By Children’s Trust Fund
(Baje para la versión en español)
Dyslexia is a language-based learning disability that affects reading and writing skills by causing children and adults to have diffi culty in associating letters and words with their sounds. Dyslexia is a brain-based disorder, and can occur even in very bright people. It is unclear what causes the frustrating problem, but it appears that the brains of people with dyslexia write information in a less effi cient way. Dyslexia is hereditary (it runs in families). It is estimated that up to 20% of people in the US have diffi culty reading, and the majority of these individuals have dyslexia. At this time, there is no cure for dyslexia, but there are many ways to help your child manage the problem and succeed.
Diagnosing dyslexia. Most preschoolers being to recognize letters and numbers, and they gradually remember the sounds associated with each letter. By age 6-7, most children are ready to sound out words and begin reading simple books. Some signs of dyslexia in young children include diffi culty with handwriting, trouble learning letters and numbers, trouble with rhyming, diffi culty reading and writing one’s name, struggling with speech, or trouble remembering words. Dyslexia is generally diagnosed when a child is in elementary school, but in some cases it becomes more apparent later on when reading comprehension and grammar are more important. Older children may read and spell below their grade level, have diffi culty with math, or struggle with reading and writing. Chances are your child’s teacher will notice signs of dyslexia before you do. The disorder is diagnosed through an evaluation by a reading or educational specialist, or school psychologist usually employed by the school system.
Treating young children. If you notice that your preschooler is having diffi culty learning how to talk, tell your pediatrician as soon as possible. Language-related problems such as communicating verbally and learning to sound out letters and words can have less severe consequences if treatment is begun early. Children who have early language problems also may have more diffi culty in learning how to read and write. There are early intervention programs and school-based evaluations that are available even to very young children with possible delays. There are speech-language therapists and reading specialists who work in schools with children who suffer from dyslexia. They will break things down into smaller steps for your child, work with him in a smaller and quieter environment, read material to him, or use instructional aids such as books with big print or specially lined paper.
Treating older children. As your child enters higher grades, there is more and more emphasis on reading and written communication at school, and some homework assignments may be challenging. She may become more self-conscious about her diffi culty. Sometimes children with dyslexia experience low self-esteem and assume they are not as smart as others because of this. Children with dyslexia are entitled to assistance in public school from a reading specialist or tutor. Work with your child’s teachers to fi nd strategies that help her complete her work. These can include using books on tape or a tape recorder, allowing some assignments to be modifi ed slightly, not penalizing her for spelling mistakes, having her type written work with a word processing program that has a spell checker, helping her take notes (or obtaining a copy of class notes from a teacher or classmate), clarifying written instructions, and providing help with organizing and writing papers and long-term projects.
How you can help your child. Although your child may not enjoy reading because it is diffi cu
