Dyslexia? (Teach me to learn...)

Intro: Dyslexia is a disorder in which a child has

 difficulty to read. You! takes a look...

Is your child having trouble reading, spellings and phonics (speech sounds) make absolutely no sense at all? While writing or copying down stuff from the board does he/she make reversals in the letters? Does your child become panicked when the teacher calls upon him/her to read in the class? If your answer is yes to all these problems, then your child is going through a disability called dyslexia. Let's take a look at the causes, symptoms and treatment of the disorder...

What is dyslexia? 

According to The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke dyslexia can be defined as follows:

"Dyslexia is a brain-based type of learning disability that specifically impairs a person's ability to read. These individuals typically read at levels significantly lower than expected despite having normal intelligence. Although the disorder varies from person to person, common characteristics among people with dyslexia are difficulty with spelling, phonological processing (the manipulation of sounds), and/or rapid visual-verbal responding. In adults, dyslexia usually occurs after a brain injury or in the context of dementia."

In simpler words dyslexia can be explained as a difficulty in learning to read despite traditional instruction and average intelligence. It is an impairment in the brain's ability to translate images received from the eyes or ears into understandable language. Although dyslexia is not an intellectual disability, it is considered both learning and reading disability. 

Dyslexia does not result from vision or hearing problems and it is not due to mental retardation, brain damage, or a lack of intelligence as traditionally thought a few years ago. It is believed that dyslexia can affect between 5 to 10 per cent of a given population and can go undetected in the early grades of schooling. The child can become frustrated by the difficulty in learning to read and may show signs of depression and low self esteem. Behaviour problems at home as well as at school are frequently seen. The child may become unmotivated and develop a dislike for school and his/her success in school may be jeopardised if dyslexia remains untreated. 

What causes dyslexia?

There are three main types of dyslexia that can affect the child's ability to spell as well as read. Each type of dyslexia has a different cause. The three main types are trauma dyslexia, primary dyslexia and developmental dyslexia.

Trauma dyslexia usually occurs after some type of brain trauma or injury to the area of the brain that controls reading and writing. This type of dyslexia is rarely seen in today's school-age population.

Primary dyslexia is a dysfunction of the left side of the brain (cerebral cortex) and does not change with maturity. Individuals with this type are rarely able to read above a fourth grade level and may struggle with reading, spelling, and writing as adults. Primary dyslexia is hereditary and is found more often in boys than in girls.

Developmental dyslexia is caused by hormonal development during the early stages of foetal development. Developmental dyslexia diminishes as the child matures. This type is also more common in boys.

Dyslexia involves several different functions: visual, auditory and dysgraphia. Visual dyslexia is characterised by number and letter reversals and the inability to write symbols in the correct sequence. Auditory dyslexia involves difficulty with sounds of letters or groups of letters. The sounds are perceived as jumbled or not heard correctly. Dysgraphia refers to the child's difficulty holding and controlling a pencil so that the correct markings can be made on the paper.

What are the symptoms of dyslexia?

The symptoms of dyslexia vary according to the severity of the disorder as well as the age of the individual. But the most common symptoms of dyslexia are:

* If you notice that a child who appears to be average or bright when they are talking to you is struggling to read, spell or cope with mathematics, this may be the strongest indicator that they may be dyslexic. 

* It is very common for dyslexic children to be quite able, especially in the areas of creativity (art, drama, drawing.) and physical co-ordination (physical education, swimming, sports, model-making, etc.). 

* Letter and number reversals are fairly common up to the age of seven or eight and usually diminish later on. If they do not, it may be appropriate to test for dyslexia or other learning problems.

* Difficulty copying from a board or a book can also be a symptom. There may be a general disorganisation of written work. A child may not be able to remember content.

* Problems with spatial relationships can extend beyond the classroom and be observed in the playground. The child may appear to be uncoordinated and have difficulty with organised sports or games. 

How is dyslexia diagnosed?

Dyslexia is difficult to diagnose and can only be diagnosed by a psychologist or a health professional after a series of tests are done. The tests determine the child's functional reading level and compare it to reading potential, which is evaluated by an intelligence test. Tests also assess how a child takes in and processes information, and what the child does with the information. 

Treatment for dyslexia

Dyslexia can be treated and a child with this disorder can learn to read and write with appropriate educational support.

Treatment for dyslexia consists of using educational tools to enhance the ability to read. An important part of the treatment is that parents or teachers of the child with dyslexia are well informed and educated about the condition. The earlier the dyslexia is recognised and addressed, the better. Starting treatment when a child is young can improve and may even prevent reading problems.