Dyslexia is an inherited brain difference, which means that this student will need to be taught differently and be able to access classroom accommodations.  These students are often very bright, and will make great progress if their needs can be met at school.

 

Dyslexia should be identified and dealt with as early as possible in a child’s life.  Be alert if someone in your family had learning problems in school.

 

Here are some of the early warning signs. Some of these can be seen in children who are not dyslexic, so do not panic.

Delay in talking (2-3+), immature speech, mixed–up syllables in words, early stuttering, ear infections, difficulty mastering how to tie shoes, problems establishing dominant hand, rhyming, sequencing the alphabet, difficulty learning the names of sounds and letters, basic phonics.  Children will not have all of these symptoms.

 

Once children are in school, they may show difficulties in reading, spelling, writing, and mathematics.  They may also show difficulties in sequencing steps in a task, directionality, rote memory of non meaningful facts, telling time on an analog clock.

 

About 40% of dyslexics will have ADD or ADHD.  Maybe 3% - 8% will have problems reading black print on white paper and will need a coloured plastic overlay.

 

The good news is that the right side of the brain in people with dyslexia is larger than normal.  This will give the student significant strengths in the more creative skills e.g. art, music, athletics, mechanics, people skills, imagination, curiosity, intuition, creative thinking, and visual spatial skills.

 

Many famous people have been dyslexic e.g. Leonardo Da Vinci, Einstein, John Grisham, Winston Churchill, and Walt Disney etc.

What is DYSLEXIA?

INFORMATION ABOUT DYSLEXIA

 

‘Dyslexia – An Introduction For Parents’ is available at the Learning Disabilities Association of Halton website.

 

‘Overcoming Dyslexia’ by Sally Shaywitz M.D. (book)

 

‘Bright Solutions for Dyslexia’ by Susan Barton. (website)