Be afraid. Be very afraid.
DON’T google “diet and dyslexia.” For the sake of your child, your bank account, and your peace of mind, don’t. I did it for you and, well, just don’t. Only one of the first five results is helpful. The other four will lead you down rabbit holes of essential fatty acids, “right brain dominance,” and outrageous claims.
Lock up your credit card
Don’t buy anything without checking it out with a specialist you trust. This advice refers to services as well. There are many expensive “treatments” that have not been shown to work. There may be free or inexpensive programs that are similar to expensive ones.
Safe surfing
Internet searches can cause you to worry too much or too little or spend too much or too little money. But who can resist the appeal of 22,300,000 results in 0.68 seconds?
Ask a professional–your examiner, a pediatrician– for recommendations.
Let us do the work for you. I include a list of helpful websites in my reports. I send parents who worry early and often to an omnibus site like ldonline that will give them plenty of solid information while they are waiting for test results.
Be wary of .com sites
Some, like webmd.com, are safe to skim. Some want your money for unproven treatments and devices. Some just want to rile you up. Only visit .com sites if you are directed there by a reputable source.
Start with .edu and .gov
Searching “dyslexia.edu” takes you to an entire page of reputable sites.
Searching “dyslexia.gov” sends you to resources that include the CDC guide to learning disorders and the Tennessee government dyslexia site.
Follow links from these reputable sites.
General information about learning disabilities:
Reading disabilities/dyslexia:
International Dyslexia Association
ADHD:
Read more
Psychology Today: Bad Ideas About Dyslexia (in case you missed it above)
International Dyslexia Association: Too Good to Be True
Reading Rockets: LD, Dyslexia and Vision
Talk to me!
Is there a topic you’d like to read about? Email your suggestions to contact@sjunedye.org
Fast Take
Start with .edu and .gov sites.
Only follow .com sites that are recommended to you by a reputable source.
Check with a professional you trust before spending money for services or products you read about online.