Did you know that dyslexia is the most common cause of spelling, reading, and writing problems? How do you help children overcome and/or manage these difficulties for school success? The following information is to help parents, teachers, and therapists understand dyslexia and help their children/students develop a love of reading and writing.
What Is Dyslexia? What Causes It?
Dyslexia is a learning disability. This means it affects one’s ability to adequately learn, process, and retain information. Dyslexia, specifically, causes problems in spelling, reading, and writing by affecting word recognition, reading comprehension, phonological awareness and recognition, and decoding of words. This inhibits a child’s ability to learn to read, even with normal intelligence and classroom instruction. Dyslexia affects 15-20% of the population and occurs twice as often in males.
The causes of dyslexia are usually genetic in nature; however, a much less common cause is head injury or trauma. Some children with dyslexia appear to process information using a different area of the brain than children without a learning disability: However, this is not characteristic of all children
diagnosed with dyslexia. Some types of dyslexia may decrease in severity as a child ages.
I Think I Know a Child Who May Have Dyslexia. What Should I Do?
Identification of dyslexia may be difficult to make as a parent or classroom teacher. Parents and teachers can become aware of some signs and symptoms of dyslexia, possibly warranting an evaluation by a health professional. Take note of the following:
Difficulty associating a letter with its sound
material
• Difficulty with writing tasks
• Awkward fine motor skills (difficulty holding writing utensil)
• Incoordination/awkwardness
• Behavioral problems and/or a dislike for reading
What Is Dyslexia? What Causes It?
Dyslexia is a learning disability. This means it affects one’s ability to adequately learn, process, and retain information. Dyslexia, specifically, causes problems in spelling, reading, and writing by affecting word recognition, reading comprehension, phonological awareness and recognition, and decoding of words. This inhibits a child’s ability to learn to read, even with normal intelligence and classroom instruction. Dyslexia affects 15-20% of the population and occurs twice as often in males.
The causes of dyslexia are usually genetic in nature; however, a much less common cause is head injury or trauma. Some children with dyslexia appear to process information using a different area of the brain than children without a learning disability: However, this is not characteristic of all children
diagnosed with dyslexia. Some types of dyslexia may decrease in severity as a child ages.
I Think I Know a Child Who May Have Dyslexia. What Should I Do?
Identification of dyslexia may be difficult to make as a parent or classroom teacher. Parents and teachers can become aware of some signs and symptoms of dyslexia, possibly warranting an evaluation by a health professional. Take note of the following:
Difficulty associating a letter with its sound
- Reversals of letters (dig for big) or words
(tac for cat) - Difficulty reading single words
- Difficulty spelling single words
- Difficulty copying letters/words from the board or a book
- Difficulty understanding what they hear (auditory)
material
• Difficulty with writing tasks
• Awkward fine motor skills (difficulty holding writing utensil)
• Incoordination/awkwardness
• Behavioral problems and/or a dislike for reading