Some of you may read this title and immediately get out your pen and paper to jot down any similarities you see between what is defined as Dyslexia and what is happening with your child. I encourage you to drop your pen and remember a few things before you continue reading.

Things To Know About Dyslexia

1. Just because your child may exhibit some of the traits below, does not necessarily mean he/she is Dyslexic.

2. If there is low-level quality of instruction over a period of time, students may look like they have Dyslexia when they really do not.

3. If you feel your child is Dyslexic, you must address your concerns with your child’s teacher and know that there are certain procedures and assessments that must take place to prevent rushing to labeling a child with a learning disability. 

   When students are struggling with reading, it is our responsibility to continue to ask ourselves why until we find an answer. Is there a lack of a strong phonics foundation? Is the child unable to decode big words (multisyllabic words)? Can they read but are unable to understand what they’re reading (comprehension)?

   There are so many questions teachers ask themselves, and for every question there are many (yes, many) possible answers. One possible reason why someone may struggle with reading is Dyslexia.

   Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that affects spelling, reading fluency, and decoding. It may also affect comprehension and vocabulary, but those are secondary characteristics. Those who experience dyslexia may also struggle with phonemic awareness.

   Dyslexia has a neurobiological origin, which means that we have to consider genetic factors and brain structure. The part of the brain that is responsible for word analysis and word form is non-existent. Below is a picture of different brain patterns of someone who has Dyslexia compared to someone who does not.

How To Talk To Your Child’s Teacher About Dyslexia

If you are wondering if your child is dyslexic, review the following characteristics in detail and speak with your child’s teacher to determine what next steps need to be taken:

• Family History: Because Dyslexia may be carried as a genetic trait, review family history to see if other family members may have experienced difficulty with reading and/or writing.

• High Intelligence in Other Subjects: You may notice when you read at or above level text to this child, his or her comprehension is no different than anyone else. How so? Oral reading takes the burden of word analysis away from your child and you are able to see how well he or she can understand the text. In my teaching experience, children with Dyslexia have many areas of high intelligence that span other subject areas (math, science, history, technology, etc.)

• Word Reading Difficulty: Your child may be able to memorize and read high frequency words, but in many cases this is a point of frustration.

• Overuse of Context Clues to Comprehend: Do not be surprised when your child cannot easily recall small words (one syllable words like cat) or high frequency words but can read some random big words. This is due to their oral language ability and high reading comprehension.

These are just some factors to help you determine if Dyslexia is a concern for your child. Above anything else, the quality of instruction and schooling can mask the signs of dyslexia. This DOES NOT mean it can make dyslexia go away (nothing can), but if your child has a strong literacy foundation and attends a campus where he/she is taught explicit phonics and decoding skills, issues with this learning disability may never come up until later in grade school.

Before you go…check out this great video about amazing people who are Dyslexic: 

Are you worried your child is Dyslexic or you know they are and need a resource that will help enhance their word decoding abilities? Click here to enroll your child in my online learn to read course. They’ll learn all the phonics principles of the English language which will make them a more confident reader.