Does Your Child Have Dyslexia? What Is Dyslexia?

Is your child having reading difficulty? If the answer is yes then your child could be dyslexic. This can be challenging for you and your child, however, you can overcome the challenges by understanding what this is, the signs & symptoms and how you can help your child with dyslexia.

Dyslexia is a type of learning disorder where the child has difficulty reading or interpreting words, letters or symbols. This is due to a simple wiring problem in the part of the brain which alters the way it receives and processes information pertaining to language making the child interpret differently as he/she sees, hears and understands differently. In other words, your child has problems identifying speech sounds and decoding the letters and words is difficult for him/her. This doesn’t imply that a child is not intelligent in fact most children affected have normal vision and intelligence.

It is by far the most common learning disability that can persist throughout life & varies from mild to severe. The precise cause is not fully understood, however, it is thought to be caused by the interaction of genetical and environmental factors & can run in some families.

Some Common Symptoms of Dyslexia:

It can be tricky as a parent to identify if your child has dyslexia especially before he/she enters school & also depending on the severity of the condition, however, you may have some clues that may help identify the issue such as poor reading speed, poor fluency, poor vocabulary skills, inability in letter & word recognition. Usually, the first person to pick this is the teacher.

Signs to look out for before your child enters school:

What To Do & How To Help A Dyslexic Child?

It’s best you take your child to a paediatrician if your child’s reading level is below what is expected for his/her age or if you suspect any problem because the earlier it is picked the more favourable the outcome. Your child is evaluated where his/her processing of information from seeing, hearing and participating in activities is reviewed.

Once confirmed, despite no cure, you need to understand that your child being dyslexic doesn’t mean that he/she is dumb, he/she is smart as any other child but just processes information differently from others. Once you keep this in your mind, you will understand that it is then possible to teach your child in special ways unique to his/her learning style. In other words, tailored lessons with special assistance are needed to help overcome the challenge. Reassure your child as it’s very frustrating to a child who can’t seem to get his/her head around the issue. Create a strong support system for your child & help them learn to deal with the frustrations and get through the challenges.

Remember, most dyslexic children can succeed in school with a little help from tutoring and special education programme.

It’s also very important to closely monitor your child’s developmental milestones for example when he/she starts to talk as compared to when he/she should have started to talk. This can help pick up this type of learning disability earlier on.

Complications Or Problems A Dyslexic Child Can Face:

Difficulty Learning- As reading is part of most school subjects, this actually is a disadvantage for a dyslexic child and can put him/her behind in class, making it difficult for him/her to keep up with the peers.

Social Difficulties- If left untreated this can lead to behavioural problems, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, aggression and even cause withdrawal from peers, parents and teachers.

Problems Persisting Into Adulthood- This can prevent a child from reaching his/her full potential having long-term educational and social problems that last throughout adulthood.

It is also important to note that dyslexia and ADHD can go hand in hand i.e. a dyslexic child is at high risk of having ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) and vice versa. It is therefore important to see a paediatrician, to help the child gain his/her full potential with the correct tools and methods of learning suitable to him/her and appropriate treatment if diagnosed with ADHD.