Dyslexia--

Dyslexia

This condition has nothing to do with intelligence – in fact most dyslexics have normal or above-normal intelligence... The ability to read – something that most of us take for granted – is a very complex skill. A child needs to have a certain level of brain “readiness” (maturation) in order to coordinate all the visual and perceptual tasks that reading requires. Some children simply need more time to learn how to read while others never seem to get the hang of it.

Children with dyslexia are not merely slow readers. They have a specific reading disability. Even when they see the words clearly their brain is not able to process them in a way that permits reading. The problem may exist alone or it may be part of a general learning disability. This condition has nothing to do with intelligence – in fact most dyslexics have normal or above-normal intelligence and can understand material when it is read aloud to them.

About one out of every 10 children is affected to some degree though not every child has exactly the same perceptual stumbling block. Some transpose letters (T-A-C for C-A-T). Others see letters in the correct order but their brain does not connect them into words or they have difficulty connecting words into meaningful sentences. The interchanging of letters and numbers or the inability to process them properly is thought to be associated with a “miswiring” of certain connections in the brain. The condition seems to run in families so it probably has a genetic basis though some cases may be related to mild brain damage such as from a difficult birth or a viral infection. Some dyslexic youngsters merely have delayed maturation and may outgrow the problem.

Some indicators of dyslexia include:

hiding reading problems
refusing to read or write
poor spelling and a reliance on others to fix their mistakes
high competence in oral language
reliance on memory in a lot of situations

The diagnosis of dyslexia cannot be made by examining the eyes since it is a neurological condition. Because of the normal association between reading and eyesight many people tend to assume that dyslexia is caused by or related to an eye problem. A need for glasses or the presence of strabismus might slow reading somewhat but these common eye disorders do not cause the same types of reading difficulties that dyslexics experience. The diagnosis is best made by a team of experienced professionals (which may include a neurologist and a reading instructor) who test for the specific type of reading difficulty and then tailor an educational method to suit the problem. With good teaching most dyslexic children can be taught to read though they may not ever become good or avid readers. They can also develop other learning skills to take the place of reading.

Dyslexic children need to be taught how to read in a different way since their brain visualizes in shapes and images rather than with words or letters. There are countless methods out there to help. Only a qualified professional can determine which one is right for you. Children who do poorly in school tend to have low self-esteem resulting in misbehaviour and/or emotional problems. Parents must stay aware of the need to build up their child’s confidence and provide continuous emotional support. Children with this condition should never worry about failure caused by dyslexia – famous dyslexics include Walt Disney Thomas Edison John Lennon and Albert Einstein just to name a few.

The stigma of dyslexia has dissipated enormously over the past few decades and is no longer considered an impediment to success. Many schools now offer educational programs to help youngsters with their reading so they don’t fall behind their classmates.