Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Twice Exceptional Dyslexic related retrieval problems---Huh??

So new doc (specializes in learning disabilities, not giftedness) evaluated our other 10yo twin DD and discovered that she has "dyslexic related retrieval problems". Hubby took DD as I had to stay with her twin sister and so didn't get to ask any questions. I am assuming this means she also has dyslexia???? If so, this would mean they both have it. Is that even statistically possible? Anyone have any recommendations for therapy? The doc will conduct some more testing for other LDs..seriously, don't we have enough already??? Any suggestions appreciated.

Yes, this likely means she has dyslexia, though the way the psych put it sounds like it's pretty well compensated in her case, and, no, it is not all that unusual for two siblings to have dyslexia, as there are clearly heritable contributors to it.

I'm guessing there were signs that she had difficulty retrieving symbolic or decontextualized information or skills? Automaticity?

AEH, as always your guidance is so appreciated. I don't recall which testing showed a problem (WISC vs WJIII..I think it was both) but yes, the local neuropsych who looked at the results from our testing this summer and who then did an eval thought that twin B's "decoding was worse than suggested in the report from this summer". Twin B had been getting straight 4's in school so we didn't recognize a problem..just had her tested because twin A has so many more than "2 e's". Is this something a speech/language or OT could help remediate?

Depends on what her actual deficit is. Does she know how to decode phonetically, but isn't efficient (fluency and automaticity), or does she lack actual phonetic decoding skills? Does auditory processing affect phonological processing (in which case, she's probably reading with a huge rote sight vocabulary)? If auditory processing is an issue in reading, there might be some benefit from speech/language therapy. Likewise, some slps do remediation for fluency, through programs such as Read Naturally. OT is probably not going to help, unless there are also fine motor or upper body tone or stability issues affecting writing.

If phonological processing is still weak, then Lindamood Bell, Orton Gillingham, etc. would be avenues to primary remediation of basic decoding, with secondary benefits for fluency.