What help is available?
People with Dyslexia will need specialist help with their learning. The help required will differ depending on the form of their condition and what type of learner they are.
There are three main types of learner:
- Visual (Learn best through sight and images)
- Auditory (Sound and music)
- Kinetic (Touch and movement)
Whilst visual and auditory learners tend to do better in school than kinetic learners, Dyslexia often prohibits this type of learning. It is no coincidence that many Dyslexic's are physically and artistically talented as they tend to learn Kinetically.
Different techniques and teaching methods will be required to best facilitate each type of learner. It is important a child is allowed to learn in a way that best suits their condition and needs in order to thrive.
Learning Techniques
Specific tools and techniques which have been shown to benefit the Dyslexic person include:
- Phonemic awareness
- Mind mapping
- Word families
- Coloured overlays (See Perceptual Dyslexia)
- Irlen lenses (See Perceptual Dyslexia)
Although Dyslexia is a life-long condition, the symptoms of Dyslexia are avoidable through correct teaching methods and a concerted effort by teacher and student. It may be that many techniques will be tried before the correct one is discovered. Evaluating progress after three month periods will be necessary to determine the usefulness of a technique and to avoid paying for costly and unnecessary treatments.
