Dyslexia: what is it, signs, symptoms, causes, treatment

The time of the first words of the child is a joy in the family: it is nice to see how the baby begins to communicate. Usually, the baby pronounces his first words in a year, and the first sentences - from one and a half to two years. A delay in speech should alert parents - this may be the first sign of dyslexia.

Dyslexia is a specific learning disorder of neurobiological origin. It is a set of symptoms that lead to people having difficulty with certain language skills, especially reading.

Dyslexia is characterized by difficulty in recognizing words accurately and / or quickly, and in the ability to read and write.

Dyslexia symptoms vary by age. If your child has one or two signs, this does not mean that he has dyslexia, but he already has more of The signs listed below may mean that the child needs to be seen by a specialized professional.

What is dyslexia?

Dyslexia, defined as a learning disorder or a disorder in reading, writing, and spelling, is the most common disorder in school-aged children. Preschool age is, in a sense, a tipping point for the detection of this disorder.

The apparent ease with which most children learn to read is in stark contrast to the dilemma of a surprisingly large subgroup of children trying to make sense of printed words.

As defined by the International Dyslexia Association (IDA, 2002), this difficulty arises "despite adequate intellectual ability and the possibility of effective learning."

Dyslexia characterized by difficulties in recognizing words, spelling, decoding, slow reading and writing, inversion of letters and numbers, and problems with memorization. Failure to develop fluent reading (the ability to read the text not only accurately, but also with a speed and adequate expressiveness) is also a sign of a disorder that persists in adolescence and adulthood age. It is an inherited disorder with genetic changes that still represents changes in neurological pattern.

Symptoms (Recognizing and Diagnosing Dyslexia)

It is necessary to be attentive to the development of the child as a whole, and if you notice any difficulties, seek the advice of a specialist. Diagnosing and treating dyslexia requires an interdisciplinary team with professionals such as an educator, speech therapist, and psychologist.

Preschool children

A preschool child may have the following symptoms:

• Problems remembering rhymes; lack of interest in rhymes; poor pronunciation of words; Difficulty learning and memorizing letters poor knowledge of the letters of your own name; inability to memorize it.
• The child begins to speak later than most other children.
• The child has more difficulty in pronouncing words than other children.
• Slow vocabulary acquisition with new words and inability to memorize the right words.
• Difficulty learning the alphabet, numbers, days of the week, colors, shapes, writing letters, and spelling your name.
• The child demonstrates difficulty in trying to rhyme words, recognize letters and phonemes.
• Delayed development of fine motor skills. For example, your child may take longer than other children of the same age to learn to hold a pencil in such a position to write, use buttons and zippers, or clean teeth.
• Difficulty dividing sounds into words and pronouncing them together.
• It is difficult for the child to understand that words can be divided into parts; the difficulty of associating letters with sounds; inability to read simple words; complain about how difficult it is to read.
• It is difficult to read simple words that are not surrounded by other words.
• Children may not be in a rush to learn the relationship between letters and sounds.

In primary school

• Children do not have fluent speech (frequent pauses or hesitation).
• Failure to find the right words, they are confused by words that sound similar.
• Problems remembering dates, names, phone numbers, lists.
• The difficulty of completing control tasks within a specified time.
• Problems understanding the formulation of mathematical problems.
• Slow reading, help is often needed, the child is afraid to read aloud.
• Extreme difficulty in learning a foreign language.

In high school and at the institute

High school pupils and students can:

• Read very slowly with a lot of inaccuracies.
• Continue to misspell or often spell the same word differently in the same passage.
• Avoid tests that require reading and writing and postpone reading and writing tasks.
• Difficulties with preparing a resume and a diagram for classes.
• Work intensively on reading and writing assignments.
• Have a small amount of memory skills and complete assigned tasks more slowly than expected.
• Have a small vocabulary, cannot accumulate read information in memory.

The assessment is carried out according to the rules defined by the term dyslexia: reading difficulties in a child or an adult, who in all other aspects has good intelligence, strong motivation and sufficient education.

Diagnosis of dyslexia is based on an already balanced synthesis of information - the school history of the child (or adult), observations of his speech and reading, as well as the results of tests in reading and language.

