Understanding Dyslexia

Definition and Nature of Dyslexia

• Brain-based condition affecting reading, spelling, and writing.
• Not related to vision—it's an issue with language processing.
• Lifelong condition, often hereditary.
• Brain imaging shows structural and functional differences in dyslexic individuals.
• Not linked to intelligence; individuals with dyslexia have normal intelligence.

Early Signs and Language Processing

• Signs can appear before children learn to read.
• Reading involves recognizing sounds in words (e.g., recognizing 'elephant' as three parts).
• Dyslexic children may struggle to distinguish sounds within words (e.g., F-N-T in "elephant").
• Difficulty with phonemic awareness, including rhyming and isolating sounds.
• Struggle with matching letters to sounds (e.g., 'S' for 'sss', 'SH' for 'shh').
• Decoding is challenging, impacting the ability to sound out words.

Effective Approaches and Tools

• Specialized Reading Instruction:
  • Orton-Gillingham approach: breaks words into sound components, matches sounds to letters, blends sounds.
  • Multi-sensory techniques (e.g., tracing letters in sand, clapping syllables).
• Assistive Tools:
  • Audiobooks, text-to-speech software, reading apps.

Supporting Children with Dyslexia

• Read aloud daily to encourage reading interest.
• Choose books that align with child’s interests.
• Engage in rhyming games, nursery rhymes, and songs to build skills.
• Despite not outgrowing dyslexia, children can become skilled readers with the right support.
• With appropriate support, dyslexic individuals can succeed academically and in life.