What a roller coaster I have been on for the last few days!!!

[RATTER15]

On Thursday last week I commented on here about my Stepdaughter being Dyslexic. This lead me to reading a story of another girl that was Dyslexic and she describes her life as a Dyslexic. Her story was actually very upsetting to me, for two reasons.

1. this girl has gone through so much heartache in her life and still is suffering because of Dyslexia.

2. It was also like reading my own life story in so many respects.

I concluded from this that I am also certainly Dyslexic.

I don't suppose anybody noticed that I haven't been on AB since Thursday hardly at all,
I took a pre-assessmet test on the "British Dyslexia Association" website that suggests I am a moderate to severe Dyslexic.

I always thought that Dyslexia only affected reading and writing skills, How wrong I was, I have spent 3 days exploring Dyslexia in all its forms and I actually suffer from most of them, well I say suffer, some of the symptoms are actually very positive as well.

I have since spoken to an assessor who agrees I certainly need to be tested.

I see this as a very positive thing, this has made me see my whole life in a different perspective. :-)

[Bobbisox]

and how brave to come on and say this RATTER, I wish you well, your posts are always upbeat and lovely to read
take care, although I am sure we will se a lot more of you, I hope so
Bobbi x

[LoftyLottie]

Well done Ratter - and some people, even teachers, as we found out in that other thread, still insist it doesn't exist.

Like you I have done loads of research because of my son's situation. It is surprising how many things click into place when you start doing research.

I can't tell left from right and apparently that is a dyslexic thing as well!!

[RATTER15]

Thank You Bobbi, to me finding that I'm almost certainly Dyslexic is like the bits of worlds largest jigsaw puzzle falling into place.

Everything now makes so much sense. its a little like winning the lottery, only I'm still skint lol.

[whiskeryron]

Hi Ratter15,how nice to hear from you, sorry to learn of your discovery but knowing you I know you will (if you haven't already done so) adapt & move on & meet your problems head on. The very best of luck mate to you & your stepdaughter, chin up.Ron.

[Bobbisox]

I am pleased for you that there is a positive side to this RATTER

[RATTER15]

thank you LL, It never occurred to me before, I have always had dreadful handwriting, and my punctuation is virtually non existent, my spelling isn't fantastic but OK, I read OK, and I don't see jumbled letters and I don't write jumbled letters.

If you could see what I write without the spell checker, lolol

[The Builder]

Good for you Ratters ........... it's not as uncommon as most people think.
My business partner of thirty years is severe. He always says he can do anything as long as I "do the numbers" ........... "and the writing" ....... :o)
Incidentally, he bought his first house in Northam ...... but I don't think that has anything to do with it though ;o)

[RATTER15]

Ron, thank you and please dont be sorry, im not!!

[ethandron]

ratters, if it ever comes on tv again (or if you can find it over the internet or by some other technical magic), kara tointon did a programme about dyslexia as she herself suffers from it. it was a very interesting programme and i learned a lot. i guess this is a whole new chapter to your life now and i wish you well :)

[RATTER15]

Ethandron, ive seen clips of kara tointon on you tube, I will go back and check it out. Yes it is a whole new chapter, it also puts a new look on so many of the old chapters as well.

[Bobbisox]

RATTER this thread is kind of bitter sweet
what a lovely person you must be

[anneasquith]

ratter ..well this is very intreresting, it just proves our grasp of some issues are totally wrong,,,,,please keep us posted,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, and as always stay out of trouble you wee devil,,,,,,,, i hope your " ladies " are well..anne

[ummmm]

I have a friend whose brother has dyslexia and dyspraxia.....he has suffered so badly it's made him a social outcast (in his head) and at the moment is going through a really dark time.

[pa___ul3]

you've clearly got a great attitude towards it, a kind of 'it's there, let's work out how to work with it' attitude which I believe is the best way! To add to the other stories, I had an ex who was dyslexic, last year she finished her PHD. I used to also work with a girl who had next to no short term memory which is another form.
You're clearly going to be an excellent role-model to your step daughter in approaching this! I'd like to virtually shake your hand Mr Ratter!

[Mamyalynne]

Well as humans that we are, we are all made of many parts and this is one of yours. The positive spin on it is heart warming to read and has given you such an insight it can only be for the good. I have a family member who is dyslexic and he holds a high managerial position, so as you say not a drawback just a facet of your wonderful self.

We are forever learning about ourselves,take good care Ratter.

Mamya ♥

[LoftyLottie]

I don't think a lot of people realise that dyslexia takes many, many forms. It isn't all to do with reading and writing and letters being mixed up. I hate the fact that so many joke about it. It really is not a joke having dyslexia.

The upside is that dyslexia people often develop very lateral thinking skills and can do extremelly well in life. They are often very resourceful!

[RATTER15]

Indeed LL, so many forms and not all negative. This is a list of salient points that mostly affect me on a daily basis, they are also key symptoms taken from The British Dyslexia Association web site and other National Dyslexia help sites.
• May avoid reading and writing tasks.
• May have poor memory skills.
• May pay too little attention to details or focus too much on them.
• May have difficulty with planning, organizing and managing time, materials and tasks.
• Avoids writing; may not be able to write.
• Often has good "people" skills.
• Erratic spelling.
• Difficulties with sequences e.g. date order.
• Inaccurate number work.
• prone to motion-sickness
• Can count, but has difficulty counting objects.
• Learns best through hands-on experience, demonstrations, experimentation, observation, and visual aids.
• Reads and rereads with little comprehension.
• Has extended hearing; hears things not said or apparent to others; easily distracted by sounds.
• Difficulty putting thoughts into words.
• Can be class clown.
• Prone to ear infections.
• Strong sense of justice; emotionally sensitive; strives for perfection.
• Mistakes and symptoms increase dramatically with confusion, time pressure, emotional stress, or poor health.
• Poor memory for sequences, facts and information that has not been experienced.
• writes everything as one very long sentence.
• becomes visibly tired after reading for only a short time.
• Writing is a slow, laboured, non-automatic chore.
• frequently loses his/her place when copying.
• They have extremely messy bedrooms, lockers, desks, backpacks, purses, offices, and garages.
• Has poor confidence and self-esteem.
• Has areas of strength a

[RATTER15]

Thanks again Bobbi, What a lovely crowd you lot are :-) I'm not sure everybody would agree that I'm a lovely person, I know my thoughts on religion have upset people (even that ties in with Dyslexia to a degree) but I am happy with the person that I have become, largely due to many things that have happened through my life.

[marval]

I think it is very brave of you to come on here and tell us. You have obviously come to terms with the fact, I wish you well. This need not be a barrier to things you do, there is a lot of support out there I am sure. I believe that now you know it will make your life a little easier to understand

[RATTER15]

Marval, I don't think Ive been brave at all. I'm far from coming to terms with all this actually but I'm going with the flow. There is a lot of help available and researching all this stuff is a very emotional task.