Any mirror writers here?

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My son mirror writes. It has plagued him all his academic life especially in math. His work always came back with red pen through all the mirrored numbers. His answers would be right but they would always mark it wrong because of the mirrored numbers. Now he's at Uni and doing really, really well but when I saw him recently and asked how things were he said he wishes he didn't mirror write. It's his biggest problem. Reading back over what he has written doesn't help. He doesn't see the mistake until someone points it out, usually with a red pen. He isn't conscious of doing it at the time and it's worse if he is concentrating more on what he wants to write rather than how he is writing which is what happens in exams. So does anyone have any tips for stopping mirror writing?

Does he happen to have accommodations through university? If so, would this be something they could add to the list of exceptions, or, could he have accommodations for this, specific trait? What is he majoring in? Will this effect the line of work that he wishes to get into? I am not a professional, but, in my opinion, I would want him to refrain from having to put too much focus on this issue, if it doesn't significantly, effect him, and his work is not suffering. I'm sure others will have more effective suggestions. I am interested in this, however. Off the subject, I like your avatar.

My GF has dyslexia and used to mirror write , she said what worked for her was practicing individual letters repeatedly until it stuck. She was 9 when she started practicing and it took years to make it better , she said if she had to start writing essays again the mirror writing would return until she practiced individual writing of letters again. She said it works the same for numbers but easier to learn as there less of them and some numbers are the same mirrored. Although the practice may appear childlike it fixed things for her - this is advice given to her by a special dyslexic teacher.

He doesn't get any accommodations. He's studying law in Japan and they aren't an accommodation culture. Being foreign, they do allow him to take a japanese - english dictionary into exams but that's all. I think because he is writing in characters that he's finding the mirror writing more problematic. There are thousands of characters. He knows them, he just often writes them backwards.

He found numbers hard at school because he has inherent dislike of odd numbers. From early childhood he found them uncomfortable and he would mirror them which for him, made them less uncomfortable. It's a synasthetic thing. They make me uncomfortable too. When I was growing up I thought they were called odd numbers because they were odd, uncomfortable things.

And Britte, thanks for liking my avatar. When I first saw it I thought OMG it's me

oh, wow, Japanese. this put things in a whole other realm, so to speak. indeed, now that I have been getting a sense of you, your avatar does seem fitting. I think it is great. I experience several combinations of synesthesia, my self. only a single one, related to numbers, however. Interesting what you have described. I am going to do some research. I find mirror writing, interesting. I have dyscalculia, but, I don't relate this to that. I assume things are a bit more ridged, in terms of learning differences in Japan.

Has he tried using a PC with a Japanese layout ?

He does have a Japanese keyboard on his computer but he can't take it into exams. Essays are OK because he types them. It's only the writing in exams that's causing him grief. He's getting straight S's which are 90 to 100% so he's doing really well but mirroring adds an extra level of stress to exams and he is a bit of a stress head already.

That's a difficult predicament. I know you said Japan does not have an accommodation culture but has he actually spoken to anyone in authority at the Uni about his issues.

Sadly he wouldn't talk to anyone even if they would listen. He is fiercely independent and will not ask for help, even from us. He is a stubborn sod. It's why he is where he is. Nothing was going to stop him from living his dream. He has an iron will and asking for help just isn't in his nature. When we went to visit him, we found he didn't have any furniture in his apartment. We really, really wanted to buy him some but he wouldn't let us. We have left him money to buy some and told him that next time we visit, if he hasn't bought some then we will even if he hates us for doing it. He has spent a year living out of cardboard boxes. For an exceptionally bright person, he can be very frustrating.

Perhaps he will, eventually, find himself in a situation that will leave him no choice, but, to let go of his 'stubbornness' and take action, in terms of the issues he experiences with mirror writing. Or, as he continues to mature, he could develop a willingness to give in to such things, as asking for support, concessions, help from outside sources, and allowing others, including you/his parents, to be of more support. I can relate to your description you give of your son, profoundly. I was the same way, however, over time, I had no choice, but, to acquire support to properly cope with some traits I possess. Anyway, I wish your son/you/your family, much success.

I had to look up 'sod', as sod is something, entirely different, over here. 'Grass and the part of the soil beneath it, held together by its roots or another piece of thin material', (<---taken from Wikipedia), is what is referred to as 'sod' in my neck of the woods.

Last edited by Britte on 16 Jul 2017, 11:52 pm, edited 2 times in total.

Thanks Britte, I hope as he matures he will become more realistic. When I'm with him I try to keep reminding myself of a quote from Mark Twain which goes "When I was 7 I thought my Father knew everything. When I was 17 I thought he knew nothing. When I was 27 I was surprised by how much he had learnt in 10 years." With luck age will soften him a bit. Right now he's all sharp and angular.

My pleasure, of course! That seems a most fitting quote for you to utilize...!