Dyslexia is commonly associated with difficulty with reading, writing and spelling. This can be due to issues ‘decoding’ new words, meaning a child with dyslexia may struggle to recognise and manipulate words. Children with dyslexia may need to work harder than their peers to develop literacy skills.
It is estimated that 1 in 5 children have dyslexia and while no two individuals struggle with the same set of symptoms, we have outlined some key symptoms below:
Symptoms of dyslexia in children:
- Speed of processing: slow spoken and/or written language
- Poor concentration
- Difficulty following instructions
- Forgetting words
- Speech delay
- Struggle with telling time
- Particular difficulty in learn another language
- Easily frustrated, affecting their mood and emotional stability
- Poor standard of written work compared with oral ability
Initial stages
If you suspect that your child may be dyslexic then you should discuss your concerns with your child’s teacher, or the school’s Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo). The school should perform an evaluation which you may also have done privately. However, this is recommended for ages 6 and above.
As a parent
- Discuss the specific challenges that result from dyslexia
- Acknowledge their effort and celebrate hard work, even if there are still mistakes
- Combat negative self-talk
- Help them recognise their strengths
- Understand social impacts
Styles of learning
- Multi-sensory instruction in decoding skills
- Repetition and review of skills
- Small group or individual instruction
- Teaching decoding skills
- Drilling sight words
- Teaching comprehension strategies, to help derive meaning from what they’re reading
Tips to help
- Audio books can be a great alternative to reading
- Typing on a computer or tablet instead of writing
- Apps that can help make learning fun by turning phonological awareness into a game
- Old-fashioned rulers can help kids with dyslexia read in a straight line, which might help keep them focused. They may also respond better to coloured backgrounds for reading.
Accommodations at school
- Extra time on tests
- A quiet space to work
- The option to give verbal, rather than written, answers (when appropriate)
- Elimination of oral reading in class
- Exemption from foreign language learning
Dyslexic individuals who have excelled
Richard Branson
Walt Disney
Leonardo Da Vinci
Albert Einstein
John F Kennedy
George Washington
George W Bush
Pablo Picasso
Steven Spielberg
There is no reason why individuals with dyslexia cannot still achieve highly in their academics. It is key to identify the precise needs of the individual and work with them to ensure that they are more comfortable within their learning environment. We have many students who have dyslexia that have gone to perform exceptionally well in their education!