When to see a doctor?

Although most children are ready to learn to read in kindergarten or first grade, children with dyslexia often fail to understand the basic principles required for this activity at this stage. Talk to your doctor if your child's reading level is lower than expected for their age, or if you notice other signs of dyslexia.

If the disorder is not diagnosed and treated, reading difficulties experienced in childhood will continue into adulthood.

Causes and risk factors

Dyslexia tends to occur in families. It appears to be linked to certain genes that affect how the brain processes information (writing and language), as well as risk factors in the environment.

Risk factors

The risk factors for developing dyslexia are as follows:

• A family history of dyslexia.
• Premature birth or low birth weight.
• Exposure to nicotine, drugs, alcohol, or an infection during pregnancy that can alter the development of the fetal brain.
• Individual differences in the parts of the brain that allow reading.

Complications

Dyslexia can cause a number of complications, including:

• Study problems. Because reading is a core skill for many school materials, a dyslexic child most classes are at a disadvantage and may find it difficult to keep up with peers.
• Social problems. Untreated, dyslexia can cause low self-esteem, behavior problems, anxiety, aggression, and detachment from friends, parents, and teachers.
• Problems in adulthood. A child may be deprived of the opportunity to reach their potential when they grow up if they do not learn to read and write. This can have long-term educational, social and economic implications.

Children with dyslexia are at increased risk attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and vice versa. Syndrome attention deficit with hyperactivity can cause difficulty with attention, as well as hyperactivity and compulsive behavior, which can make it difficult to treat dyslexia.

Treatment

There is no known way to correct pre-existing brain abnormalities that cause dyslexia, a problem that persists for life. However, early identification and assessment to determine specific needs and the right treatment can improve success.

Educational therapies

Dyslexia is treated with special educational approaches and methods, and it is recommended to start the intervention as soon as possible. Psychological tests will help your child's teachers develop an appropriate curriculum.

Teachers can use techniques that include hearing, sight, and touch to improve reading skills. Various psychological tricks for using multiple senses in teaching (for example, listening to a recorded and drawing with your finger the shape of the written letters and spoken words) can help the child to process and memorize information.

Treatment aims to help your child do the following:

• learn to recognize and use the shortest sounds that make up words;
• understand that letters and sequences of letters represent sounds and words;
• understand what he is reading;
• read aloud to gain accuracy, speed and expressiveness when reading;
• build vocabulary with words that are recognizable and understood.

If possible, classes with a reading specialist can be beneficial for many dyslexic children. If your child has a serious reading problem, you may need to learn more often and progress may be slower.

Early treatment

Dyslexic children who receive help as early as kindergarten or first grade often improve their reading skills by doing well in elementary and middle school.

Children who do not receive help until high school may have difficulty learning the reading skills needed to read well. They may fall behind in their studies and never keep up. A child with severe dyslexia may never be able to read easily, but they can develop reading skills and strategies to improve school performance and quality of life.

What parents can do

You have a fundamental role to play in helping your child succeed. Take the following steps:

• Solve the problem at an early age. If you suspect your child has dyslexia, talk to the child's doctor. Early intervention can improve success.
• Read aloud to your child. It is best if you start reading when your baby is 6 months old or even earlier. Try listening to recorded books with your child. When the child is old enough, ask him to listen to the stories and then tell them to you.
• Work with your child's school. Talk to your child's teacher about how the school can help you succeed. You are your child's best advocate.
• Encourage reading. To improve their reading skills, the child must read. Encourage your child to read more.
• Set an example to read. Take an hour each day to read to get your child to read too; it serves as an example to the child. Show your child that reading can be enjoyed.

What adults with dyslexia can do

It can be difficult for adults with dyslexia to excel at work. To help you achieve your goals, regardless of your age, try to get an assessment and get help with reading and writing.

Reading and writing problems do not necessarily mean that a person with dyslexia will not be able to succeed in life. With the right resources, capable dyslexic students can be very successful. Many people with dyslexia become creative and vibrant personalities, and may be talented in math, science, or art. Some people even have successful writing careers.