Dyslexia is the most common learning disability, according to a Harvard Health article; it is often missed in most students’ childhood years and not noticed until later during a child’s school age. Most students do not realize they are affected by dyslexia until their adulthood. I was lucky enough to discover it early on and I was able to train my brain from an early age to wire my brain to think differently. I have been able to do a lot in my life so far, even after being diagnosed with dyslexia. If you would like to read more information on my personal experience of dealing with dyslexia, please read my article called Dyslexia in the Young Mind. Not only did dyslexia affect me but it can affect anyone and everyone. Here are a few significant signs of dyslexia according to the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.
In Early Age-
Slow start to talking.
Problems forming words, sentences, and phrases.
Problems remembering names, words, colors, letters, or numbers.
School Age-
Reading well below grade level or Lexile range.
Difficulty spelling or sounding out words.
Avoiding activities that involve reading.
Difficulty remembering the sequence of things.
Not wanting to read in public.
In Teens and Adults-
Difficulty doing word math problems.
Troubling learning a foreign language.
Does not like reading for fun.
What is Dyslexia?
So, what is dyslexia? Dyslexia is a common reading, writing, and comprehension diagnosis which usually means it takes longer for people with dyslexia to do these subjects, or to understand them. Math could also create problems for people with dyslexia, like solving word math equations or comprehending a new math skill. Dyslexia can be found anywhere in any subject but mostly in English-related subjects. According to the article by The Child Mind Institute it says, “Dyslexia makes it hard to recognize and use the sounds in language.” For some children with dyslexia, including myself, it was always extremely hard to create words by sounding them out, words like (the, does, and catch) were always the worst to sound out. It is hard for some to remember certain letters together to make a certain sound, or one letter can change the way an entire word looks. It can be very confusing, especially for a kid.
Who can get Dyslexia?
Anyone can have dyslexia and may not even know it. Although anyone can get it, it is harder to notice when you are younger, but if you do discover it, you have a better chance of treating it. According to the Mayo Clinic, it says “a child should start reading around kindergarten to first grade.” It also recommends seeing a doctor if reading skills are not improving. The Child Mind Institute says, “90 to 80% of children with learning disabilities have dyslexia.” It is important to remember even if you are having minor problems in any subject to get tested, to figure out what treatment might be best suited for you. A way to find out if you have dyslexia is an evaluation either provided by a school or a private practice.
Treatments for Dyslexia
Getting treated for dyslexia is not as bad or scary as it sounds. There are many different techniques, courses, or devices that might help a student with dyslexia. The Child Mind Institute gives great recommendations that could be useful, after someone is diagnosed with dyslexia like using, “Repetition and review of skills, small group or individual instruction, teaching decoding skills, or Teaching comprehension strategies, to help kids derive meaning from what they are reading.” Some techniques work better than others depending on the person. There are also many personal reading programs in your local area, that someone could benefit from. The best way to work on your dyslexia is to try different techniques and to do them consistently to notice a difference. Dyslexia is a learning disability that someone can have forever, but with the training hours you put in, it can change the way a mind thinks, and wire a brain differently. If a child needs help in school, there is also certain accommodation that their child or student might qualify for, if diagnosed. Certain accommodations can allow the student more time on tests or assignments, teacher aids that specialize in a specific subject to help with assignments, or a quiet place to work. There are many other accommodations that may be available depending on the student’s circumstances and the diagnosis.
What causes dyslexia?
Researchers are not exactly sure what the cause of dyslexia is, other than that most times dyslexia is passed down through generations. According to an article by Understood, it says, “As many as 49 percent of parents of kids with dyslexia have it, too. Scientists have also found genes linked to problems with reading and processing language.” it also states that around “40% of people with dyslexia have a sibling with another learning disability.” Other reasons include the brain and the way it possesses things. Dyslexia is not terrible; it just takes time to understand how your brain works.
What's Next?
Dyslexia will not stop you from doing what you want to do. There are many people who have had dyslexia and have wonderful careers. An article by Understood reviewed many different celebrities and their struggle with dyslexia. For example, Steven Spielberg found out he was dyslexic in his 60s. Meanwhile, his teacher thought he was lazy, and his peers and classmates made fun of him. His story on dyslexia inspired him to co-write the movie The Goonies about a group of kids who did not fit in at school. Another example from the list is former NFL player Tim Tebow. He was diagnosed with dyslexia at an early age and worked his way around the difficulties. The Understood article states he would use flashcards, instead of reading his playbook. He claims it helped him. Flash cards are just another technique you can use to benefit your abilities. There are many other professionals who have struggled with dyslexia and have overcome many obstacles to achieve their goals. With years of work, practice, and perseverance anything is possible.
It's Not Over!
The battle has just begun and researching information about dyslexia is the first step. Learning more about a diagnosis can help one understand it better, or maybe even come to terms with it. The next step is to work hard. Not everything comes easy, and time must be spent to get the outcome that has been desired. It is important to remember during this journey you are not alone, and many other people are going through this same struggle. Dyslexia may never be curable, but there are ways to work around it. Find tips and tricks to help you, and do not be afraid to ask for help. You will notice life gets so much easier.
You’ve Arrived!
Now that you have discovered dyslexia, and understand it better, what is next? So many possibilities are waiting in this world for people with learning disabilities. I advise you to take every learning, reading, and writing opportunity to push yourself and your understandings. Having dyslexia gives people a unique perspective of learning, that others do not have, it is interesting to be unique. The challenges you face with dyslexia become easier over time. Now, go off and find goals and achieve them because anything is possible, even with a learning disability like dyslexia.
Sources
Dyslexia. Harvard Health. (2018, December 21) Dyslexia. https://www.health.harvard.edu/a_to_z/dyslexia-a-to-z
Dyslexia In the Young Mind (2023, September) Dyslexia, Madi Vollmer.
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2022, August 6). Dyslexia. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dyslexia/symptoms-causes/syc-20353552
Understanding dyslexia. Child Mind Institute. (2022, December 6). https://childmind.org/article/understanding-dyslexia/
Team, T. U. (2023, June 15). What is dyslexia? Understood. https://www.understood.org/en/articles/what-is-dyslexia
DeSantis, M. (2023, June 15). Celebrities with dyslexia, ADHD, and dyscalculia. Understood. https://www.understood.org/en/articles/success-stories-celebrities-with-dyslexia-adhd-and-dyscalculia
Dyslexia is such a complex learning disability because it can affect people in many different ways within their daily lives. It's really interesting to her about the possibility of genetics playing a role.
That’s interesting that dyslexia is theorized as being a genetically inherited trait. I had never considered that, and I still wonder about the specifics behind that aspect of the disability. Regardless, I like that you keep a positive and encouraging attitude about the condition. Nice work!
I did not truly realize how much dyslexia impacted everyday life. The fact that it is genetic is very interesting, especially considering other mental disorders that are also genetic that most parents and adults don't realize they have. I liked the info that there are many ways to navigate living with dyslexia, and the understanding that different methods will and won't work for different people.
I feel like people don't often talk about how dyslexia effects more than just reading. My from of dyslexia mostly affects the way I see numbers, but it also makes it really difficult for me to understand how words that start or end with the same spelling are said differently and mean different things. It makes me glad to see others sharing that kind of information.
I've always thought about dyslexia in relation to reading. I didn't know it could have so much of an impact on speech and recognizing sounds, but it makes sense when you put it together like this.