讀寫困難???

mattiemama

各位
我朋友的兒子現時讀小四,約9歲,她說小朋友時常認字有困難,英文字時常認錯,中文字就會把有些部份攪亂,是否有讀寫困難呢? 可以做d乜幫佢,同埋有無評估可確定呢?

澎澎聲

社工轉介

Dr.T

Look likely as s/he already in P.4 But thorough assessment is a must.

Two possible referral routes for students suspected to have SLD: Special Ed Centre of EMB or Child Assessment Centre (AC) of Health Dept.

The former thru social worker/school guidance teacher but usually takes ages for various bureacratic reasons. For CAC ask your family doctor (in fact any doctor, or qualified psychologist if you know any) to write you a referral letter and bring it to CAC in your area of living. Sorry social worker's referral is not accepted at CAC. It usually takes months.

Certainly you can also get private service if you cannot wait.

mattiemama 寫道:
各位
我朋友的兒子現時讀小四,約9歲,她說小朋友時常認字有困難,英文字時常認錯,中文字就會把有些部份攪亂,是否有讀寫困難呢? 可以做d乜幫佢,同埋有無評估可確定呢?

mattiemama

Dr. T,

Thank you very much for your prompt reply.

If she wants to seek help from private service, do you have any recommendations?  Please PM me.

Dr.T

Comprehensive evaluation for student with specific learning difficulties (SLD) involves 2 parts: IQ test & SLD test. The reason that an IQ test must be done is that the psychologist has to rule out the possibility of slow learner or even mental handicap. As it involves two parts then it'll cost more.

Sorry I cannot give you any names here (as I can do the above tests myself but I don't want to self-advertise thru BK...also it'll be rather odd if I only give other people names but not myself...). Check the yellow pages and I'm sure you can find some numbers to call.

mattiemama

Dr. T,
Never mind...I understand your point and that's why I asked you to PM me Let me ask a stupid question, if i am to look for someone, what kind of specialist should I look for???? And I am wondering whether there is organisation like the medical council that I can look up for registered list for the specialists?

Dr.T

mattiemama 寫道:
1.[W]hat kind of specialist should I look for????
2.And I am wondering whether there is organisation like the medical council that I can look up for registered list for the specialists?

1. You need to look for psychologists who are registered with professional psychological societies. Usually they would called themselves registered (HK), licensed (US), or chartered psychologist (UK). It's important to get a qualified person to do the assessment. There're far too many people calling themselves "psychologists" in HK but in fact they are not. Assessments conducted by them is useless if not harmful. I just come across one this afternoon while web surfing. They are really shameless and that leads to your other question...is there any professional psychological society in HK?

2. Yes. It's called HK Psychological Society Co. Ltd. (isn't it weird for a professional body to have the term "Co. Ltd." behind its name???) but it doesn't represent all qualified psychologists in HK, I myself am not a member for various reasons. I choose to register in UK as the British Psychological Society is a more reputable one.

mattiemama

Dr. T,

Thank you for taking your precious time to give prompt replies to me... but I have further questions.

As you have said, qualified psychologist, like you, are not registered members of the professional body... so how can we tell who is good? Is it by trial and error... but you know as anxious parents, no one would want wasting time and lead to further delay... (my friend is already very late in trying to look for help, it will be a pity if time is further wasted in trial and error).   Of course, you may say, try to look for some reputable ones... but the point is I and my friend (I can say on her behalf, or else she will not seek my help) are not knowledgable in this area. So, are there any yardsticks for making further judgement.

I have read from the discussion thread from other parents here that there is a web page called http://www.dyslexia.org.hk... from the related organizations there, I found some names ... can I presume that they may be the better ones.  

virgokaren

Dr.T：

請問12歲還可以評估嗎？(讀寫困難)
如閱讀理解中文、數學文字題、英文spelling 如 new 看錯 now等等。
評估結果可以有什麼用途？
如有讀寫困難，在一般文法中學讀書，有什麼方法可以幫助他？
Thx

Dr.T

1. No. All qualified pscyhologists are registered members of professional bodies. I myself am a chartered psychologist in UK and they also maintain a list. I just choose not to be a member of the HK equivalent for various reasons.
2. As I haven't been to that site, not sure whether those psychologists are qualified or not. No harm get the name and ask them directly- "whether your report will be recognized internationally?"

mattiemama 寫道:
1. As you have said, qualified psychologist, like you, are not registered members of the professional body... so how can we tell who is good?
2. I have read from the discussion thread from other parents here that there is a web page called http://www.dyslexia.org.hk... from the related organizations there, I found some names ... can I presume that they may be the better ones.  

Dr.T

virgokaren 寫道:
1. 請問12歲還可以評估嗎？(讀寫困難)
2. 估結果可以有什麼用途？
3. 如有讀寫困難，在一般文法中學讀書，有什麼方法可以幫助他？

1. An experienced psychologist will use other assessments, rather than the original SLD test as it's only suitable for kids up to 10.5/11, in deciding whether the student is dyslexic or not.

