Dyslexia Warning Signs and Treatments

Dyslexia is a condition that can be difficult to understand and treat. It has great impact on one's ability to read. Early treatment helps an individual but a dyslexic may never have an easy time reading.

Dyslexia is a learning disability that is brain-based. A person with dyslexia often reads at a level below what is expected, even if they are otherwise intelligent. Common symptoms or signs of dyslexia include rapid visual-verbal responses and difficulty with processing phonetics or manipulating sounds.

A major sign that dyslexia may be present is confusing letters like d and b or accidentally reversing words (using "won" when they meant "now"). A dyslexic may also add a letter to a word, read or write syllables or letters in the wrong order, or be able to properly sound out the letters of a word but say the word incorrectly (sound out c-a-t and then say "cold").

Medication and counseling aren't particularly effective treatments for dyslexia. The earlier the condition is recognized, the earlier special educational tools can be used to get a child reading at the highest possible level.

It was once thought that children with dyslexia should cover one eye while reading in order to help them read. Since dyslexia is caused by a brain function, and not altered vision, this method is ineffective.

Federal law requires that public personnel develop an IEP (Individualized Education Program) for dyslexics three years old and older. The IEP includes the child, the parents, the teacher, and may include special education teachers as well.

Once an IEP has been created, it is typically evaluated annually. The IEP tracks specific disabilities and the best was to teach the child, and goals are set for the school year.

Specific instruction for a dyslexic includes phonics - the sounds linked to letters. Oral reading is also used to aid in developing fluency in reading. Clear, repeated and/or systematic instructions are best for dyslexic children.

Some believe that teaching a dyslexic child "automatic reading" can help. This basically means that a child is taught to recognize a word on sight so that in the future they won't have to sound out the word. It is believed by some that this increases reading comprehension and reading fluency.

Dyslexia is lifelong - it does not go completely away. Early treatment makes a big different but even dyslexic children who are treated early may always have a little difficulty reading.

Sources:
http://children.webmd.com/tc/dyslexia-treatment-overview
http://www.healthnewsflash.com/conditions/dyslexia.php
http://www.readingsuccesslab.com/Glossary/DyslexiaTreatment.html
http://www.audiblox2000.com/dyslexia_dyslexic/dyslexia015.htm