Dyslexia: A Guide for Parents

Prevalence:
Dyslexia affects 15% of the U.S. population and occurs in both females and males of all economic and ethnic backgrounds.

Signs and Symptoms:
The signs and symptoms vary from person to person, depending on age and other individual characteristics. Some dyslexics have strengths in creative skills but lack in oral skills. Others have no special talents but have strong oral skills.

Warning Signs of Dyslexia at Different Ages:

Preschool/Kindergarten
– Delay in talking, problems with speaking
– Problems in rhyming words
– Difficulty remembering names and numbers
– Difficulty remembering and following directions

Grades 1-3
– Difficulty connecting sounds to letters
– Frequent confusion of letters that look similar (w/m, h/n, p/d) or sound alike (t/d, p/b, f/v)
– Difficulty breaking up words into individual sounds and combining the sounds to make up words
– Spelling and reading errors such as letter reversals, omissions, additions, and substitutions
– Omissions of grammatical endings (-ed, -ing, -s)
– Poor concentration
– Problems with tying shoe laces and
dressing
– Confusion between left and right

Grades 4-8
– Difficulty reading and spelling words with
more than one syllable ( ie. frequent
omission of entire syllables)
– Lack of awareness of word structure
(roots, prefixes, suffixes)
– Difficulty in reading comprehension
– Difficulty in writing mainly due to problems
in spelling and organization

Adolescents and Adulthood
– Slow rate of reading
– Problems with spelling and writing
– Problems with word recognition which affect the ability to understand the material
– Difficulty taking notes in class
– Difficulty with learning a foreign language
– Problems find appropriate words for oral expression
– Difficulty processing auditory information

Other Effects:
It is not uncommon for dyslexics to experience frustration, lowered self-esteem, and lack of motivation while they are struggling with their dyslexia.

Causes of Dyslexia:
Dyslexia is the consequence of the organization of the brain. The exact location of the brain that is responsible for the cause of dyslexia has not yet been named. But recent research and new technology may make it possible to identify these brain differences. However, the existing research has suggested that dyslexia may have a genetic basis, as it appears in families across generations.

Cure/Treatments for Dyslexia:
There are no cures for dyslexia. However, with the assistance and/or cooperation of parents, tutors, teachers, and trained professionals, dyslexics could improve their symptoms and make the dyslexia less debilitating.

Assessment:
If you think your child has dyslexia, contact his/her school principal and explain your concern. You are entitled to have your child evaluated by the school, in accordance with IDEA 1997 and Public Law 94-142.

You can also seek a private specialist for evaluation. Before the diagnosis is made, the evaluator will assess your child in several areas: general ability, word recognition, sounding out of words, reading comprehension, and written expression. The child’s educational background, intellectual ability, family history, and social environment are also taken into account.

Tips for Parents with a Dyslexic Child:
– Divide your child’s schoolwork into manageable workloads
– Give your child extra time to complete his/her homework
– Make sure your child does his/her homework in a quiet place
– Help him/her organize/plan assignments
– Help your child complete his/her schoolwork
– Review all your child’s schoolwork
– Have your child read daily- reading along with tapes or CD is also helpful
– Encourage and praise your child