What is Dyslexia?
Dyslexia is the most common of all learning disabilities affecting between 7% and 10% of the population. In the USA it is claimed that 1 in every 5 children are affected. Dyslexia is categorised by a cluster of symptoms that cause difficulties with reading and writing skills, word recognition and language processing.
Dyslexia is a genetic mid-brain dysfunction and as such is an incurable life-long condition. Yet, through detection and appropriate intervention there are many ways to help the person progress in their language skills.
Other terms for Dyslexia
- Auditory Discrimination Problem
- Auditory Processing Disorder
- Central Auditory Processing Disorder
- Phonemic Awareness Deficit
- Reading Disability (RD)
- Specific Language Disability (SLD)
- Visual Processing Disorder
- Visual-Motor Integration Disorder
- Visual Memory Deficit
- Written Language Disorder
- Perceptual Dyslexia
Are Dyslexics unintelligent?
It is a common misunderstanding that Dyslexia is a condition linked to intelligence nothing could be further from the truth.
Dyslexia does not affect intelligence and a person diagnosed with Dyslexia may well be very intelligent. However, in our schools the majority of learning focuses on learning to read and spell and thus children can often mistake their condition for a lack of intelligence.
Dyslexias categorisation as a learning disability comes from the fact that those with the condition can have trouble succeeding academically within a typical education environment. This is due to the brains inability to decode letters and words. However, if treated from an early age Dyslexics may be taught to utilise the brains normal pathways in order to progress at a regular level.
In the debate as to whether Dyslexic people are unintelligent, it is worth remembering that Albert Einstein is thought to have been Dyslexic!
Does diet play a part?
Whilst there is no evidence to suggest diet affects Dyslexia, certain supplements such as Omega 3 have been found to be helpful in specific cases.
What should be done if symptoms are recognised?
It is important that Dyslexia is diagnosed as early as possible to prevent the effects of this condition, such as illiteracy. Dyslexic centres are useful for screening and support and should be contacted if it is felt you or someone you know may have this condition.
Should I try lots of different techniques?
Trying too many different learning techniques or programmes at once
can overwhelm the Dyslexic and make it difficult to evaluate progress.
It is much more productive to choose one program or technique and
evaluate the results after a three month period. If progress is not
being made it may be time to think about alternative options.
Dyslexia/Irlen centres will offer advice on effective methods and
programmes.
