Dyslexia, what is it?

by Midas

Dyslexia, what is it? Is it an illness? Let’s explore the world of dyslexics for us to know and understand them better on what they’re going through and for us to know how to encourage and support them. Dyslexia is a common learning disability that can affect speaking, reading, spelling and writing. Dyslexia results from differences in how the brain processes written and spoken language. It simply means that a person’s brain has trouble processing letters and sounds.

Modern neuroimaging techniques such as functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) have produced clear evidence of the structural differences in the brains of children with reading difficulties. Some research found that people with dyslexia have a deficit in parts of the left hemisphere of the brain involved in reading, which includes the inferior frontal gyrus, inferior parietal lobule, and middle and ventral temporal cortex.

Dyslexics usually have average or superior intelligence but they’re often treated as dull because they don’t learn as fast as normal kids do. Worse, parents and teachers usually tag them as unmotivated or lazy. A kid who has dyslexia will read slowly and might make a lot of mistakes. Sometimes they will mix up letters in a word. Kids who have dyslexia might get frustrated, angry, or sad because reading and spelling are so hard for them.

Speech delays, stuttering or clattering can be an early warning sign of dyslexia. Many dyslexics may have a problems in managing and interpreting auditory input prior to reproducing their own version of speech. Many dyslexics also can have problems with speaking clearly. They can mix up sounds in multi-syllabic words. They often have “immature” speech. They also can have problems speaking in full sentences.

Dyslexia can produce not just learning difficulties but emotional and psychological problems as well. It often weakens a child self-esteem and confidence that may lead to anti-social behavior and juvenile delinquency. Imagine a 10 year old kid who doesn’t know left from right, has difficulty in in learning the days of the week or the months of the year in order, he or she can be a target of humiliating taunts and classmate jokes.

Discovering a learning disability is the first step toward getting help that will make it easier for the kid to learn. Formal diagnosis of dyslexia is made by a qualified professional, such as a neurologist or an educational psychologist. Kid will be given some tests. But the idea isn’t to get a good grade; it’s to spot problems.

Some shared symptoms of the speech/hearing deficits and dyslexia:

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If it is so hard for the kid to distinguish before from after or right from left, and so on

If it is so hard for the kid to learn the alphabet

If it is so hard for the kid to retrieve a word or name problems

If it is so difficult for the kid to identify or generate rhyming words, or counting syllables in words (phonological awareness)

If there is a difficulty for the kid on hearing and manipulating sounds in words (phonemic awareness)

If there is a difficulty for the kid on distinguishing different sounds in words (auditory discrimination)

If there is a difficulty for the kid on learning the sounds of letters

If there is a difficulty for the kid on associating individual words with their correct meanings

If there is a difficulty for the kid on time keeping and concept of time

If the kid is confused when it is on combinations of words

Since it is so hard for a kid with dyslexia to do those things, manifestations are:

Persistent baby talk exist. They may still be saying “wed and gween” instead of “red and green” in third grade.

Reversing letters and numbers

Poor in spelling

Difficulty in learning to read

Coordination problems, especially those of small motor coordination (hand manipulation)

Perceptual problems: confusing letters like b and d and reversing saw as was. They can have trouble correctly articulating Rs and Ls as well as Ms and Ns.

Poor retention of material that is learned

Inability to write down even simple thoughts

Short attention span and general restlessness.

Due to fear of speaking incorrectly, some children become withdrawn and shy or become bullies out of their inability to understand the social cues in their environment

Difficulty in organization skills

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Dyslexia has no known cure. The most effective thing to help them is through special education that focuses on training dyslexics to cope his or her problem. And, to uncover child’s skill and build on it and encourage them.

Now that we know some things what dyslexics are going through, all we can do to support them is to boost their self confidence for them to realize their potentials and become successful in the society.