BB FANS

Metro
Monday, May 28, 2007

Dyslexia is an excuse used by parents to stop their children being thought of as 'lazy, thick or stupid', an expert has claimed.

The condition makes a convenient cover, particularly for middle-class parents, said Prof Julian Elliott.

The symptoms – clumsiness and letter reversal – are similar to those seen in children who simply cannot read, the educational psychologist added.

'After years of working with parents, I have seen how they don't want their child to be considered lazy, thick or stupid,' said Prof Elliott, from Durham University.

'If they get called this medically diagnosed term – dyslexic – then it is a signal to all that it is not to do with intelligence.'

Prof Elliott, who doubts whether dyslexia exists as a medical condition, contributed to the 2005 documentary The Dyslexia Myth, which cast doubts on the condition.

Campaigners argue the condition affects up to one in ten children and often goes unrecognised by schools.

John Rack, from Dyslexia Action, said: 'There is ample evidence dyslexia exists. The argument there is no consistent means of identifying it is one cited by people who do not know enough about the subject.'

I read this article this morning and i thought how ignorant of a so called educated person to write such gibberish. Yes a small minority may be 'thick' and parents use it as an excuse, but if that is the case why are some of our best scholars and actors dyslexic.

My daughter was diagnosed at 11 with dyspraxia (clumsy child syndrome) which comes under the same umberella as dyslexia and her life was made hell by teachers. They kept saying she was lazy cos her writing was so bad. Obviously this was because she had no coordination and couldnt form her letters properly or hold a pen correctly. But orally she was very bright. She was supposed to be allowed extra time or given notes but not one teacher did this and every year at parents evening they would tell me how bad she was and i would explain that she had been statemented and should have had extra help but not one teacher thru all her high school days bothered to read her record.

She left school at 16 but found a fantastic tutor at college who understood. She passed all her exams and got an excellent job and is now studying for an honours degree.

She still has appalling handwriting and could trip over a matchstick. But my point is every child deserves as much help as possible and if that means the teachers being bothered to type up handouts or allowing a little extra time in exams then so be it

By the way the article i read was in the 'mail on sunday'

Yes that article doesn't do any favours to people who really do have dyslexia.

I'm sorry to hear about your daughter's problems, but am glad that she is now doing very well for herself. I can imagine that it must have been very hard for her at School.

wow. using something like that as an excuse, terrible