Dyslexia
Overview
Dyslexia – a learning disorder, characterised by learning difficulty. It primarily affects reading and writing skills. But Dyslexia does not only affect these skills. It is more about information processing.
It could be a disorder involving difficulties with writing, sometimes due to problems with eye-hand coordination.
Dyslexia can occur in children with normal vision and intelligence. The child may start talking late, learn new words very slowly, may show a delay in learning to read and write, there may be delayed speech. Dyslexia can also impact organisational skills.
People with Dyslexia might also have difficulty remembering information that they see and hear, which can affect the acquisition of literacy skills.
Symptoms
There is a misconception that Dyslexia affects the ability to read and write.
Well, it’s just not that… If that was the case, it would be easier to identify.
• Dyslexia can affect areas such as coordination, organisation, and memory.
• Each person with dyslexia will experience the condition in a way that is unique to them and as such, each will have their own set of abilities and difficulties.
• Symptoms may include talking in a later stage of life, learning new words slowly, delayed reading, and speech.
• Individuals also experience
-Cognitive issues -difficulty memorising, difficulty spelling, or difficulty thinking and understanding
-Developmental: learning disability or speech delay in children
-Delayed reading ability, headache, or speech difficulty.
Causes & Risks
• Dyslexia can create difficulty in…
-Reading and comprehension
-Spelling words and writing the same
-Understanding and solving math problems
• In Dyslexic individuals, the left brain hemisphere makes processing of the written language, very difficult. While Dyslexia is usually a condition people are born with, it can sometimes result even from a traumatic brain injury, stroke, or dementia.
• The risk involved with Dyslexia could be challenging if left untreated. Dyslexia may lead to low self-esteem, low self-confidence, behavioral issues, anxiety, aggression, and withdrawal from friends, parents, and teachers.
• Issues as adults could be the inability to read and comprehend, which can prevent children from reaching their potential as they grow up. Children must work with a specialist to learn reading skills.
• Slowing down a lesson gives a child more time to cover topics. Work with the child’s school to ensure that the child gets the education they deserve.
Test & Diagnosis
No one test can diagnose dyslexia…
• Several factors are considered, such as the child's development, educational issues, and medical history. The healthcare provider will want to know the questions in these areas.
• Dyslexia can often run in families. About 50% of siblings of individuals with dyslexia also struggle with reading. As many as 60 percent of parents of kids with dyslexia have it, too. Research has also found genes linked to problems with reading and processing language.
• Brain imaging studies, about brain anatomy, have shown brain differences between people with and without dyslexia. These differences happen in areas of the brain involved with key reading skills.
• The other skill test is knowing how sounds are represented in words, and recognising what written words sound and look alike.
Treatment
Managing Dyslexia could involve-
• Using multi-sensory (like sight, sound, touch, and movement) to help reinforce learning.
• Trying structured Literacy Programs. The programs can break down language elements into smaller parts, that can help individuals understand the structure of language systematically.
• Using Assistive Technology. Tools such as text-to-speech software, speech recognition software, specialised fonts, and audiobooks can certainly help improve reading and writing skills.
• Most children with dyslexia can succeed in school with the help of a specialised education program.
Living With
What does living with Dyslexia mean?
Dyslexia is not a disease. But living with it can present unexpected challenges, so finding different ways to approach the condition is necessary.
Having dyslexia means reading is hard for you, and not that you’re incapable. Dyslexia does not reflect poor intelligence. So finding ways to help manage dyslexia is important to be a successful learner.
Learning skills such as reading, writing, and learning, using assistive technology, specialised fonts, or seeking support from teachers or tutors are needed. Dyslexia can also bring out various strengths, such as creativity, problem-solving skills, and creative thinking.
Complications
• Educational Challenges - Dyslexia can make it difficult for people to do well in the basic academic settings that depend on reading and writing. It can certainly affect the ability to understand and process information at the same pace as others do.
• A feeling of very low Self-Esteem and frustration - Struggling with a task that others find simpler and easier, can lead to feelings of irritation, anger, anxiety, and low self-esteem.
• Children with dyslexia might feel inadequate or embarrassed about their difficulties in school.
• A delay in reading and writing Skills - People with dyslexia often have trouble decoding words, reading fluently, and spelling correctly, and this may impact their overall educational progress.
