Hi,

I'm a homeschooling mom with 4 children. I had twins first and I am almost
positive that they are dyslexic. I didn't really "know" that there was a
problem with the way they learned until I had 2 more. My youngest two are
SOOOOO different and learn so easily. The twins are 8 and I have a 5 year old
who is almost caught up to one of the 8 year olds in her curriculum. Just the
past 6 months, one of the twins is really learning well and catching up almost
to where she should be. There are still things that one daughter can't do and
will go and ask the 5 year old.

I have read many emails where others describe their dyslexic child and it is a
perfect description of mine. Sometimes they mix-up letters. Sometimes they
write their entire name backwards. You can hold the name up to a mirror and
read it perfectly. Really bizarre. The biggest problem I have is that they
can't 'remember' things. We go through a phonics program and by the end of the
alphabet, they couldn't remember what an "a" was. I've tried MANY phonics
programs. Even now, one will forget basic letters and will have to chant to
herself while trying to spell a 3 letter word in order to remember how to spell
it. Sounding out a word is the same process though it has gotten better this
year. They are extremely imaginative, crafty, mechanical and can draw like
you wouldn't believe. I have art all over my house and people come over and
can't believe that they drew these pictures. Reading and basic math is a
struggle. Forget reading their own directions, they are not auditory learners.
If you can't convey the lesson in a mental picture then you can forget it. LOL

What I'm wondering is how to get them tested. I had heard once that no one
will test them until they are 8. So I never bothered until now. But I have NO
clue as to where to go. I don't want to be on a wild goose chase with dozens of
appointments. Will a Sylvan Learning Center test for this sort of thing along
with any other learning disability?

If anyone can steer me in the right direction, I'd GREATLY appreciate it. I
live in Florida, BTW.

~Gwyne



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