Understanding Dyslexia

There are various learning disorders that affect the ability of a person to read, write, calculate, compute and understand written text or verbal instructions.

One of the most common Learning disorder is Dyslexia and affects the development and learning of language.

Dyslexia affects the ability to read, understand written text, identifying speech sounds and interpreting them. For people with dyslexia it is a struggle to understand language as they find it hard to process various sounds and visualize words.

The disorder impacts the academic life of a person while they may excel in other fields. A person with dyslexia may have normal to above average intelligence ad normal vision.

I do better when I hear information” said Amit in my class. Shiela joined in by saying that she needs to see Material before she can make sense. These comments served as a prelude to introducing learning styles as it applies to educating children with learning disabilities. Dyslexia is a specific learning difficulty that effects language development. Dyslexia makes it difficult for a child to read & spell. A child who has problem with phonics will not be able to acquire much of the reading practices which are essential to build vocabulary & as a result he or she will dawdle in attaining comprehension skills. A systematic plan known as an Individualized Education Program (IEP) needs to be created. Instructions are given at a pace that the child can follow. Radha Tandon, Founder-Director, Praangan Education Trust

CAUSES

Dyslexia is caused when a particular area of the brain is not functioning properly. This particular area of the brain enables us to identify different parts of speech and differentiate between them.

The exact reason for the occurrence of this disorder is still being researched. However, in some cases, dyslexia has been found to be hereditary. It can also be caused due to environmental factors such as premature birth or low birth weight, exposure to toxins.
Impact

A person with dyslexia may have the following problems.

– Reading with difficulty and at a very slow pace.

– Difficulty in writing and processing information.

– Incorrect pronunciation of words.

– Memory related problems

“Dyslexia is the most common of all the invisible learning disabilities. It affects all aspects of life, including after school. The entire family is affected by a child’s dyslexia. The areas affected are decoding, spelling (encoding), phonological awareness, rhyming, and letter and number reversals.” Padma Shastry, Founder-Director, Samam Vidya

Symptoms

A child may show the signs of dyslexia once introduced to reading and writing. This means that the detection can be done by teachers, parents at an early age.

Here are some signs that may be observed.

– Reading and writing difficulty, slow speed of learning.

– Avoiding reading and writing related activities.

– Making spelling and pronunciation mistakes often.

– Inability to learn a new language

– Getting confused between small words

– Not able to rhyme and tell a story.

– Struggles in recalling the right word.

– Difficulty in remembering and memorizing.

– Struggling to solve math problems.

– Unable to understand and follow multiple instructions.

– Slower motor skill development.

– Not able to tell time or judge distance.

Cure

There is no complete cure for the learning disorder. However, timely detection at an early age can make a positive difference in the life of a person with dyslexia.
Special education program.

Modified learning techniques and methods can help the children learn. The academic performance can be improved through proper guidance and educational interventions.

Over time, children can be taught the strategies to cope with the challenges posed by dyslexia.

Dyslexia does not affect the intelligence of a child and the child can grow up to lead a better life with a little support from teachers, families and friends.

In fact there are several examples of people with dyslexia reaching greater heights in life.

Albert Einstein, boxer Mohammed Ali, actor Tom Cruise, Apple founder Steve Jobs are some such names.

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