Dyslexia
 

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 3, Issue 4 (October 2009).


Learning disorders, a term many of us have heard use every day. Dyslexia, a learning disorder. But what really is a learning disorder? How does this particular one affect people? So many questions revolve around this one word—dyslexia.

Dyslexia is a learning disorder predominately affecting letters. This includes reading, writing, and spelling. Therefore, it’s mostly caught when a child starts trying to learn how to read and write in school. It does not come from lack of reading instruction, or bad teaching skills. Dyslexia is normally found in children, though some argue that adults have simply learned to live with it, and not let it affect their lives.

Signs of dyslexia include trouble learning the alphabet, trouble reading and writing, difficulty understanding the difference between up and down, over and under, difficulty spelling, and comprehension difficulties. There are many more signs that you or your child may suffer from dyslexia, and if you suspect that you or a family member has this or any other diagnosable condition, it is best to consult your doctor.

It is still argued that dyslexia may not actually be a specified ‘disorder’. Though many professionals argue that none of the methods we have now adequately diagnose dyslexia, in order to get a proper diagnosis you must see a doctor specializing in learning disorders.

There is no one pill available that will ‘cure’ dyslexia. Instead, various learning tools are used to help a child distinguish the difference between letters, and to learn how to cope with dyslexia on their own throughout life. You really need to know about dyslexia to be able to work on coping with it, so do your research! There are so many books and articles out there waiting for you to use.

Institutions such as schools are legally bound to assist your child with anything necessary. There are many methods being found that help dyslexic children learn. For example, having the child track where they’re reading with a pencil or their finger may help to help them focus on one word at a time. Encouraging them not to read too quickly or to read out loud may help as well, as hearing the words they are reading may help them to determine if the words sound correct to them.

Something as simple as a positive attitude towards your child and how well they are learning may encourage them and help their progress. Help them with struggles, but point out all the good things they are doing. Bring up how far they’ve come from when they first started a book, grade, or year.


Random Fact!
Estimations say dyslexia affects 5% - 17% of America’s population!

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyslexia
http://children.webmd.com/tc/dyslexi...tment-overview