Dyslexia and ADHD Why These Smart Kids Struggle with the FCAT

The FCAT is a tricky, high stakes test. Schools in Florida spend 7 months preparing for the FCAT, and even a typical student feels the stress.

Now let's take Michael and Allie. Two children who have Dyslexia -- a problem with words.

We asked their parents three questions:
- Does your child remember places visited, even from years ago?

- Does your child learn best when seeing and experiencing information?

- Does your have difficulty paying attention during the FCAT?

Michael's mom answered yes to all three -- and Allie's dad had to check. He called back and said yes to all three -- and he asked "How did you know to ask those questions?"

My name is Mira Halpert, M.Ed. Two of my four kids have Dyslexia and ADHD. I now realize that most children with Dyslexia have an uncanny ability to learn best when they see and experience information -- and we label them right-brained learners.

1/3 of the right-brained learners we have tested have ADHD (Attention Deficit Disorder) and another 1/3 have ADHD like challenge

Michael's mom was frustrated though. She knew her son had Dyslexia and ADHD issue, but the school gave him no accommodations. They told her that neither Dyslexia nor ADHD issues qualified her son for Special Education, an IEP (an Individualized Education Plan) or extra time on any test - and certainly not on the FCAT.

Allie's mom had been luckier. She had learned the magic words -- that ADHD does qualify a student for Special Education under OHI or Other Health Impaired, if the ADHD significantly impacts the student's academic performance and she would benefit from Special Education Services - but Allie still failed theFCAT.

We asked three more questions:
- Does your child have trouble with the little words on the FCAT -- why, what, which is the best answer? Both parents answered yes.

- Does your child have trouble remembering words they have previously learned? Matt's mom said no, and Allie's dad said yes. Not every child has every challenge.

- Does your child get anxious the week of the FCAT? Michael's moms said yes, and Allie's dad said she got sick for weeks, if not months before the FCAT.

The five biggest challenges for the child with Dyslexia and ADHD issues include:
- The FCAT is hard -- and both these problems together make the test very difficult.

- The sight word vocabulary and pattern recognition problems are rarely understood and almost never addressed - by either schools, tutors or learning centers.

- The FCAT is a long, boring and frustrating test -- and it is difficult for ADHD children to sustain their attention.

- The anxiety challenge is understood, but rarely overcome.

- Very few people test for the learning differences, only a few realize ADHD can qualify for extended time and a quiet setting, and very, very few professionals address the sight word vocabulary, pattern recognition, ADHD, anxiety and getting the right accommodations at school, with an integrated effort.

Mira Halpert M.Ed. developed and directs the 3D Learner Program (R) in Boca Raton. Mira prides herself on addressing the whole child and transforming Stress into Outrageous Success. 3D Learner offers Right-Brained Assessments, Right-Brained Programs and addresses Dyslexia, ADHD and all the issues raised above. For more information visit Make the difference Parents or call 3D Learner at 561-361-7495.