Dealing with Dyslexia

Reading is brutal. The words seem like a foreign language. Taking notes in school can be awful. You may have dyslexia.

Dyslexia is a neurological disorder that, even in highly intelligent people, makes it difficult to learn how to read, because of problems connecting speech sounds with letters and words on the page.

It is estimated that over 30 million adults in the United States have dyslexia, including slow and inaccurate reading, poor spelling, poor writing, and a tendency to confuse similar words. Kids with dyslexia struggle with language skills, especially reading. A non-dyslexic student might look at the word “cat,” for instance and break it up by sounding out the letters C, A and T.

A dyslexic student likely would have trouble attaching the correct sounds to the letters. Instead, he or she might try to memorize the word as a unit, without breaking it down by sound. That takes longer and might not even work. Spelling, writing, and pronunciation can also be difficult for dyslexics.

It’s not the simple flipping of letters or numbers. It’s a diversity of brain function that causes difficulty recognizing word parts, sounding out words, spelling, reading and attaining language fluency. It is the most common neurocognitive disorder.

Doctors aren’t sure about the exact causes of dyslexia. They do know it runs in families, children of dyslexics are more likely to have the condition, and that people don’t outgrow it. But with proper teaching, people with dyslexia can learn how to work around the disability.

The disorder is treatable with tutoring and the use of strategies to break words into chunks, identify them and connect them with meaning. But it never goes away. And it often hides.

People with dyslexia respond differently not just to words, but to objects and faces, as well. Some studies suggest the brain’s plasticity, its ability to change in response to experiences, is reduced in people with dyslexia.

Dyslexia can affect girls and boys equally. The disorder is often found when children begin learning how to read. But the learning disorder may not be detected early. Because not all teachers know how to recognize signs of dyslexia, some children are never diagnosed. These children struggle with reading problems and are often referred to as lazy.

As a child ages, some signs of dyslexia are:

·       Problems identifying letters similar to each other, such as “d” and “b” or “p” and “q.”

·       Associating sounds with letters.

·       Difficulty spelling even simple words.

·       Reluctant to read aloud in class.

·       Trouble sounding out new words.

·       Mixing up the position of sounds in a word.

·       Trouble learning how sounds go together.

There is a certain criteria that is used for evaluating a child for dyslexia. This may include decoding (reading unfamiliar words by sounding them out), oral language skills, reading fluency and comprehension, spelling, vocabulary, and word recognition.

When it comes to evaluation and diagnosis, the earlier the better. Your child can be taught techniques that allow dyslexia to be managed efficiently. Your child’s school may recommend an evaluation for learning disabilities with a certified educational psychologist. Ask the school for help in finding one that is available to you.

Currently no medications treat dyslexia. Instead, your child will work with a trained specialist to learn new reading skills at a slower pace to retain knowledge and promote the educational environment suitable for a child with these unique needs. As such, ask about getting an Individualized Education Plan in place so that your child can get the special education services required.

The longer your child remains undiagnosed, the more the struggle in the academic environment. Getting your child diagnosed by the second grade ensures that he or she gets the services needed to ensure success. The right kind of support from family and teachers can mitigate self-esteem issues that may serve as an obstacle for your child.

Most importantly, work hand in hand with your child’s school to come up with a plan that works for that child. Remember you are your child’s best advocate. Model reading for pleasure in front of your child. Join a support group with parents of children with similar issues and get feedback on what works and what doesn’t work. Dyslexia is not a reflection of intelligence.