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New test to reveal dyslexia at an earlier age

admin
February 2nd, 2015


This article is more than 9 years old.

National test a boost for students with the learning disorder

The education minister, Christine Antorini, has unveiled a new national dyslexia test that will identify students suffering from the learning disability across the education spectrum from the third grade all the way up to further education.

The Education Ministry – in co-operation with the Social Ministry, the University of Copenhagen and Aarhus University – has developed a new test that incorporates internationally-renowned dyslexia research.

”It's important that pupils and students with dyslexia are given the opportunity to complete an education on equal footing with other students,” Antorini said.

”Now we can offer all schools and institutions free testing tools that can provide a vocational and solid foundation to help students with dyslexia receive the correct guidance and teaching.”

READ MORE: Cutbacks move disabled kids to ordinary daycares

Smoother transition 
Until now, a common practice for identifying students with dyslexia has been lacking, leading to an unnecessary barrier for students in the education system in Denmark. In the past, too many disparate methods have made it difficult for students to have their dyslexia and the scope of the disability identified.

The new test will allow for a more smooth transition between education levels for people with dyslexia, which account for 3-7 percent of the Danish population.

People suffering from the learning disorder have a tougher time learning to read written words because they have difficulty in connecting letters with their vocal sounds.


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A survey carried out by Megafon for TV2 has found that 71 percent of parents have handed over children to daycare in spite of them being sick.

Moreover, 21 percent of those surveyed admitted to medicating their kids with paracetamol, such as Panodil, before sending them to school.

The FOLA parents’ organisation is shocked by the findings.

“I think it is absolutely crazy. It simply cannot be that a child goes to school sick and plays with lots of other children. Then we are faced with the fact that they will infect the whole institution,” said FOLA chair Signe Nielsen.

Pill pushers
At the Børnehuset daycare institution in Silkeborg a meeting was called where parents were implored not to bring their sick children to school.

At Børnehuset there are fears that parents prefer to pack their kids off with a pill without informing teachers.

“We occasionally have children who that they have had a pill for breakfast,” said headteacher Susanne Bødker. “You might think that it is a Panodil more than a vitamin pill, if it is a child who has just been sick, for example.”

Parents sick and tired
Parents, when confronted, often cite pressure at work as a reason for not being able to stay at home with their children.

Many declare that they simply cannot take another day off, as they are afraid of being fired.

Allan Randrup Thomsen, a professor of virology at KU, has heavily criticised the parents’ actions, describing the current situation as a “vicious circle”.

“It promotes the spread of viruses, and it adds momentum to a cycle where parents are pressured by high levels of sick-leave. If they then choose to send the children to daycare while they are still recovering, they keep the epidemic going in daycares, and this in turn puts a greater burden on the parents.”