Has anyone ever heard of a learning problem like dyslexia in a child ? He sees numbers in reverse?

Question

He's having a hard time in school and he's not fooling around or on drugs. He just doesn't understand some things and I asked him if he had problems with seeing letters in the correct order (thinking about dyslexia). He said he doesn't have a problem reading the word but the numbers look like they are backwards to him. Has anyone heard of anything like this? I want to help him so much I just need to find out what the main problem so I know where to start. My goal tomorrow is to talk to each of his teachers and see what they have to say. Please any help would be helpfull to us. He's failing every class and is willing to do what ever it takes to help his grades improve.

Answer 1

how old is the child? Not that it matters, dyslexia doesn't care about age. BUT, it also doesn't choose letters or numbers. If you have it you have it, letters and numbers are seen backwards.  Sounds like he is just having trouble with numbers/math. You have the right idea speaking to the teachers in the am.  Not saying he can't have it, just saying don't jump to the worst case scenario first. Maybe it's math trouble, or eyesight, or something we haven't even thought of.

Tell them your concerns, and listen to their reply. FYI, the first meeting should always be a fact finding mission, listen more than you speak.   Good luck.  At least if it is, it is something treatable.

Answer 2

You don't say if this is a new problem for him or not.  For the record, difficulty with numbers specifically is called dyscalculia.  Reading can work for some with the problem  you describe because there are context clues- there aren't any clues in a math problem!  I agree that he should have a thorough eye-exam, it sounds like a problem interpreting visual/spatial stimuli.  How is his handwriting?  Sometimes occupational therapist can also help us understand visual input/ motor output problems.  I say talk to your school and request assessments be done to help you understand what your child's issues are.   You would likely start with informal ones before advancing to more formal assessment.

Answer 3

Dyslexia is not uncommon, and it affects perceptions of both words and numbers. If your son has been able to 'decode' the letter problem, he's a pretty bright kid. Working with numbers is a little more difficult because, while you can memorize the 'shape' of a word and remember what it means, you can't do that with numbers, once you get beyond double digits. That means big time problems in algebra, calculus and higher mathematics. Many teachers don't know what to do about it either - this is something that calls for a specialist. Best suggestion would be to phone your local university, talk to someone in the faculty of education, and ask who the foremost authority is in treating or working with dyslexic kids. The sad part of it is that most of them are very bright, but get turned off by the problems caused by letter and number reversal, and too many people (unhappily, that includes some teachers) are unable to recognize the problem and just conclude that he either isn't trying or isn't very bright. Get him the help he needs and he's going to shine!

best of luck to you both.

Answer 4

Go to the doctor to check his eyesight.  If it is fine, then maybe he is just have difficulty with math.  He should take resource room or be placed in special classes to compensate for his disability.