What you need to know about dyslexia
From symptoms to treatment, here is what you need to know about the learning disorder called dyslexia.
October is dyslexia awareness month.
The Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity reports that dyslexia affects 20 percent of the population and represents 80–90 percent of all those with learning disabilities. It is the most common learning disability.
This condition affects part of the brain that is responsible for language processing and it is a condition that causes people to have difficulties reading, writing, spelling and speaking.
According to International Dyslexia Association, dyslexia is not due to either lack of intelligence or desire to learn. Those who suffer from the condition can be helped by applying appropriate teaching methods.
There are three types of dyslexia - primary, secondary and trauma dyslexia, according to Medical Centric.
Primary dyslexia is the most common and it is passed down family lines through genes.
Secondary or developmental dyslexia is caused by problems with brain development during early stages of pregnancy.
Then trauma dyslexia is caused by an injury to the area of the brain that controls reading and writing.
Symptoms:
Having difficulties learning does not necessarily mean a person suffers from dyslexia.
There are tests that would be performed by a doctor or educational specialist to determine if a person has the learning disorder.
The International Dyslexia Association states that those who suffer from dyslexia will have difficulties in the following areas:
- Learning to speak
- Learning letters and their sounds
- Organising written and spoken language
- Memorising number facts
- Reading quickly enough to comprehend
-Persisting with and comprehending longer reading assignments
- Spelling
- Learning a foreign language
- Correctly doing math operations.
READ: Tips to help your child do well in school
Treatment
Extra help in the form of an educational specialist might be required. After the test is conducted, the medical person will advise the best method required to treat the condition.
'With early screening, early diagnosis, early evidence-based reading intervention and appropriate accommodations, dyslexic individuals can become highly successful students and adults," states the Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity .
WebMD gives the following guide in helping people who suffer from dyslexia:
Read in a quiet place with no distractions.
Listen to books on CD or computer, and read along with the recording.
Break up reading and other tasks into small pieces that are more manageable.
Ask for extra help from your teacher or manager when you need it.
Join a support group for kids or adults with dyslexia.
Get plenty of rest and eat healthy foods.
Learn more about the condition in the video below.
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Disclaimer: Health-related information provided in this article is not a substitute for medical advice and should not be used to diagnose or treat health problems. It is always advisable to consult with your doctor on any health-related issues.
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