Is it ok for a 9-year-old to have difficulty reading?

Question

My son obviously has difficulty learning. However he is a brilliant musician and knows his way around electronics. Should I be super concerned. Or should I accept that he will learn at a slower pace. I do not have the option to find professional help as I live in a remote area of India.

Answer 1

It is, if she has always been a slow reader. Some things to consider are: eyesight, maybe she has difficulty seeing what she is reading, or Dyslexia.

Try reading with her and check for anything out of the normal. If everything looks ok, encourage her and help her out.

Answer 2

See above.  I have used Hooked on Phonics with my own son and the results are amazing.  Also try the website www.starfall.com . . .  it's a phonetic based website put out by the U.S. Department of education.  The graphics and content may be a bit youthful for your son but it will certainly give him the basic concepts of the English language.  Good luck.

Answer 3

it's not okay, since children his age are already reading by that age. have him evaluated, psychointellectually. there are tests to determine learning difficulties and giftedness in some areas of development. you can always ask for referrals from his counselor or school psychologist for this.

Answer 4

He might be dyslexic.  Even if you are remote, try to find some internet sites to see if there are some testing that can be done online.  Good luck and take care.

Answer 5

I didn't start reading for pleasure until I was 11-12. I never did learn phonics and didn't start spelling well until I was over 50.

Some of us are just slow learners without being learning disabled.

Have him start with things he wants to read even if it is comic books. When you only know half the words it is hard to want to read so have him read out loud and tell him the words that don't come to him.

Answer 6

Try going to hookedonphonics.com for call 1-800-ABCDEFG