ABOUT DYSLEXIA
WHAT IS DYSLEXIA?
Dyslexia is a learning disorder that affects the ability to read, spell, write, and speak. Individuals with Dyslexia are often smart and hardworking, but they have trouble connecting the letters they see to the sounds those letters make. The following is a definition of Dyslexia from the International Dyslexia Association, "Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurobiological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities. These difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction. Secondary consequences may include problems in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that can impede growth of vocabulary and background knowledge."
DYSLEXIA WARNING SIGNS
If you are wondering if your child may have Dyslexia, below is a list of key warning signs or indicators for Dyslexia.
GENERAL:
Family history of reading difficulty
Delayed speech
Apprehension about attending school
IN PRESCHOOL:
Mixing up sounds in long words (such as bisgetti instead of spaghetti)
Trouble rhyming words
Persistent left/right confusion
Difficulty learning to tie shoes
Trouble memorizing the alphabet, home address or phone number
IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL:
Reversing letters after the first grade
Slow, choppy, inaccurate reading
Frequent guessing at unknown words
Trouble remembering sight words
Terrible spelling
Slow, non-automatic handwriting
Difficulty finding the correct word when speaking
Especially messy bedroom, backpack, or desk
IN MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL:
All of the above, plus:
Limited vocabulary
Extremely poor written expression
Poor grades in many classes
Inability to master a foreign language
At risk for dropping out of school