Trouble Reading Could be Dyslexia

Reading is a necessity in school. When it is a challenge for someone, it drastically impacts every part of their life. Reading directs us in work, school, getting around town, and even watching TV.

Does your child struggle with reading? Do they read slow and stumble over words? Do eye exams come out good? Because of this, do they avoid reading as much as they can? Dyslexia might be the reason behind all this.

Dyslexia is one of the most common learning disability in children. It took many years before it was recognized and the abundance of it was seen.

In years past, these students were considered “slow” or of lower intelligence. Their issues were ignored as they were pushed aside because they were "special". The truth is quite the opposite. Many children who have dyslexia are extremely intelligent. They just happen to have a challenge in front of them that others do not.

What are the signs that your child might have dyslexia? There are several, and just because a child has them doesn't mean they have dyslexia. But if they do have these symptoms, you might need to talk to a professional.

- Words or letters seem to "disappear" as they try to read.

- Mixes up "b" and "d" words and sounds.

- Reading is slow and stumbling over words is common.

- The person doesn't have a desire to read silently or out loud.

- Speaking can be hesitant

There are many other symptoms that you can find at http://dyslexia.yale.edu/EDU_signs.htm.

When a child has dyslexia, their brains have a harder time understanding images in front of them and even words that are spoken to them. Connecting the “b” to the “buh” sound gets confusing because of other similar letters like “d” and “p”. What one child sees as “bat”, dyslexia causes another to see letter that they cannot connect to sound. Therefore, they have trouble reading and understanding words.

As a child reads when they have dyslexia, they pause before a word. They concentrate hard and try to get the first letter’s sound out, but sometimes it just does not come. Because of this, they avoid reading out loud. In fact, they run from reading completely.

If you suspect dyslexia is causing your child’s problems in school, talk to the teacher. In fact, they might have already contacted you regarding the possibility of dyslexia. Your school is a great way to start helping your child learn how to handle dyslexia. They see your child in an environment where dyslexia will reveal itself easily.

If your child is diagnosed with dyslexia, their entire learning world will have to change. They will need longer times to complete assignments and tests. The teachers will have to personalize their education so that they learn the same material but in the way that their brains are better suited.

One very important thing that you need to understand is that your child will need a lot of emotional support. Even though dyslexia is not a sign of any lack of intelligence, they will feel as though they are dumb. Other children might make fun of them. At this time, they need all the support they can get, not just from the school, but from their family as well.

Dyslexia can be dealt with and should not be ignored. If you see your child have difficulty with reading, and even writing, check with their teachers and see if dyslexia is the issue. Catch it early so that they can learn the joy of reading.

Early detection will make conquering the learning disability easier on everyone. The longer the child struggles, the harder it will be to adjust.They also develop bad habits to compensate that will be harder to break as they get older.

A diagnoses of dyslexia doesn't mean a dark road ahead. It just means that the individual has more challenges before them that can be overcome. Anyone can have dyslexia. It doesn't target a gender, an age, or a specific social group. There have been many successes over this challenge.

Many famous people have struggled with dyslexia. Cher is one of them. She never knew why she struggled in school until her own son did and was diagnosed with dyslexia. You can read more here - https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/personal-stories/famous-people/celebrity-spotlight-superstar-cher-triumphs-with-dyslexia-and-dyscalculia.

Regular people face the issue as well. It is not just for the famous. Take Jack Owens for one. This young man faced dyslexia head on and took his experiences to help others. You can read more about him here - https://www.understood.org/en/community-events/blogs/making-a-difference/2015/12/22/teen-tech-whiz-with-dyslexia-shares-his-expertise-to-help-others

There are many stories of success. Look them up and take encouragement.