2. To find out his/her major areas of strengths/weaknesses and suggest possible remedial strategies

3. That'll be a long story...basically you need to have the cooperation from the school and work hand-in-hand in helping the child. I have quite a number of dyslexic teenage clients but they are fortunate enough to be study in various international schools...

virgokaren

I have quite a number of dyslexic teenage clients but they are fortunate enough to be study in various international schools...

Dr.T:

Thanks for your quick reply.
你的意思是dyslexic teenages 只適合入讀 international schools 嗎？
因巳是中學了，入讀 int'l school 恐怕會很難適應，(也不容易入讀)。我(不是專家，只是家長的身份)覺得他只是輕微的讀寫困難，因如多讀幾遍(默書)，基本上可以應付的。我只是擔心他是否因大意看錯字，或是因為讀寫困難而經常看錯字，和經常詞不達意！
對她來說，作文絕對是超難的項目。

英文比中文易讀，是不是讀寫困難學童的特徵？
(因英文26個字母比較易看和記)
你認為值得在這時間為他再作一次評估嗎？
Thx！

mattiemama

Dr. T,

Thanks again for your valuable advice.

mrsphcheung

Dear Dr. T,
"I have quite a number of dyslexic teenage clients but they are fortunate enough to be study in various international schools..."

Can you share with us the merit side of sending dyslexia children to international schools?  Why do you think that children there have more opportunities to develop themselves?  Thanks.

Dr.T

Just most (not all, I must emphasize) international schools tend to be more open minded when dealing with kids with learning problems, as long as you get through the entrance requirement... Behaviour problem is another story and they'll be scared to see the term ADD/ADHD or even hyperactivity in kids' previous reports.

mrsphcheung 寫道:
Can you share with us the merit side of sending dyslexia children to international schools?  Why do you think that children there have more opportunities to develop themselves?  Thanks.

Dr.T

virgokaren 寫道:
1. 你的意思是dyslexic teenages 只適合入讀 international schools 嗎？
2. 英文比中文易讀，是不是讀寫困難學童的特徵？
3. 你認為值得在這時間為他再作一次評估嗎？

1. Not really...but it's hard to find a caring local secondary school nowadays.
2. Not necessary. Just too much effort is paid on rote memorizing the characters in learning Chinese. For English at least you can rely on limited phonics rules and use the computer (even during public examinations!)
3. Well, usually my teenage clients (in fact their parents) ask me to assess them only because they'll take part in public exam in the coming year and need someone to prove that they are dyslexic, so that they might be entitled to use computer and get extra time. Unless you plan to have follow up sessions, it might not worth doing that if not for exam arrangement.

chong

Hi, Dr T

I have a daughter who is at age 5+ and is studying at K3..and I've noticed that sometimes (not often) she mixed up the "directions" of some figures (e.g. 2, 3, 5, 7 and 9),  alphebetics (D, b, d, j, k)and even Chinese words (哥).  I've thought about taking her to some evaluation but some friends and teachers told me it is a quite common amond little kids and suggested me to wait until she is in P1 or P2.  If situation still prolongs or not improving, I shall then take her to do evaluation.  Is it true?  

Am I over anxious or it is right to look into the matter now?  Please advise.  Thanks.

Dr.T

chong 寫道:
I have a daughter who is at age 5+ ...

I'd say not too worry at age 5 but it worths paying a little bit extra attention as she's approaching 6. Notice the frequency of letter reversals and other possible symptoms of a dyslexic child. Do take her for further assessment if things still do not improve after 6/this time next year, as I'm sure she'll be in P.1 already then.

virgokaren

3. Well, usually my teenage clients (in fact their parents) ask me to assess them only because they'll take part in public exam in the coming year and need someone to prove that they are dyslexic, so that they might be entitled to use computer and get extra time. Unless you plan to have follow up sessions, it might not worth doing that if not for exam arrangement.

Dear Dr.T,

請問 HKCEE 會有以上的特別安排嗎？

現階段學校可作什麽才可以幫助這類學生？(如教材方面)
她讀的中學很照顧學生，或者我可試試 和校方商量。

如 int'l schools 一般是怎樣幫助 dyslexic 學生呢？

謝謝幫忙！

Dr.T

1.請問 HKCEE 會有以上的特別安排嗎？
2.現階段學校可作什麽才可以幫助這類學生？(如教材方面)
她讀的中學很照顧學生，或者我可試試 和校方商量。
3. 如 int'l schools 一般是怎樣幫助 dyslexic 學生呢？

1. With the official diagnosis from a qualified educational psychologist, they will.
2&3. A responsible school will adjust its method of teaching based on the EP's report. In this case, a detailed assessment is definitely required as every single dyslexic child is different.