DYSLEXIA
Sometimes called Specific Learning Disorder
WHAT IS IT
Dyslexia has nothing to do with IQ. There are Dyslexic people with high IQ's and Dyslexic people with low IQ's. Dyslexia can affect people in different ways, from some who may only have a problem with spelling, to others who have difficulty spelling, reading and writing. One typical type is the child (more often male) who has a bit of difficulty reading, writing and spelling in early Primary school. With help as he gets older he improves in his reading and if he is lucky with his hand writing but his spelling always remains weak. There may be other more subtle problems such as difficulty in organisation, trouble with remembering instructions, muddling left and right etc.
WHAT CAUSES IT
Some people used to argue that Dyslexia was not a real thing. That it was all 'in the mind'! Well the latest news is that it is 'in the mind'. New research methods using brain scans have shown that without any doubt it is real. There are differences in the brain of a dyslexic person which can be seen by brain scanning. What is more, it is almost certainly hereditary, chromosomes 15 and 6 being the suspect ones.
It has been shown that there is a problem with the brain's auditory centre. This creates difficulties with recognition of the sounds within a word and difficulties in sorting, sequencing and memorizing these sounds all of which are essential for reading and writing. In some people with dyslexia it is more of a visual problem such as poor short-term visual memory. Most recently researchers are looking at the possibility of there being a generalised problem with timing which affects all the brain. Others are saying that another area of the brain -the cerebellum is the problem area. Each year brings new and exciting discoveries made possible by modern research methods.
Each year also brings new supposedly miracle cures. These all sound very exciting when first produced but should all be taken with a pinch of salt unless backed up by reliable published evidence and research.
As yet there is no proven miracle cure. Help is mostly educational.
However the following can be done:
*Hearing should be checked particularly were there is a history of ear infections.
1. To make sure that hearing is normal
2. To make sure that listening is normal
See my section on Auditory problems
http://www.schooldoctor.co.uk/18.html
* Eyes should be checked
1.To make sure that spectacles are not needed
2. To make sure that eye-movements are well co-ordinated
3. To make sure that there is no light sensitivity
See more under my section on Visual Problems
http://www.schooldoctor.co.uk/19.html
WHAT SHOULD ONE DO
The most important thing is to restore self-confidence and self esteem. If a child has lost confidence in his or her own ability that confidence must be restored. Sometimes some one to one tutoring from a sympathetic person can make a huge difference. Most often when the child finds out that they are dyslexic and not stupid the relief is enormous
Therefore your child should be properly assessed. An Educational Psychologist does this through your school and Local Education Dept. Unfortunately due to resource problems this can be difficult to get and it may be something you have to arrange privately. If you do this check to be sure that you go to a 'chartered' Educational Psychologist. That is one who is up to date and appropriately qualified. A good place to go is either
Dyslexia Action
http://www.dyslexiaaction.org.uk
Dyslexia Action in Scotland
Rooms 14 & 20, Napier Street Centre
39 Napier Street
Glasgow G20 6EZ
Tel: 0141 3344549
Email: glasgow@dyslexiaaction.org.uk
British Dyslexia Association
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UK national organization, offering a wide range of information for parents, dyslexic adults and teachers, with details of the international conferences it ...
www.bda-dyslexia.org.uk |
Dyslexia Association in Scotland
http://www.dyslexiascotland.org.uk/
Both the Action Dyslexia and Dyslexia Association will provide you with advice. They will also organise a reputable Educational Psychologist for you. They can also organise tutoring.
Your child will need extra help with his education. Hopefully your school should provide this through its learning support department. Many schools with limited budgets find it difficult to give the necessary help and then it must be found elsewhere. The organisations I mentioned above would be the best to advise you about this.
Simple online assessment for dyslexia
http://www.dyslexiacentre.co.uk/
The Dyslexia Shop
Stocks many very useful gadgets and computer programmes and will give you lots of advice.
Special pencils and pens to improve pencil grip, sloping writing boards for improved writing, learn to type computer programmes, word prediction computer programmes etc
enquiries@thedyslexiashop.co.uk
0131 672 1552 www.thedyslexiashop.co.uk
There are several computer programmes available.
The programme 'TextHelp Read and write' - Reads text aloud with either a US or British accent. It also has Word prediction and spellcheck. Good for all ages
For excellent advice on this and others go to: -
http://www.dyslexic.com
Spelling Help
Toe-By-Toe series of books are excellent (a multi-sensory reading programme)
http://www.legend.uk.com/~toebytoe/
Earobics
A highly recommended computer programme to improve phonic skills
http://donjohnston.co.uk/catalog/earobics.htm
COMPUTERS
One of the most useful things you can do for your child is to invest in a computer and make sure that your child learns to type really well.
Computers with spell checks have revolutionised life for dyslexics. Handwriting problems and spelling problems are instantly solved.
Parents and teachers are often concerned that use of a word processor will adversely affect the child's hand writing skills. In fact research has shown the opposite.
EXAMS
Children with a definite diagnosis of dyslexia get help in exams. This could be extra time, use of a word processor or a scribe.
UNIVERSITY
Most Universities are now very aware of a dyslexic's problems and offer excellent support. In Scotland a Dyslexic person can apply to the Education Dept for computer equipment and software.
Occasionally someone who has dyslexia is not diagnosed until university. With a high IQ it is sometimes possible to cope up to that level before problems become insurmountable without extra help.
Great Books
The publisher ‘Barrington Stoke' based at 10 Belford Terrace, Edinburgh have some very good authors including Michael Morpurgo. Here is a quote from a patient 'I can’t recommend them highly enough – they gave my dyslexic son the confidence he needed and then he was able to move on to mainstream books'
