I have a seven-year-old boy that is having a very difficult time learning to read.
Could there be some kind of chemical imbalance that could cause this? He is hyper at times and very quick-tempered.
I am sorry to hear about your son's difficulties. I doubt very much that this problem, or his behaviour, can be explained by a chemical imbalance.
However, there may well be a genuine problem here and you should seek help with this.
If your lad has been developing normally up until now since he was a baby and going through all the usual milestones at about the right time – things like walking, talking, potty training, developing social skills and other areas of work at school, then there is a distinct possibility that he may have a problem that will respond to expert help.
You say he is hyper at times and quick-tempered. This raised the possibility of ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder).
This is quite common and sufferers find it very difficult to concentrate on one task for very long. They jump from one activity to another and so do not give themselves to master anything well, like reading.
Their behaviour is often trying and they tend to be disruptive in class and with other children.
If your son fits in any way into this pattern, then you should see your GP and discuss the possibility.
There are specialists who deal with this sort of problem, either by medication, or other forms of therapy. In rare instances such behaviour can be due to food additives such as E-numbers and colourings, but this is quite unusual.
Another possibility is that your son might be dyslexic.
Dyslexia makes it very difficult for children to recognise words. They get very frustrated because of this and it can make them bad-tempered and disruptive.
Your school should be able to find out if your son is dyslexic, and you should ask them to exclude this possibility.
If there is no one in the school qualified to do so, then you can ask for a local education authority expert to assess him.
The NetDoctor Medical Team