What is dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a long-lasting language problem that affects many people. It is labelled as a ‘learning disability’ because a person with dyslexia may have difficulty in learning how to read, write and spell, and sometimes has problems with maths as well.

Dyslexia stems from not being able to recognise and learn the connection between the spoken and written forms of a language, or a failure to recognise the sound associated with a written symbol or word.

What causes dyslexia?

Its exact cause has not yet been identified, but recent evidence points to abnormalities in the nerves in the brain, which may develop when the fetus is in the womb, as being a cause. Other findings suggest that genetic (inherited) factors also play an important part in dyslexia.

How does dyslexia affect people?

Dyslexia can occur in children with normal, or superior, intelligence and abilities, who are sometimes mistakenly thought to be mentally retarded. A child with dyslexia who has not been properly diagnosed may suffer from low self-esteem because of the tough time they have keeping up with the learning pace of their classmates. Although dyslexia can occur in people of any intellectual ability, children with the condition often appear to be not trying hard enough at school. Problems with school can lead to a student feeling stressed and discouraged about continuing, which can have major consequences for his or her future working life.

What are the problems of dyslexia?

Many people with dyslexia have problems reading from left to right and reversing words and letters, but others with the condition may have other problems in actually recognising the visual form of words. Dyslexia may be accompanied by, or cause other problems such as:

• lack of motivation;
• emotional problems;
• behavioural problems and difficulty making friends;
• impulsivity; and
• problems with planning and time management.

Different skills

Many people with dyslexia are gifted in areas that don’t need strong language skills, such as art, design, computing and sports. Some are highly intuitive and extremely creative. They should never be considered mentally retarded. We should always remember that one of the most famous thinkers of our time, Albert Einstein, was dyslexic.

What are the symptoms of dyslexia?

Among other symptoms, dyslexia may be characterised by the following.

• Learning style — the person has difficulty in learning to read, write and spell despite a normal or high IQ.
• Deficient language and reading skills. Reading may be slow and inaccurate and is usually below grade level.
• The person may reverse letter sequences and have difficulty pronouncing words.
• Poor skills in spelling, sometimes spelling the same word differently in the same piece of writing.
• Difficulty with ‘word problems’ in maths.
• Difficulty in summarising.
• Finding it hard to recount a story in the correct sequence.
• Finding it hard to follow procedures with multiple steps.
• An inadequate vocabulary.
• Concentration and memory problems such as restlessness, fidgeting, ‘switching off’ when things get too hard, or forgetting books or what was read even if it was recent.

How is dyslexia diagnosed?

To diagnose dyslexia, a series of non-medical tests are usually given. The tests evaluate a child’s intellectual ability, their academic skills, and their information and language processing skills. Your doctor will be able to give you more information and/or refer you to a specialist in the field.

What can I do for my child who has dyslexia?

School problems
It is important that your child’s school knows what your child needs. Although children with dyslexia often have to work harder than other children in order to keep up with them (and may not do as well, despite this), extra homework is an added pressure and your child’s teacher should be made aware of this.

It is a good idea to talk to your child’s teacher about how things are done in the classroom and what’s expected of your child, so you can help as much as possible. Always tell your child’s teacher if your child is finding the work too much. Children with any type of learning problem need support at school and a personal learning programme to help them build confidence and avoid distractions. Ask for explanations if you don’t understand what you’re told, and keep persisting until you get what your child needs. If you become concerned about your child’s learning, assessment by an educational psychologist is essential.

Building self-esteem

• A good sense of self-esteem is one of the most important things you can give any child, but particularly one with a learning disability, who is at risk of lowered confidence and a sense of failure. When your child is successful at a task, praise him or her for a job well done.
• Ensure as far as possible that your child does things he or she knows he or she can succeed at.
• Notice and give encouragement when a job or task has been done well.
• Give plenty of praise for trying, and teach him or her ways of appreciating others’ efforts as well.
• Encourage hobbies and groups and activities he or she enjoys.
• Try to avoid dwelling on your child’s dyslexia any more than necessary.
• Encourage your child to make choices, eg, choosing for him or herself what to wear or do.
• Give your child responsibilities in the home and praise him or her when these are done well.
• If your child has problems knowing how to act around strangers or with making friends, it can help to explain to them what to do in these unfamiliar situations.
• Above all, let your child know you love him or her no matter what his or her abilities.

myDr, 2000. Adapted from original material sourced from UBM Medica (NZ) Ltd. Last reviewed September 2005.