very slight marginal improvement but not much. Teacher is good and working on writing and spelling a lot—the whole class is behind basically—but should I get him tested?
There is dyslexia on my husband’s side but he doesnt have it.

Any other resources/practice you’d recommend?

My 9YO is NT and can’t spell. Words like “money,” “house,” etc. He still spells -tion as “shun” more than half the time. He was in Catholic last year and aced every spelling test, so I don’t think he is behind standards but I would expect a third grader to be able to spell simple two syllable words. He reads at about a sixth grade level, so the juxtaposition is jarring.

If you have an instinct that something is off, testing can’t hurt. But they don’t teach phonics anymore, and so this is what happens to all kids.

So this was my kid. At 11, she spelled ocean “oshun” and pencil “pinsle.” Then she got a phone. Now she’s 14, she constantly texts with her friends, which makes spelling as vital as what jeans you are wearing. They all mock each other’s errors and autocorrect disasters. They also all play Wordle together before school. She is now an excellent speller. I agree, test if you think you should, but it is a different world from the one we grew up in.