A MUM whose son has dyslexia has set up a group to help other parents of children with the learning difficulty.

Frances Browne began the Worcestershire Dyslexia Parent Support Group with ex-teacher and special educational needs (SEN) specialist Victoria Crivelli.

Mrs Browne’s son Henry, 14, has dyslexia and she said: “When my child was diagnosed, I felt quite alone.

It’s estimated that up to one in 10 people in the UK has some degree of dyslexia. A child with the condition could have issues such as dyspraxia or ADHD.

“Not every child and every person is the same and dyslexia covers a massive area,” said Mrs Browne.

She added: “With my son we are now going down the autism route.The support group has a lot of parents coming to us with a lot of other problems. SEN support is an area that has been cut across the country.”

Dyslexic people often struggle with organisation skills and their short term memory can be affected. Mrs Browne said: “As a parent you are constantly having to be aware of their timetable so they have everything they need to take to school. Handwriting is also an issue. My son can write but he can’t read it and I can’t read what it says. As a young child you would tell him to go and put his shoes on and he would put his shoes on but with no socks – you would have to say, put your socks on and then put your shoes on.”

Children with dyslexia often struggle with academic tasks and this affects their confidence.

“With my son he will often say 'I can’t do it' because he is frightened of failing,” Mrs Browne said.

“He will know how to verbally say it but will end up writing something very simple because he cannot spell the words,” she added.

Some schools give dyslexic students extra time in exams as it can take them longer to process information, but Mrs Browne said not all institutions are so understanding.

“Sometimes people will think that you are just trying to get extra time in an exam," she said. "But giving them that extra 25 per cent will allow them to read it and process it, even if they are exhausted when they come out.”

Henry attends Christopher Whitehead Language College in Worcester. Mrs Browne said: “They have been massively supportive and very caring. For example, due to Henry’s problems we dropped a language quite early on.”

For more information visit hwda.org.uk/parent-support-group