20 Aug Dyslexia: What Every Parent Should Know

Posted at 19:13h in Speech by
0 Likes

 

Dyslexia is one of the most common language-based learning disabilities, affecting about 20% of the world’s population. It is the most common cause of reading, writing, and spelling difficulties. Many people have heard of dyslexia, but there are myths and confusion about what it is, where it comes from, and how it can affect someone. Here is a breakdown of what we at Sound It Out Speech Therapy think every parent should know.

What is Dyslexia?

The IDA defines dyslexia as a language-based learning disability that is neurological in origin. The main difficulty for someone with dyslexia is with reading words, which is related to a difficulty with processing and manipulating sounds. A person’s challenges due to dyslexia often come as a surprise because they do not seem to match up with their perceived intellectual level and other cognitive abilities (e.g., gifted artist, strong math skills, great social skills).

Some of the main signs include:

  • Family history of dyslexia
  • Delayed speech/language (in very young children)
  • Difficulty recognizing rhyming words (in very young children)
  • Difficulty reading sight words
  • Difficulty decoding (sounding out) words
  • Poor spelling
  • Continued struggles with reading and/or writing despite effective classroom instruction
  • Difficulty with reading comprehension and a smaller vocabulary (older students)
  • Possible difficulty with learning a second language

 

Dyslexia is NOT:

  • It is not seeing letters or words backwards
  • It does not mean you have a low IQ
  • It is not caused by poor eyesight or hearing problems
  • It is not caused by laziness or a lack of effort

 

Eventually, the challenges that come with dyslexia can lead to anxiety and depression as young adults become aware of their deficits and don’t know how to make improvements despite their best efforts. The good news is, with the proper instruction and adequate accommodations, most people with dyslexia can learn to read.

What to do if you think your child has dyslexia?

If you suspect your child has dyslexia, you will likely need in-school support as well as supplemental therapy outside the school day. To start, you need to inform your school/private speech pathologist of your concerns and request an evaluation. Gather writing samples, report cards and tests that demonstrate some of your child’s struggles. One you have a formal diagnosis, a meeting will be held to discuss the therapy plan. This plan should include specialized reading instruction that is based on a systematic and explicit understanding of language structure and phonics, such as Structured Literacy, Orton- Gillingham, Simultaneous Multisensory, Explicit Phonics, etc. This type of therapy can be provided by a trained speech-language pathologist, reading specialist, or trained general education teacher. In addition to direct therapy, your child will likely need accommodations in school to improve their access to the curriculum, which we will review next.

Accommodations

Accommodations can be provided for both testing and class instruction and offer supports so the student can access the full school experience. Accommodations adjust the way a student can demonstrate their knowledge, skills, and abilities WITHOUT lowering learning or performance expectations; they do NOT give students an unfair advantage or oversimplify the curriculum.

Some helpful accommodations include:

  • Repetition of instructions
  • Highlighted text
  • Speech-to-Text software
  • Spelling checker
  • Individual or small group instruction and/or testing environment
  • Extended time

 

To sum it up: Diagnosis + Treatment + Accommodations = SUCCESS!

If you notice your child has difficulty with reading, it can feel worrisome and overwhelming. The good news is there are excellent, proven methods that can help your child learn to read and improve their success in school and beyond. Encourage your child to persevere and find joy in learning; kids with dyslexia who develop grit and resilience have been show to have less depression, less anxiety, improved academic performance, and an overall better quality of life. Don’t hesitate to reach out to your local speech-language pathologist if you have concerns and make sure your child gets the support they need and deserve!

Helpful Links:

 

Written by: Naguine Duncan, M.A., CCC-SLP, bilingual certification

 

References:

Definition of dyslexia. International Dyslexia Association. (2018, July 16). Retrieved April 30, 2022, from https://dyslexiaida.org/definition-of-dyslexia/

Dyslexia FAQ. Yale Dyslexia. (n.d.). Retrieved April 30, 2022, from http://dyslexia.yale.edu/dyslexia/dyslexia-faq/

Dyslexia help at the University of Michigan. Dyslexia Help at the University of Michigan. (n.d.). Retrieved April 30, 2022, from http://dyslexiahelp.umich.edu/

Hossain, B., Chen, Y., Bent, S., Parenteau, C., Widjaja, F., Haft, S. L., Hoeft, F., & Hendren, R. L. (2021). The role of grit and resilience in children with reading disorder: A longitudinal cohort study. Annals of Dyslexia. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11881-021-00238-w

Price, K. M., Wigg, K. G., Misener, V. L., Clarke, A., Yeung, N., Blokland, K., Wilkinson, M., Kerr, E. N., Guger, S. L., Lovett, M. W., & Barr, C. L. (2021). Language difficulties in school-aged children with developmental dyslexia. Journal of Learning Disabilities. https://doi.org/10.1177/00222194211006207

Sandman-Hurley, D. K., & Sandman-Hurley, D. K. (2021, April 28). Dyslexia and advocacy: I suspect my child has dyslexia –. Dyslexia Training Institute Blog. Retrieved April 30, 2022, from http://www.dyslexiatraininginstitute.org/blog/child-has-dyslexia/