Crabgrass by Tauhid Bondia for August 30, 2024

Ok, this just got very interesting. I now have a little more sympathy for his attitude towards schoolwork

For me, they blur together into black blobs. So I can only read for an hour. My doc said this was not uncommon with ADHD because I have lost the focus. So I need to put the book down and do another activity for a while. Then I can return.

Man, not a good move, Mom!

Oh boy, I feel an Unwanted Glasses Plot coming.

My seeing problems started in 8th grade. Couldn’t make out letters on the chalkboard. Mom got me to an optometrist and I wore glasses for the next 40+ years. When I started my last job I was still wearing them until I had been driving a box truck for sometime and my vision changed to the other direction. Now I don’t wear glasses except for sun and nighttime driving.

To get an idea of what dyslexia is like, try reading upside down. You’ll find yourself skipping words, missing lines, and being too frustrated for the words to sink in. A have a very dyslexic son. This helps me to understand his experience.

Interesting, and it could be few different directions.

Dr. Padgett: “I’m here to ask to read your copy of Robomancers when you’re done. My copy has blood and intestinal bits on it.”

Good move from mom, hope it is the right type of doctor.

Janine’s a nurse. How’d a mom/nurse miss something like this? Because when it’s the norm for a kid, there aren’t any defining signs. And the signs there are can be so many different things. Janine’s also a GOOD MOM, and a GOOD NURSE. Once she suspects (or is told by Kevin in this case), she acts in the best interest of Kevin. And because she’s in the medical profession, I’m certain Doctor Padgett is and ideal choice.

I have a co-worker who is Dyslexic. In the past, I have heard some our fellow workers say behind his back that he is not very smart because he is a slow reader. When they say things like that, I tell them a little bit about him. He came from a local police department before our current employer. He MEMORIZED all of the pertinent sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated that he needed to be able to cite quickly to do his daily job. He can build or fix just about any type of structure. Repair any type of heavy equipment and built his own house from plans he and his wife drew up. I am not bragging on myself when I say that I am a smart man. My friend is the smartest man I know. Dyslexia is a condition that should Never be mistaken for a lack of intellect.

How many fingers do you see, Kevin?

Cool strip.

I didn’t see this development coming. But, if Kevin is dyslexic it is better he knows and can work on overcoming it. Obviously, the right material can keep him engaged. And, despite his grades, he is as creative and intelligent as Miles.

Good move, Mom!

I wonder if his twin has the same condition but figured her own way through.

Looks like this is gonna lead us into a major milestone for the strip.

Look at Kevin’s face. He knows he’s going to get dyslexia shots.

Boy, diazch408, I don’t think you will find anyone who agrees with you.

At his age I loved to read but to do so I had to hold the book about 2 in before me. My Dad noticed and said I needed glasses. My Mom took me to the eye dr who said he’s got a stigmatism and will grow out of it. So Dad got overruled . I struggled with reading all thru school and bought my own glasses at age 20 with my own money. Im 76 and still have a stigmatism.

I like that this happened fast, that he simply needed to get to Janine and being a nurse, she knows someone.

Dyslexics of the world, untie!

no. this isn’t fair. Kevin doesn’t deserve this.

I have three things to say based on the three ideas people have suggested is going on with Kevin – bad eyesight, ADHD, dyslexia.

1. Even if the eyesight is very bad, it can be hard to recognize from the outside. And of course, from the inside children think their vision is normal. Everybody does! All children should see an eye doctor when they first start school, and ideally yearly afterwards – but if insurance won’t cover it and you think there’s no sign of problems then every other year is okay. We’re now learning that time spent outside, in sunlight, may keep the eyeball from growing malformed and leading to myopia, or worsening it once it’s already there.

2. ADHD is heavily comorbid with other learning disabilities such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, autism, and so on. It’s a fun little twisty lump of neurodivergence, and it’s all very highly heritable. So if one person in the family has one of those conditions, it’s very likely other people do as well. You might not know this, though, because neurodivergent people often selectively associate with other neurodivergent people – I’m pretty sure, in fact, that’s how my parents originally met!

3. While it’s easy enough to have ADHD diagnosed via the public schools, as they’re legally obligated to do once they have a request in writing, in my experience schools in the Anglosphere are extremely reluctant to diagnose dyslexia, probably because then they’d have to do something about it. You’re better off going private practice for that. This will be spendy. Insurance is supposed to cover it. Once it’s diagnosed, schools are also reluctant to treat it, as they’re legally obligated to do, probably because that costs money. They’re willing enough to give extended time on tests or to allow kids to not be graded on homework, but they’re reluctant to do the one thing that dyslexic kids really need, which is sustained training with an evidence-based systematic phonics program. Be prepared to argue with them!

Dyslexia?

Mom taught grade school and then exclusively remedial reading. When my Brother’s son had reading problems, she correctly diagnosed it as dyslexia.(in the ’90’s).

A possible case of dyslexia?