This email is for Dr. Michael Ryan. I am writing on behalf of my sister who has a strongly dyslexic 8-year-old son. All that I have read on your website seems to make so much sense both in reasoning why he behaves has he does, what my sister has been trying so hard to do for him and what you recommend. It's literally been a revelation what you've said!
I must say he is an only child so he does have a lot of focus from my sister, but ever since he has been at school he has found doing 'fun' things such as performing in school plays, class parties, etc. very upsetting, getting anxious and then his parents having a terrible time getting him into school. He has developed a 'tic' but have to say does not get naughty, he is a very nice young man, it's just his parents that see the upset at home.
The very sad fact of the matter he is very behind his academic peers, so this and the fact that the school is not helping very much with all the development that surrounds a dyslexic child has led my sister to seek out a 'special' dyslexic school. However, we are very worried that the change of school which is also going to mean the family moving house is in itself going to upset him, although it seems in the long run the best for him. They are wondering if a behavioral or clinical psychologist would be worth pursuing to help him deal with this transition?
I expect you have gathered we are from England (supposedly with an excellent education system). I cannot believe how bad it is for dyslexic children here, since knowing of my nephews' dyslexia it has really opened my eyes to how difficult it is and how the education system lets them down. I am a nurse and I am constantly trying to learn and put into practice better ways for my patients it doesn't seem that many teachers want to do the same for a fair percentage of children that are dyslexic.
I would be very grateful for your thoughts on this situation.