Peetri, I'll second ash's advice. I have a dyslexic dd, who was not diagnosed until 3rd grade. I would give anything to be able to turn the clock back and start remediating when she was just learning to read. Intensive reading tutoring starting in 3rd did help her catch up to reading at grade level (now in 6th grade), but the difference in the vocabulary she *hasn't* picked up on in all those years as a struggling reader is tremendous when compared with her peers. She also simply doesn't like to read - so even though she *can* read and reasonably well now, she doesn't *choose* to read, which, again, makes a difference by the time a student is in middle school. It also closes out a section of culture which might not matter to some, but my other dd, by contrast, reads anything and everything, and she is able to discuss and enjoy popular books with her friends.
Reading also isn't a skill that is needed only in language arts - my dyslexic dd is really good at math - it's her area of strength - yet she doesn't test well, most often because she misses small things or misunderstands when she reads problem descriptions.
I'm surprised that you weren't able to find a tester who would test your ds. I realize that a number of years ago (I have friends with older children), it was thought that testing for LDs wasn't reliable until 7-8 years old, but my ds was in class with a girl with a dyslexia diagnosis in kindergarten, we have relatives with dyslexia who were diagnosed early, and most of the children who attend the same tutoring clinic my dd does are clearly very young, not yet in 2nd grade. The entire focus of the clinic is teaching reading to children with dyslexia and related challenges. My dd was diagnosed later, but in her case the impact of her dyslexia was very stealth and she kept it very well hidden for her first few years of school, up to the point she just couldn't hide it anymore.
Last note - accommodations are for intended for students who need them. It's possible your ds might need them, or he might not, depending on how learning to read goes for him. I would choose being able to read well over accommodations *anytime*. It will be MUCH less frustrating for your ds. Reading tutoring won't guarantee that he won't need accommodations, but it will give him reading skills which will be beyond beneficial. It will also give *you* a professional who knows your ds well and has worked with him - which may be exactly what you need when/if you do request accommodations for him in school.
Best wishes,
polarbear
