Understanding dyslexia, the most common learning disability that is so widely under-diagnosed.
Dyslexia is a common learning disability that effects 20% of the population in America. 1 in 5 children have dyslexia ranging from mild, to moderate, to severe, to profound. Many of which go undiagnosed. Knowing what to look for and understanding the struggles can lead to early intervention. Dyslexic children won't grow out of their struggles, what they need is specialized support.
Dyslexic children won't outgrow their reading and spelling struggles, what they need is specialized instruction.
Here are 5 of the most important facts you should know if your child is displaying signs of dyslexia.
Number 1: Dyslexia Runs In Families
As a parent, you may think you've done something wrong. Worry tirelessly that you didn't read to your child enough. Do you feel like you failed to create an environment where a love for reading could naturally develop?
Or perhaps, you are the parent who did read a lot to your child and created an environment where a love of books was encouraged. Maybe you feel as though your child's school has failed him or her by having deficient teaching skills.
No matter what has happened up to this point, if your child is displaying signs of dyslexia it's important to understand it is an inherited condition. The odds that your child will have dyslexia too is a 50/50 chance.
Number 2: Dyslexia Is Due to Differences in the Brain
Research shows the left hemisphere of a dyslexic brain is equivalent to that of a non-dyslexic brain. However, the right hemisphere is about 10% bigger. The left hemisphere is connected to logic, science, sense of time, language. Whereas right hemisphere is responsible for experiences like creativity, art, intuition, and imagination.
Exploring the gifts of dyslexia is important as these children often display incredible talents in the areas associated with right brain function.
Number 3: Dyslexics Process Language Differently
Dyslexia is not a reading problem, it is a language processing issue. It will impact all four ways a child processes language - reading, writing, listening, speaking.
Number 4: Dyslexics Have Directionality Confusion
Children with dyslexia will often reverse their b's and d's or their p's and q's. They struggle to remember which direction is left and which one is right. They may even have a hard time identifying where "before" and "after" is.
Using phrases like, "put on shoe on your left foot" or "raise your right hand if you have a question" can be very confusing the them.
Number 5: Dyslexia Impacts Memory
Children with dyslexia may have no problem remembering things they can touch and see, such as song lyrics and storylines. But, they have great difficulty memorizing sequences such as the alphabet or months in a year in order. And they have trouble memorizing rote random facts like multiplication tables.
These are the 5 biggest ways dyslexia affects your child. Understanding what makes your child different is the first step in getting him or her the help they need.
For more information, download our free Complete Guide to Dyslexia or schedule a FREE CONSULTATION to find out if our tutoring services are the right fit for your child.
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