unable to read or write properly

[deepank]

a twelve years old boy is coming for coaching for sixth standard. his handwriting is very very poor, he is not good at reading and remembering spellings correactly. moreover when i gave him to write some english words he wrote almost all the spellings wrong even by copying them from the book. although he is very good at remembering phone numbers, birthdates and all others dates. otherwise he is very independent like he can go market at his own. his medical history shows that he had suffered from asthma since his childhood. now he is on inhaler. moerover, he has suffered from typhoid also when he was very very young due to which his tongue just rolled and still sometimes he can speak clearly. so i wanted to know whether it can be case of problem like dyslexia or attention defficit hyperactivity syndrom. and how can i help this child to my best level. most important thing which type of educational system will be more helpful for him that is the traditional one in which the final exam is the final result or the modern US based in which there are weekly tests are taken in the school and grades are given. please reply me soon so that i can help him as soon as possible.

[ggreg]

There's also a chance he does not have dyslexia or attention deficit, but rather didn't receive proper early training in reading and writing.  Have an expert determine if he has a learning problem, which the above poster talks about.  If the child is normal, proceed teaching him much like a first-grader, except that he already has the language.  The mechanics he can learn through repetition, and spellings and word recognition he can learn through association of pictures to words, with the help of the phonetics method (do a search online for various approaches of teaching adults how to read and write).  The movie "Stanley and Iris" with Robert DeNiro shows how all this is done.  

[dr_simran]

Hello Dear,

The World Federation of Neurologists defined dyslexia as "a disorder in children who, despite conventional classroom experience, fail to attain the language skills of reading, writing, and spelling commensurate with their intellectual abilities." According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, dyslexia is a learning disability that can hinder a person's ability to read, write, spell, and sometimes speak. Dyslexia is the most common learning disability in children and persists throughout life. The severity of dyslexia can vary from mild to severe. The sooner dyslexia is treated, the more favorable the outcome; however, it is never too late for people with dyslexia to learn to improve their language skills.
Children with dyslexia have difficulty in learning to read despite traditional instruction, at least average intelligence, and an adequate opportunity to learn. It is caused by an impairment in the brain's ability to translate images received from the eyes or ears into understandable language. It does not result from vision or hearing problems. It is not due to mental retardation, brain damage, or a lack of intelligence.
The plan may be implemented in a Special Education setting or in the regular classroom. An appropriate treatment plan will focus on strengthening the child's weaknesses while utilizing the strengths. A direct approach may include a systematic study of phonics. Techniques designed to help all the senses work together efficiently can also be used. Specific reading approaches that require a child to hear, see, say, and do something (multisensory), such as the Slingerland Method, the Orton-Gillingham Method, or Project READ can be used. Computers are powerful tools for these children and should be utilized as much as possible. The child should be taught compensation and coping skills. Attention should be given to optimum learning conditions and alternative avenues for student performance. Perhaps the most important aspect of any treatment plan is attitude. The child will be influenced by the attitudes of the adults around him. Dyslexia should not become an excuse for a child to avoid written work. Because the academic demands on a child with dyslexia may be great and the child may tire easily, work increments should be broken down into appropriate chunks. Frequent breaks should be built into class and homework time. Reinforcement should be given for efforts as well as achievements. Alternatives to traditional written assignments should be explored and utilized. Teachers are learning to deliver information to students in a variety of ways that are not only more interesting but helpful to students who may learn best by different techniques. Interactive technology is providing interesting ways for students to feedback on what they have learned, in contrast to traditional paper-pencil tasks.
I appreciate your effort ,hope the above helps.
Refer  http://www.medicinenet.com/dyslexia/page5.htm
Best