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Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a learning disorder that usually shows itself as
a difficulty with reading and spelling. Thought to be caused
by a neurological difference, it has nothing to do with the
intelligence of an individual. Dyslexic children (and
adults) are visual, multi-dimensional thinkers, extremely
intuitive and creative.
It is commonly thought that dyslexic individuals think in pictures. When you think of an apple, you will often see the word "a-p-p-l-e" in your mind, whereas a dyslexic individual will see the actual three dimensional picture of the apple in their mind. It is sometimes very difficult for them to understand letters, numbers, symbols and written words.
On average, approximately 5% of school age children have a
learning difference, one of those differences being
dyslexia.
The following symptoms can be associated with dyslexia but
vary depending on severity of the condition as well as the
age of the child. Children who show these symptoms may have
a higher risk of being diagnosed as dyslexic than other
children.
Primary School Age Children
* Difficulty learning the alphabet
* Difficulty associating sounds with the letter
symbols that represent them
(sound-symbol correspondence)
* Difficulty identifying or generating rhyming
sounds, or counting syllables in words
(phonological awareness)
* Difficulty segmenting words into individual
sounds, or blending sounds to make
words (phonemic awareness)
* Difficulty learning to decode words and
difficulty distinguishing between similar
sounds in words
Older Primary School Children
* Slow or inaccurate reading
* Very poor spelling
* Difficulty associating individual words with
their correct meanings
* Poor concept of time and time keeping
* Poor organizational skills
* Poor sequencing skills
* Extreme apprehension of reading out loud
When a child shows signs of dyslexia, he or she needs to be
evaluated by a trained professional. This person may work
for the school system or may be a professional in a private
practice. A complete evaluation is the only way to know if
the child has dyslexia.
There is no cure for dyslexia, but dyslexic children can
learn to read and write with extra parental and educational
support. Some people believe dyslexia is a gift that gives
birth to many positive talents. Due to their high visual and
multi-dimensional thoughts, dyslexics can be very creative
and tend to excel at hands-on learning. Providing the child
with the proper tools, methods and educational support that
is geared towards their unique learning style, is the key to
their success.
Posted January 20, 2010
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