reading & yawning?........

[hanki]

Okay, this may sound like a really weird question, but first a little background information. My almost 9yo dd has many struggles with reading, writing and language. I believe that she may be dyslexic, but I have not had any formal testing done. She did have a neuro-psych evaluation done at the university and her test scores indicated that she does have some learning issues. She also had her vision checked for tracking issues and everything came back fine. Anyway, back to my question. When my daughter is reading, she is constantly yawning even though I know she is not tired. She does not do this with any other work that she does. Is this a common thing with children that struggle with reading? Or is it just a coincidence that she does it only when reading? Just curious......

Thanks

[ShelleyW]

My dd is dyslexic and she does this all the time and only when she is reading too. Check this link out:

 

http://www.hslda.org/strugglinglearner/sn_visual.asp

 

This clued me into her problem. She is doing VT right now and the therapist says that is a sign of fatigue meaning doing whatever activity she is involved in is very hard for her.

[hanki]

Wow! Thanks for the link. I will have to try those exercises out with her and see what happens. I thought maybe it was a long shot, that her struggles and yawning were related, but I thought I'd ask and I am glad I did. Thanks again!!

[FairProspects]

This was very common for ds when he was learning to read and only in reading. It doesn't happen so much anymore now that he has gained a bit of fluency, but I always took it as a sign that he was working very, very hard to process the information and was fatigued.

[FairProspects]

My dd is dyslexic and she does this all the time and only when she is reading too. Check this link out:

 

http://www.hslda.org/strugglinglearner/sn_visual.asp

 

This clued me into her problem. She is doing VT right now and the therapist says that is a sign of fatigue meaning doing whatever activity she is involved in is very hard for her.

 

My problem with this link is that these symptoms can also be signs of dyslexia, not just visual processing. Ds did have some visual issues, but he did more than 18 months of VT, and his tracking had resolved, according to both the VT doc and the neuropsychs. Despite the VT, he still displays most of the bulleted points as he is simply dyslexic. I agree that the yawning is a sign of difficulty or work by the brain, but I don't think it is only associated with visual processing difficulties.

[Quiver0f10]

My problem with this link is that these symptoms can also be signs of dyslexia, not just visual processing. Ds did have some visual issues, but he did more than 18 months of VT, and his tracking had resolved, according to both the VT doc and the neuropsychs. Despite the VT, he still displays most of the bulleted points as he is simply dyslexic. I agree that the yawning is a sign of difficulty or work by the brain, but I don't think it is only associated with visual processing difficulties.

 

:iagree: My son does the yawning too and has finished VT, as well as been seen by an eye specialist due to the watering eyes, but there are no physical issues. I think it's related to his dyslexia.

[Shawndrese]

My son does the same thing, but only when reading out loud (and he has no vision or reading issues). I have always just assumed he wasn't breathing properly/taking deep enough breaths in between words, and not getting enough oxygen. (I've heard lack of oxygen can cause yawning???)

[ShelleyW]

I do agree with the dyslexia connection b/c my dd is currently going through VT and while she has made great progress, she is still dyslexic and still struggles. I don't think the VT will cure her of dyslexia. I would take it as a sign that there is something to look deeper into and go from there.

[kareng]

I would agree with the dyslexia piece as my daughter has dyslexia and hates reading outloud. Every time she reads out loud she yawns, though it has become less as she has gotten better at reading. She never yawns when she's doing anything else. I find it very curious but I know how very hard she works at reading so it makes sense! As to VT, she just had her first evaluation this week (and there are issues). She is to have some visual, perceptual and motor testing done before the VT starts. Then we can see if the yawning is related to just dyslexia or if the other issues play into it as well.

[PeterPan]

My dh (not diagnosed but dyslexic) falls asleep with reading too. He reads very slowly, so it basically just puts him to sleep. Have you tried an OG-based program? (SWR, WRTR, Barton, whatever)

[hanki]

My dh (not diagnosed but dyslexic) falls asleep with reading too. He reads very slowly, so it basically just puts him to sleep. Have you tried an OG-based program? (SWR, WRTR, Barton, whatever)

 

We are currently using Verticy for phonics. It is okay, but just okay. Over the years, we have tried several O-G programs with no huge success. Most of the time I feel like I have failed her in some way and I am the cause of her reading struggles. She seems to understand the particular rule that we are working on at the time, but it all goes all the window when she sits down to read. I have been looking into Logic of English, as well as Barton for next year. I am just hoping that with frequent reading practice and a good solid O-G program, she will eventually have fewer struggles as she gets older.

[PeterPan]

Well when I did SWR with my dd to teach her to read, we put the words on flashcards and practiced reading them to automaticity. She couldn't sound out words. We would spell the words together, write them in her journal, read them back (now that she knew what the word was), and then put it on a flashcard to drill multiple times a day. Sometimes you'll find advice other places (non-OG) to put words on flashcards and drill them. SWR didn't encourage torture reading, and dd couldn't do it. For us the flashcards worked. They were with understanding, but they were definitely flashcards.

[razorbackmama]

My dh (not diagnosed but dyslexic) falls asleep with reading too. He reads very slowly, so it basically just puts him to sleep. Have you tried an OG-based program? (SWR, WRTR, Barton, whatever)

This is my husband to a T. He hates to read because it puts him to sleep.

 

Guess what he does a lot for his job (he's a public health veterinarian)?:glare:

 

ETA: He has flat out told me that reading is absolutely EXHAUSTING for him.

[mchel210]

I do this all the time. Im not dyslexic but I never thought about it much. I yawn a lot!! Horrible when reading aloud. I think it has to do with the way I take breaths while reading. I never do it when I speak or was giving speeches?

 

It is interesting how many others here have the same issues with dyslexia. I am interested to follow this thread and see who else has these issues.

[razorbackmama]

I sometimes do it when I'm reading aloud...very annoying! And yes, I think it has to do with the way I'm breathing or something.

 

My poor dh though - he reads silently (ugh I hate listening to him read aloud LOL), and he just passes out. Vet school was a blast for him, lemme tell ya.:glare:

[delaney]

I yawn all the time when reading aloud but I know I am not dyslexic. I read well before age 5 and I read very quickly(silently). For me it is that I am simply exhaling more while I read and not taking in deep enough breathes when I pause. If I concentrate on the intake I stop yawning. Just thought I would throw that out there.:D

[Slipper]

I yawn a lot when I sing and frequently when I read out loud. (I love to read and was an early and huge reader).

 

If you don't think it's related to reading/boredom/sleepy, then maybe breathing properly?

[LaughingCat]

When I was in college and had to read text books and had my contacts in - I would be out like a light. All my contacts (near sighted) did was make the words a little blurry around the edges (kinda how everything is now that I'm getting older :sigh: ) It didn't bother me with novels, but textbooks.... :snore: