Dyslexia in Children
Overcoming Dyslexia
Since dyslexia is a complex condition, involving several and complex connections in the auditory, visual, speech and comprehension areas of the cerebral hemispheres, the management also involves a holistic approach where considering each patient as a unique case gives excellent results. In addition to the disability in reading and comprehension, there maybe an involvement of the psyche of the patient, with its own set of complications.
Early detection, thorough evaluation and an understanding and “made-to-measure” approach to the patient works wonders, and most dyslexics then lead wonderfully productive and fruitful lives. Many dyslexics are now detected early, thanks to comprehensive reading programs with emphasis on phonics which most schools follow.
Spotting symptoms early is important and really help in treatment. Early detection is very important to finally overcoming dyslexia. As the name suggests, dyslexics have difficulty with the written word, the best example being ttheir tendency to transpose letters as in ‘red and green’ becomes ‘ged and reen’. However, first it is essential to rule out any accompanying disturbance in hearing and sight. There maybe a difficulty in working with numbers, a wrong sense of direction and a lack of time sense. Sometimes there is attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder as well.
An evaluation for dyslexia is best carried out by a trained specialist like a neurologist. Testing involves evaluation of reading, writing and spelling skills, with concomitant evaluation of spoken language, memory and intelligence with hearing and visual tests when deemed appropriate. Many dyslexics are found to have above average intelligence and this may be channeled into a field which does not require much reading and writing such as music or art.
Some accompanying disorders can be also seen in dyslexics
- They may have behavioral problems, ranging from extreme shyness to extreme aggressiveness.
- They may try several means to hide their non comprehension of the written word.
- They maybe have an inability to calculate simple problems.
- They frequently mix up right and left sides.
- A poor hearing or visual disorder can be present
- Dyslexics may see themselves as “misfits”.
- The drop-out rate from educational institutes is very high.
As can be seen from the above list, dyslexics require not only medical but also psychological and social rehabilitation so that they can become productive members of society. Early detection is an absolute must and it is commonly seen that children detected with Dyslexia after 12 years rarely go on to lead fulfilling academic lives, having dropped out of schools due to sheer misery.
A one on one approach is the best way to educate these children, which can be had in a “remedial classes” in regular streams or else in special institutes. Stress has to be laid on phonetic decoding skills, either with special auditory or visual aids. Special software has been developed for this in the form of modules which gradually help in regularising the education. Musical training is found to be extremely beneficial, as is training in art. Medication may be required to control any attendant attention deficit, hyperactivity or extreme disruptive behaviour.
Rather than labeling these differently abled individuals as “trouble makers”, a little effort on the part of society as a whole can lead to a very colorful life for dyslexics and society as a whole can benefit from their unique gifts.
Posted in Dyslexia, Dyslexia in Children, Dyslexia Treatment
Tagged dyslexia, Handle Dyslexic Child In School, How To Handle Dyslexia In The Classroom
Children With Dyslexia In The Classroom
How to deal with dyslexic children in the classroom
The primary issue with having a singular child with dyslexia in the classroom is not with the capability of the child, but in supporting that child’s natural learning while integrating and not alienating that child from the rest of the class. Incorporating simple steps, processes, and procedures into the overall learning environment will seamlessly integrate the adaptation to the dyslexia with the overall teaching process. You will find that this integration not only helps the dyslexic child, but may help all of the children in the class improve their learning skills ans study habits.
Assignments And Class Organization
When a classroom is structured with redundant systems to support the learning process, the dyslexic child can thrive and the other children will not notice that there is any special treatment being allocated to that child. This includes going through the extra effort of helping the overall class stay organized and structured in their approach to learning. This includes maintaining and adhering to a syllabus that is given to students. This syllabus should contain the entire structure of the class and assignments. This way if the dyslexic child cannot keep up with classroom discussion, they will have support materials and a place to reference information in the syllabus. Encouraging students to offer support to each other as well as share phone numbers in order to communicate about assignments, is important in order to facilitate communication, support, and assistance that students can give to the dyslexic child and to each other. This would also include having each student maintain a written checklist of activities they need to do each night and have prepared for the next day. This structure will not only benefit the dyslexic child but will also improve the organizational skill set of the other students.
Subject Integration
Not all classroom behaviors can be adapted to the needs of the dyslexic child. In cases where a workaround cannot be developed, then that particular activity should be removed rather than risking the ostracization of the dyslexic child. For example, reading aloud may be necessary to reinforce skills within the classroom. But it may be preferred to allow students to volunteer for reading and not take the forced round robin approach that you may take if there were not a dyslexic child in the class.
The dyslexic child is capable of learning just as any other child. What they need is more support systems and references available to them in order to allow them to adapt their condition and excel. Encourage all students to use reference cards for everything from multiplication tables to proper ways of using cursive handwriting. Over time the dyslexic child and the other children will utilize the reference materials less often, but having the reference as a support system will enable the dyslexic child to learn at their own pace.
Adaptation
Integrating children with dyslexia into the classroom is a task that requires more planning and structure on the part of the instructor. This planning and time of additional structure is not to cater to the dyslexic child as much as it is to allow that child to be fully integrated into the normal environment of other non-dyslexic children. The positive benefit is that all children can benefit from this additional structure. It may well turn out that having a dyslexic child in their classroom is the reason that they learned better study habits, stronger organization, and improved learning skills.
Posted in Dyslexia in Children
Tagged dyslexia, Dyslexia in school, Dyslexic Child In Class, Handle Dyslexic Child In School, How To Handle Dyslexia In The Classroom
Symptoms of Dyslexia in High School Children & Teenagers
What is Dyslexia in Teenagers?
Dyslexia is a disability that specifically deals with learning. Dyslexia is of a neurological origin. It is NOT a disease and being dyslexic has nothing to do with being intelligent. It is a hereditary or a genetic condition.
Teenagers with dyslexia have difficulties with accurate and fluent (or both) recognition and utterance of words. These difficulties result from deficiency of the phonological factor in language which in turn hampers the growth of vocabulary and knowledge among them.
Is Dyslexia found in Teenagers?
Yes, Dyslexia is found among teenagers. A child is born with dyslexia and as they grow they struggle to learn or remember or express themselves in words.
Signs and Symptoms of Dyslexia among Children in High School (Teenagers)
Dyslexic teenagers tend to have all of the above signs and symptoms of dyslexia and a few more as they grow older.
- Might have difficulty in processing information that is auditory in nature.
Dyslexia in Teenagers
- Dyslexic teenagers have a tendency to lose things and often have poor organizational skills.
- They are slow at reading as compared to the teenagers in their class.
- Their reading comprehension is very low.
- Dyslexic teenagers will face difficulty in remembering the names of people or places or both.
- They may even have a hesitant pattern of speech and will not be able to use appropriate words in their sentences.
- It is usually difficulty for them to organize ideas while writing a letter or paper.
- Dyslexic teenagers will be poor in spellings.
- They will have difficulty in recollecting numbers or even phone numbers in a proper sequence.
- As these teenagers will be relatively behind the children their age they will have a lower sense of self-esteem due to frustration and failure and inability to grasp things faster.
- Dyslexic teenagers may be excellent navigators or be very bad at directions. They may not even be able to find their way back to their cars.
Do not jump into conclusions that your child is dyslexic just because he/she portrays one of the above signs or symptoms. The child must portray a cluster of dyslexic symptoms before being diagnosed for the same.
Can a Dyslexic Teenager Learn or be Taught?
The answer is, YES! A dyslexic teenager can be taught to read, write, spell and even pronounce and understand words and their formation. Dyslexic children can be phonologically trained and taught to absorb and process information in a manner that will make them understand words and sounds. They will definitely take up more time as compared to other children.
If diagnosed at an early stage of childhood it will help them to receive necessary training and treatment to overcome future educational problems. However, remember that dyslexia is not a disease, it is a disorder and it can be treated at any point of time.
Posted in Dyslexia, Dyslexia in Children, Dyslexia Signs