About Dyslexia & Learning Disabilities

The short answer is: a bright student with reading difficulties. Dyslexia is an inherited brain difference, which means the individual will need to be taught differently.

Early detection and diagnosis is essential. As the student shows signs of improvement, they will also start to gain confidence and exhibit a higher self-esteem.

Signs to Watch For

Students who have not been diagnosed with dyslexia may still show one or more of the following signs: delay in speaking, immature speech, mixed up syllables in words, difficulty learning sounds and names of the alphabet, difficulty sequencing lists, difficulty rhyming words, difficulty establishing the dominant hand, and difficulty tying shoes.

The Good News

The right side of the brain in people with dyslexia is larger than the normal population. This gives them significant strengths in creative skills like art, music, mechanics, people skills, imagination, curiosity, intuition, and creative thinking.

Many famous people have been identified as dyslexic: Leonardo Da Vinci, Einstein, John Grisham, Winston Churchill and Walt Disney to name a few.

About 40% of people identified with dyslexia also have ADD or ADHD. Another 3-8% may have difficulty reading black print on white paper and need a coloured overlay to diminish the glare.

Central Auditory Processing Disorder

This disorder has nothing to do with hearing. The student may hear perfectly well — the problem lies with how the brain processes what is heard. Words may be processed too slowly, one may hear all the words but cannot make sense of them, or one may process the words but cannot remember what has been heard.

Signs include: appearing to daydream, difficulty pronouncing words, difficulty hearing in noisy environments, saying “huh” or “what” frequently, needing directions repeated, difficulty following multi-step directions, poor organizational skills, and difficulty taking notes.

If you suspect CAPD, make an appointment with a recognized audiologist. They will check hearing first, then can perform Central Auditory Processing testing. Children with CAPD can be helped greatly by having an F.M. System in the classroom.

Visual Processing Disorder

Visual Processing Disorder can cause issues with the way the brain processes visual information. Signs include: trouble remembering what was seen, difficulty recognizing likenesses and differences, difficulty copying notes from the board, messy handwriting, tiring easily when reading, and reversing letters and numbers.

If you suspect visual processing issues, visit a Behavioral Optometrist. They can assess if there is a disorder between the eyes and the brain, such as both eyes not meeting at one focal point, or visual tracking difficulties. These can be improved with therapy.

Canada is one of the only countries in the industrial world that does not recognize the term “dyslexia” in its school systems. Most school boards will refer to your child’s condition as a “learning disability.”

Steps to Take

First approach the classroom teacher with your concerns. The Special Education Teacher may set up an I.E.P. (Individualized Educational Plan), a program stating long and short-term goals, present level of functioning, and measurable objectives.

Accommodations change how the child is learning: preferential seating, designated reader or scribe, extra time for assignments, technology support, and visual organizers.

If your child shows no progress on an I.E.P., you may proceed with an IPRC (Individual Placement and Review Committee). Inform the Principal in writing. You have the right to bring another person to the meeting.

Psychological Testing

Testing by a psychologist describes academic skills and overall intellectual potential. Children with learning disabilities may show a low IQ score because they are being tested in areas they are weak in. This does not reflect their true potential.

Never give up on your child.