Originally Posted by Imperator

si modo , since you and I work I think with some and in the same environment at times, as to- elements, compounds, chemicals etc. or close to it, we both know that there are a huge number of such loaded with many 'traps' for dyslexics, a spelling of a chemical compound with say an average of 12 letters, with multiple ch's,sh's, y’s, x's, z' can, I think confuse a dyslexic.

there for my concern is; if they cannot master a multiple choice, how can they master their craft as to prescriptions, test results , operating procedures calling for review of such?

Originally Posted by Si modo

There is a broad range of how dyslexia can affect a student or a professional. You have a good point and something many chemists discuss, even among the faculty (but that is behind closed doors). I did have an excellent student who told me he was dyslexic. He chose to not request accomodations for exams. And, I never would have known he was dyslexic had he not mentioned it.

Originally Posted by Imperator

si modo , since you and I work I think with some and in the same environment at times, as to- elements, compounds, chemicals etc. or close to it, we both know that there are a huge number of such loaded with many 'traps' for dyslexics, a spelling of a chemical compound with say an average of 12 letters, with multiple ch's,sh's, y’s, x's, z' can, I think confuse a dyslexic.

there for my concern is; if they cannot master a multiple choice, how can they master their craft as to prescriptions, test results , operating procedures calling for review of such?

Originally Posted by Hafke

Oh, dear god. At first I thought this was a "political correctness gone mad" story beloved of papers like the Daily Mail, but it's in the reputeable papers as well:

A medical student in Britain is suing the General Medical Council for discrimination because, as a dyslexic, she finds some of the tests she needs to pass to qualify as a doctor difficult.

I don't want to be treated by a dyslexic doctor | Stephen Pollard - Times Online

Full Coverage: Dyslexia student's legal bid

I can't be the only one who thinks that difficult tests don't discriminate, they weed out. Also, while I know some extremely intelligent dyslexics, I wouldn't want them treating me.

Originally Posted by drgoodtrips

I remember when we were taking our college entrance exams (SAT test) that there were any number of kids in my area (a wealthy one) that had their parents shell out a lot of money for the "Princeton Review" which was a course that taught students how to take the SAT test. I had neither the money nor the interest to take it myself, but some of my friends did and shared their "learning" with me. If you can eliminate two of the four answers guessing makes sense, go through and do the easy ones first, do the math problems by plugging the answers into the original equation and see which one works, and any other number of common sense inanities. That was enough of an interesting advantage that could be had to prevent the playing field from being leveled across economic strata.

There was also the interesting phenomenon of those with LD's being able to take the test un-timed. First off, I think there is a portion of the population that has learning disabilities, and that there are probably some sorts of accommodations that can be made. However, in rich areas the number of kids with learning disabilities magically increases. I'm not sure whether this is because there are a lot of kids that want to be perscribed legal speed that they can snort before going to parties, because there are a lot of angry, rich parents demanding an explanation other than "you're kid's just not very bright", because learning disabilities confer an automatic advantage in our equality obsessed society, or some combination of these factors. But, there it is. All sorts of kids got to swallow concentration pills, sit in rooms by themselves, and not worry about timing. That was 10 years ago - hell, maybe they just give them one out of every three answers now. Though I was and am ambivalent about that occurring, I recall thinking that it was unfair and absurd (though, I was in no position to complain as a night of heavy drinking before the test had been my own potential adjustment of test results )

But, I've thought about something recently. In the US, there is an enormous flap these days about athletes and performance enhancing drugs. Not only is it illegal (and apparently immoral), but it tarnishes the very nature of the game - it's unfair. In a competitive environment, they are taking drugs to gain an edge. And yet, nobody seems to think anything of loading their children up on prozac and adderall (basically, prescription cocaine), fudging a doctor's visit or bribing said doctor in order to secure un-timed test results, or generally securing any other unfair competitive advantage for said children. Of course, I don't much care, but these same children are probably later lectured on the immorality of steroid use, if they are athletes.

As the Onion has coined it in a new section - only in "Our Dumb World".

Originally Posted by WharfedaleTiger

Well you should get at least 25% on a multipul choice exam-I got 55% putting just C's down once. But anyways, I actually find them extreamly difficult-its hard to explain why but its sort of not being able to tell which box is which-I have to spend an extra 30 seconds on each question just working out whats what.

Originally Posted by Hafke

That was my point. If the test is useful in determining who should qualify as a doctor, then everyone should have to pass. If it isn't, then no one should, whether or not they're dyslexic. If peeing your name in the snow (gotta ask, how'd you come up with that example?) has little to do with medicine, then it's not a valid test, for anyone.

As the journalist from the Times said in the OP, a doctor who would have difficulty distinguishing between 81mg and 18mg is a liability.

Originally Posted by 89whiteandnerdy

I love lexdyxic people...

IMO a standard is a standard. If you can't pass a test because of a condition, then you shouldn't be able to practice medicine because of that condition. Duh...

Originally Posted by cns3e

It sounds like you may have some form of ADHD or dyslexia. Some Children with this disorder have a hard time tranferring. If you were still in school you could get an accomodation where someone else would fill out the bubble sheet for you.