“Dyslexia is the most common cause of reading, writing, and spelling difficulties.”
The word dyslexia is derived from the Greek “dys” (meaning poor or inadequate) and “lexis” (words or language). Individuals with dyslexia may have trouble with reading, writing, spelling, comprehension, or math. Dyslexia is not a disease; it has no cure. It is not the result of low intelligence but rather describes a different kind of mind, often gifted and productive, that learns differently. It is referred to as a learning disability because dyslexia can make it very difficult for a student to succeed academically in the typical instructional environment.
What are the signs of dyslexia?
An unexpected gap between learning aptitude and achievement in school can signal a potential learning difference. Some warning signs to look for are:
- Late learning to talk
- Late learning letters and their sounds
- Misreading or omitting small words
- Difficulty memorizing number facts
- Trouble with spelling
- Slow, laborious reading
- Poor reading comprehension
- Math calculation errors
- Directional confusion
How is dyslexia diagnosed?
Not all students who have difficulties with these skills are dyslexic. Formal testing is the only way to confirm a diagnosis of suspected dyslexia. The evaluation assesses intellectual ability, information processing, psycho-linguistic processing, and academic skills. It is used to determine whether or not a student is performing at the expected level, and takes into account the individual’s family background and overall school performance.
What causes dyslexia?
The exact causes of dyslexia are still not completely clear, but anatomical and brain imagery studies show differences in the way the brain of a dyslexic person develops and functions. Dyslexia runs in families; dyslexic parents are very likely to have children who are dyslexic. Dyslexia is not due to either lack of intelligence or a desire to learn; with appropriate teaching methods dyslexics can learn successfully.
How widespread is dyslexia?
Current studies suggest that 15-20% of the population has a reading disability. Of those, 85% has dyslexia. It is the most common cause of reading, writing, and spelling difficulties. Dyslexia occurs equally in people of all backgrounds and intellectual levels. Dyslexia affects males and females nearly equally. People who are very bright can be dyslexic. They are often gifted in areas that do not require strong language skills, such as art, computer science, design, drama, electronics, math, mechanics, music, physics, sales, and sports.
What are the effects of dyslexia?
The impact that dyslexia has is different for each person and depends on its severity, and the timing and approach of the remediation. The most common effects are problems with reading, spelling, and writing. Some dyslexics do not have much difficulty with early reading and spelling tasks but begin to experience problems when more complex language skills are required, such as grammar, understanding textbook material, and writing essays.
People with dyslexia can also experience frustration and low self esteem when they don’t do well in school. They see other students “getting it” and don’t understand why learning is so hard for them. The effects of dyslexia can reach well beyond the classroom.
What should I expect?
Dyslexia is a life-long condition. With proper help people with dyslexia can learn to read and/or write well. Early identification and treatment are the keys to helping dyslexics achieve in school and in life. Most people with dyslexia need help from a therapist specially trained in using a multisensory, structured language approach. It is important for these students to be taught by a method that involves several senses (hearing, seeing, touching) at the same time. Most individuals with dyslexia benefit from one-on-one help allowing them to move at their own pace.
Schools can implement academic modifications to help dyslexic students succeed, such as allowing extra time to complete tasks or help with taking notes. Students may benefit from listening to books-on-tape or from writing on computers.
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) define the rights of students with dyslexia. These students are legally entitled to special services. Familiarity with these Acts is necessary to ensure your child receives all services available.
- 90% of students with a reading disability will read normally if they receive help by the first grade
- 75% of children who receive help after age nine will have some difficulty throughout life
