Dear Ruth,

My daughter is in first grade. She seems to be writing her numerals and letters backwards: 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, b, d, q, p, r, n, g. She is aware of the letters she does this with. Her teacher seems to think that she has dyslexia. I do not agree. I think she is in a hurry, and does not pay attention to what she is actually putting on the paper. But her father is dyslexic. Is this within her genes and passed down, or is this the normal learning sequence for children who do not apply themselves to writing?

L.G.

Dear L.G.,

Reversals in writing are very common among first graders. Labeling this behavior 'dyslexia' is not a good idea, since it may lead to self-limiting expectations by your daughter and her teachers.

Is your daughter able to learn the 'direction matters' rule on this web site? Is she able to copy the letters and numerals 'forward?' If so, you might make it worth her while to slow down and do her best so that she can practice them accurately and learn them with certainty.

Is this a tendency passed down in her genes? I would not get too excited over this possibility. Some of our strengths and weaknesses are inherited. Perhaps it is her tendency to 'hurry' that is inherited! Focus on her ability to learn what she needs to know, and remember that most learning differences do not need to be labeled as disabilities at all.

Best Wishes,

Ruth Alice Jurey, M.S.
Speech/Language Pathologist