<p>Does anyone have any experience with kids discovering dyslexia in college?</p>
<p>My d, a top student at a top LAC (dean's list both semesters freshman year, only freshman to receive a paid research fellowship (in English!) and 2300 SAT's) has growing concerns that she may have dyslexia. She made an appointment with the Director of Special Needs to discuss her concerns and he agrees that she should be tested.</p>
<p>He told my daughter that it is fairly common to discover this diagnosis in college when the level of the work can expose the problem.</p>
<p>When I read the sites about dyslexia, she doesn't meet the obvious criteria, but she personally has concerns. </p>
<p>If your d got a 2300 on the SAT without accommodations, that means she is reading above expected fluency and accuracy. That doesn't totally rule out dyslexia, I guess, but she sure is compensating.</p>
<p>My son was tested in 5th grade and told he was fine, but he still struggles quite a bit with any type of reading. I am really nervous about all the reading he will encounter in college this fall. Is it worth testing him again? </p>
<p>His school sent out a survey last month, asking if students thought they may need help in any area, of which reading was listed. Should we start there?</p>
<p>If I were you I would start by hiring an educational psychologist to evaluate my child. I would make sure it is not someone affiliated with the school district in any way. Schools have a vested interest in NOT identifying LD's so they do not increase their costs.</p>
<p>I was diagnosed with a learning disability very late... </p>
<p>I made it through high school compensating. Essentially, I'd get straight A's on smaller tests and untimed assignments such as papers and presentations, and I'd be an active participant in class demonstrating knowledge of the material, but then I'd bomb big exams. My SAT's were also very high, but never jumped up to where I would have expected. For example, SATII Math 2c score was a 690, though I was expected to score well into the 700's. Each Math 2c question I answered was correct, but I left 15 unanswered because I was out of time. In school, I had a lot of trouble finishing tests and exams, but what I did answer was always correct, so I did well when I knew the material cold. I'd study for hours to ensure I knew minute details, hoping that I'd be able to spit back enough information onto a test paper before the teacher grabbed it from under my pencil. Once I was tested by an educational psychologist, I learned that I have difficulty processing written symbols and that I learn by listening. In other words, I got by in high school by listening in class and taking good notes, but as the work became more demanding and completing the assigned reading was critical to succeed, I faced trouble. In my senior year I was taking a special, super-advanced class that was analyzing a new book each week. Despite my love for literature, I just couldn't keep up. I was also balancing 4 other honors/AP classes, varsity athletics, extracurricular activities, and college applications. The literature course had daily P/F quizzes so the teacher could see who was doing the reading, and I started tanking. I reached a breaking point and got tested. My diagnosis is not necessarily dyslexia, but I call it that just to simplify the circumstances for a professor or friend who doesn't know the specificities of learning disabilities. I'm now much more relaxed knowing that I have the support I need. Freshman year of college was my first opportunity to use academic accommodations, and I got straight A's at a top university. If your daughter is feeling unusually stressed, I'd look into it.</p>
<p>^^^Thanks for sharing your experience with us. I'll have my son read what you wrote, as I think he can relate. The problem with many learning disabilities is that you can still do "well" in school so no one notices. No one knows what an "outstanding" student you could become with a little help.</p>
<p>After meeting with a clinical psychologist, he agreed that she should be tested. He said that smart and determined kids have lots of skills to compensate and that they can do well because of these compensation skills. </p>
<p>She just completed the testing and we should receive the results before fall semester begins. </p>
<p>I think that it is interesting to note MissFiskes comment about time limits with tests. My d has always taken the full time allowed for tests and the pschyologist noted that "she worked slowly".</p>
<p>Gosh, as a mom, I never would have worried about this with her! The only thing I can recall as a flag is that we have commented "for such a vorocious reader, she sure is a terrible speller". With kids growing up in the computer era of spell check, it is easier to mask this type of problem. I am particularily interested in the math component of dyslexia becuase that may have been our clue. She would do extrememly well in understanding higher level math until it came to the exam with time limits and formula recalls.</p>
<p>I discovered I official had dyslexia in November,but had suspected it for years. My High school said i was to smart so there for i could not receive help plus they did a crappy job at my testing. I had to fork out a lot of money in college just to find out. I was also diagnosed with 4 other LDs looks to me my school just did not want to help me.</p>