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Dyslexia: A disability that doesn't have to disable your child
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Does your child's spelling look a bit like a word jumble? Does your child tend to turn words around, when reading? You may need to have your child checked for dyslexia.
Dyslexia is a genetic disorder that makes it hard, for the people that have it, to read and write normally. Poor memory of written and spoken words are also common factors. It is a learning problem that has nothing to do with poor vision, but a disorder of the brain. The brain mixes up letters and words.
Even though there is no single test to identify dyslexia, there are ways to still diagnose even at pre-school age. Professionals should observe general thought process, word recognition, sounding out words, spelling, reading and listening comprehension, as well as, written expression.
The Bodine School, a local school located in Germantown, is working to dispel any misconceptions of this frustrating disability, as well as, helping children with dyslexia and other learning disorders. They work with children for three to five years and then help them ease back into traditional school. bodineschool.org/
A lifelong condition that begins at birth, dyslexia's early signs are few. They begin with the ability to talk develops later than expected. Then the ability to learn new words is slow, rhyming words is difficult, and trouble following directions that involve multiple steps. The later signs show up once a child has entered school. Trouble reading single words, such as on flash cards and trouble linking letters with sounds. A dyslexic child confuses small words, such as "at" and "to". They also reverse the shapes of written letters, such as a "d" for a "b". There is also the most recognized sign of writing words backwards. For example, they would write the word tip in place of the word pit. health.yahoo.com/nervous-overview/dyslexia/healthwise--te7211.html#Symptoms
One in ten to fifteen students have some degree of dyslexia. Early detection is key to being able to deal with the disability. 90% of dyslexic children may be normal readers, if they receive help by the time they reach the first grade. Sadly, most children are not diagnosed until third grade and approximately 75% of children that don't receive help before the age of nine will continue to have difficulty throughout school. Most students that dropout do so because of their lack of the ability to read. One in ten dropouts become criminals.
Children with dyslexia are quite bright and perform well orally in school. They also do not lack motivation or educational opportunities. A great example of a successful person with dyslexia is Carol W, Greider, who is a winner of the Nobel Prize in science.
The treatment for dyslexia doesn't involve medicine, but a way of teaching. Children are taught how letters are linked to sounds to make words, as well as, to listen to and repeat instructions. They also are made to read aloud with a teacher's help.
Dyslexia is a frustrating disorder for everyone that is affected by it and although dyslexia is a disability that lasts a lifetime, it doesn't have to disable your child for life. With the right teaching, patience, and diligence, your dyslexic child will look forward to being a successful student.
For more info: kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/learning_problem/dyslexia.html
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