My son is nine years old and has been diagnosed dyslexic. We live in Michigan where the schools do not recognize dyslexia and instead lump all kids together and use the same reading program for all. The program his current school district uses is Reading Mastery. I don’t want to waste my son’s time with a program that doesn’t work and is only confusing him in the long run. Any help you could give me in this matter would be greatly appreciated.

I am really hoping you can help me as I'm having a hard time finding any resources regarding comprehensive neurological testing for my 10-year-old daughter who has dyslexia, dysgraphia, and may have some visual processing issues. A teacher raised a question of ADHD, and possibly anxiety. I have had a challenging time trying to find a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation as most centers only want to test for a specific disorder such as ADHD or autism; they request you to have the diagnosis prior to having the testing done which seems a little backwards to me.

My daughter is 8 years old and is just finishing 2nd grade. It is obvious to my husband and I that she needs help outside of school. We have tried tutors and web-based programs, but nothing has worked. Her frustration level goes through the roof. I would like to know where to get an appointment to have her tested for any type of reading issues.

I was wondering about the cost of testing fees. My child's school told me it was a $2,500 test and can only be done in Lansing. I’m hoping you can help. Also, are there programs to help with the financial part of the testing? We are desperate for answers at this point.

Yesterday my son had a neurological exam and the doctor determined that he is dyslexic and has ADHD. Although I knew this in my heart I still feel overwhelmed. He is seven years old and so behind. I researched tutoring in our area and found a recommended center. I'm worried that we will not be able to afford the cost. We live a no frills life, but are not in need. I'm wondering if you can point me in a direction that will be easier on my family's finances while still helping my child succeed.

My child is in first grade this year and he has begun to have problems reversing his 6s and 9s and 2s and 5s as well as some letters. He has some behavioral and work avoidance problems as well and the school and his mother and I suspect he might have dyslexia. Can you recommend someone who can evaluate him?

Hello, my son is entering his senior year in high school. He received a low score on his ACT exam on his second official try. We will continue to work with him and to have him retake the test over the next year. How does a student with a 3.2 GPA and a 17 overall score for the ACT exam ever fulfill the dream of attending a school like U of M?

My son is six years old and has nearly every item on your identification checklist. He significantly struggled through preschool and kindergarten with the schools identifying a reading problem. He received the additional intensive reading assistance through school last year but so far it has not helped much at all. Do you have recommendations on next steps for finding the needed professionals? Does U-M provide evaluations or treatment services? Also, he has had his vision tested three times since birth to six years, each time with no identified issues.

I'm writing to you in the hopes of getting some advice. As a part of my field placement I work at an after-school program in Michigan. One of our 5th grade students has been struggling with math and reading; she is behind grade level for both. Many of her difficulties and issues seem like dyslexia. She has no formal diagnosis and I think she is often told that she is just a lazy student. Do you have any advice for us in helping her out?

Our son is 11 years old and attending middle school as a 6th grader. We live in Michigan. We have suspected for the past couple of years he suffers from dyslexia. He can read and comprehend written expression very well. In fact, he enjoys reading and many times he chooses to read on his own. His issues are not in reading or comprehension; but in spelling and writing. He spells phonetically, and his handwriting is almost unreadable. Many of his teachers have recognized the fact that he spells phonetically, and, at times, reverses letters. However, he is to the point now in his school career that he feels that he is a failure and has very low self-esteem. Where can we go from here to get him the help he so disparately needs in order to develop strategies that will help him overcome this disability?