I keep loving the job I do. Recently a child was brought to my class, and I was told that the child is dyslexia. Hmmmmmmm I was like "what is meaning of that" anyways I had to go online to read more about it, I was awed as I went on and on and on...its worth my time.
Most parents/teachers have children with this disorder but because they are not aware of it they keep shouting,scolding and hitting these children not knowing that its not really their fault.
I did this research just to make sure that the child is not left behind.
Read on...
Dyslexia is a common learning difficulty that mainly affects the way people read and spell words.
Dyslexia only affects some skills and abilities, and is not linked to a person's general level of intelligence.
Children of all intellectual abilities, from low to high intelligence, can be affected by dyslexia.
Similarly, the difficulty a child with dyslexia has with reading and spelling is not determined by their intelligence, but by how severe their dyslexia is. Children with average intelligence and mild dyslexia are likely to be more skilled at reading and writing than children with high intelligence and more severe dyslexia.
How do you Identify a dyslexia?
It can be difficult to diagnose dyslexia in young children as the signs are not always obvious. If you think your child has dyslexia, the first step is to speak to their teacher or the school’s special needs coordinator.
Identifying your child’s strengths (such as picture puzzles or maths) as well as their difficulties can be helpful. Many schools identify children who are having difficulty learning in particular areas and offer additional support.
If your child does not make progress when offered this support, the school may request a more in-depth assessment from either a specialist teacher or educational psychologist. It is also possible to request private assessments, either directly from an educational psychologist or through voluntary organisations .
Signs and symptoms
Dyslexia is a spectrum disorder, with symptoms ranging from mild to severe. People with dyslexia have particular difficulty with:
Phonological awareness:
Phonological awareness is thought to be a key skill in early reading and spelling development. It is the ability to identify how words are made up of smaller units of sound, known as phonemes. Changes in the sounds that make up words can lead to changes in their meaning.
For example, a child with a good level of phonological awareness would understand that if you change the letter "p" in the word "pat" to "s", the word becomes "sat"
Verbal memory:
Verbal memory is the ability to remember a sequence of verbal information for a short period of time.
For example, the ability to remember a short list such as "red, blue, green", or a set of simple instructions, such as "Put on your gloves and your hat, find the lead for the dog and then go to the park."
Rapid serial naming
This is the ability to name a series of colours, objects or numbers as fast as possible
Verbal processing speed
Verbal processing speed is the time it takes to process and recognise familiar verbal information, such as letters and digits.
For example, someone with a good verbal processing speed has the ability to quickly write down unfamiliar words when they are spelled out, or write down telephone numbers they are told.
Causes of dyslexia:
There are several theories about the causes of dyslexia, but it is generally accepted to be a condition passed on through families.
It has been shown that if you have dyslexia, there is a significant chance your child will also have the condition, and if one identical twin is born with dyslexia, it is very likely the other twin will also have it.
Research has shown there are six possible genes that may contribute to dyslexia; however, there are thought to be many factors that cause the condition. Four of the genes have been shown to affect neuronal migration, which is part of the process in the brain's development that leads to specific areas of the brain having specialised functions.
This idea is also supported by research where brain scans have shown problems in the occipito-temporal cortex, which is an area towards the back of the brain.
Treating dyslexia
While dyslexia is a lifelong problem, there is a range of specialist educational interventions that can help children with dyslexia with their reading and writing.
The amount and type of intervention necessary will depend on the severity of their condition. In some cases, a specific action plan for your child can be drawn up and implemented by their school.
Most children with dyslexia will only need to miss a few hours of their regular classes each week to receive specialist one-to-one teaching, or teaching in small groups. A small number of children with dyslexia may need to be transferred to a specialist school. Many specialist schools charge a fee.
Research has found that early educational interventions, ideally before a child reaches seven or eight years old, are the most effective way of achieving long-term improvements in their reading and writing.
A wide range of educational interventions and programmes are available, and it can be difficult for parents to find out which would most benefit their child.
However, there is a large body of good quality evidence that interventions focusing on phonological skills (the ability to identify and process sounds) are the most effective way of improving reading and writing. These types of educational interventions are often referred to as phonics. This is a system widely used to teach all children to read and write, not just those with dyslexia.
The following are names of some successful dyslexics:
Whoopi Goldberg (actor)
Nancy Brinker (Entrepreneurs)
Jack Horner (scientist)
Karen Santucci (Doctor)
David Boies (Lawyer)
Resource: The Yale Center For Dyslexia and Creativity.
No comments:
Post a Comment