Most of these children come right at puberty. It is a maturation thing.This is bullshit, the child learns to live with Dyslexia, My father, brother, husband, and now my 13 year old child have dealt with this problem for all of their lives. They avoid jobs that need reading, or writing, and go for manual jobs, because they simply can't read very well at all, most can't remember what they learn t yesterday, THEY NEVER GROW OUT OF IT. They learn to get around it. At best. It is a soul destroying thing,the child doesn't understand it any better than an adult. Suzie

The Seabrook McKenzie Centre in Christchurch assesses and diagnoses children and adults for Learning Disabilities which includes dyslexia and dyspraxia. Speech Language Therapists and Occupational Therapists are on site as well as tutors for those who are diagnosed with SLD and requiring remediation. The Jean Seabrook Memorial School is also on site. It caters for 24 children spread over 2 classes. Their phone number is 03 3815383

Although very nervous, I was pleased to have the opportunity to give my input on the topic of Dyslexia. The Seabrook McKenzie Centre in Christchurch (where I teach)assesses children and adults for learning difficulties including dyslexia and dyspraxia. We have PSychologists, trained tutors, Speech Language and Occupational Therapists to offer remediation. The Jean Seabrook Memorial School is based at the SMCentre, and caters solely for children with learning difficulties. We have two classes with 12 children in each class. Each class has two teachers trained in the area of remediating learning difficulties. The goal is to equip the children with strategies and to provide an environment where they are able to succeed in order to build their self esteem. When they are ready, the children then re enter mainstream schools. When the children first come to us, they are often quite closed down to learning, scared of taking a risk, because they are used to failing and when they discover success, they start to blossom right before our eyes. This is a very satisfying and rewarding job. We use a multi sensory approach to our teaching based on the children's needs rather than being dictated by the curriculum which we follow but are not driven by. The needs of the children are our focus. Our children are very creative thinkers and teach us so much. These children are so mis understood and often labelled as slow learners, lazy, not trying hard enough etc. It is time teachers were trained in how to identify these children in their classes and professional development sessions in schools to assist and equip teachers. Richard DeVoy has published some very helpful DVD's, one titled FAT City is worth watching. Overcoming Dyslexia by Sally Shaywitz is a very informative book with the information based on well founded research. There are many people professing to have the cure for 'dyslexia' however not all is based on reliable research. Thanks for the opportunity.

Hi there I just wanted to let you know that dyslexia is not just about kids who can't learn to read - although this is what most of the 'literature' - most particularly the Davis programme - focuses on. My son is dyslexic but can read like a pro. The problem is his brain spends so much time on the act of reading (the sounds and letters) it does not take in the content. Therefore he can read aloud a short story and then when questioned cannot answer content questions. But if you read it aloud, his brain is relaxed enough to answer 100%. This is termed visual processing difference. While very bright, he consistently fails written tests because he a) does not pick up the correct cues from the test questions, and b) the answer never gets on the paper properly (dysgraphia). In his struggle to simplify written answers to accommodate problems in this area, he is often mislabeled as below par. In oral tests he can score 100% and is a very fluent orator. He often forgets the simplest instructions. I recommend MISLABELED CHILD, THE: HOW UNDERSTANDING YOUR CHILD'S UNIQUE LEARNING STYLE CAN OPEN THE DOOR TO SUCCESS by Brock Eide and Fernette Eide . It has practical suggestions to make you and your child a good advocate for their learning difference, as well as strategies to help with visual processing, memory, taking notes, identifying key parts of questions etc.

At last something is out in the open! I have been involved with students that have been left out! I started with Rosilie Sommerville inNapier about 1979 when she started ARLA( adults) and I used what I learnt to help childen!!!I worked as a Teacher Aide in libraries at school and trained students who needed help to help in their library as assistants!!!!They bossomed!! Use cream or buff paper as white paper glares!!Tinted glasses also work!Use THEIR favourite books or interests!Also helped a young man sit his exam for panelbeater (as a Reader Writer) & he passed!Speld are 'trained teachers'??. I never said the student was Wrong or No/ always Nearly Right!!The rote way still works &keeping their own dictionary in a note book of their own' words'..I tell them to listen to their computer in their head & 'sound out' the word.

Dear Tony
Thank you for your excellent programme on June 6. We are having my grandson assessed to see if he is dyslexic and how we can help him. It was really encouraging to hear from people who have been helped or have helped themselves. I had no idea this was a problem that affected so many people and it does need to be addressed.

can you please give the email address of women who had info on dyslexia

Hi there, I have taken my boys out of mainstream in term 3 2009. Main reason: I had concerns regarding their learning that the school did not share. We had a 'pre-test' done for dyslexia, and were recommended to do the 'proper' test. I personally see no advantage in doing so, I mean, if I know, do they need to be labelled? We use the book toe by toe, which is a workbook, (incl instructions) for the adult/ child with reading difficulties. You work in it 10 to 15 minutes a day. I also have some of Ron Davis' books, they have step by step instructions how you can help people with dyslexicia yourself. Only cost is the book and your time. Ron Davis was in Wanganui a while back, and I attended his info night. Ron himself, at age 38, found a way to quickly eliminate common perceptual distortions, so he was able to read. The interesting part of the evening to me was, that teachers thought to help those that struggle with 'computer programmes': thats 2 dimensional, those children need HANDS-ON experiences: 3 dimensional. Laughton King is dyslexic and has brought several books out. In short: the school system did not fit my boys! I don't know 100% for sure if my children are dyslexic, I do know that they have changed, they are happier, more confident, more noisy, have more fun in their life now, then before. :)