Dyslexia is included within a broad classification, that of specific learning difficulties (SLD), and is a literacy disorder which is characterized by the difficulty understanding written texts, as well as to distinguish or memorize letters or groups of letters, among other problems. Dyslexic people suffer from this disorder despite having adequate intelligence, good sociocultural opportunities and a correct education.
Dyslexia is a factor that affects school dropout and it is one of the most common learning problems (it constitutes 80% of learning disorder diagnoses). This disorder basically affects the learning of reading but also writing. More boys than girls suffer from dyslexia, and it is common for this disorder to occur along with dyscalculia, dysgraphia or ADHD.
The dyslexic’s reading is slow and full of inaccuracies, since he makes errors with long and infrequent words, although he usually reads short and familiar words more quickly.
Although there has been a great debate to clarify the causes of dyslexia, most research seems to indicate that has a neurobiological origin with a significant hereditary burden and with a predominance of a phonological deficit that causes reading learning difficulties.
The symptoms of dyslexia can be different from one person to another, so it seems that there could be different affected brain regions that are involved in the execution of reading and writing.
Dyslexia treatment
Treatment for dyslexia should include two important agents for the school-age child: teachers and parents
The work of teachers is very important since they must carry out specific educational work for the child. Parents are responsible for providing the necessary emotional support, since dyslexia can have negative effects on the child’s self-esteem. Parents are an important figure for correct recovery.
The teacher’s re-educational work must be aimed at helping the child recognize letters through different techniques, turning or laterality exercises, etc. Therefore, the teaching methodology must be different from that of the rest of students without dyslexia. It is important that the educator tries to make the child calm and not feel pressured.
Psychological therapy can also be of great help, since in many cases dyslexia can cause other types of problems: anxiety, depression, psychosomatic symptoms and behavioral disorders.
As mentioned, parents have the responsibility to show emotional support and take care of what tasks the child must do at home Many times they also need to be educated to be able to intervene at home, and so that their child’s disorder does not affect them negatively.
Tips for parents
Since parents play an important role in the improvement of their dyslexic children, below we present some basic tips when it comes to knowing how to act.
If your child suffers from dyslexia, you should:
1. Address the problem early
If you suspect that your child may suffer from dyslexia, you should talk to your GP as soon as possible Early intervention guarantees better success since treatment and school intervention will address the problem in its initial phases, when it is easier to resolve the symptoms.
Good communication with your child’s teacher will help him enormously, since there will be better coordination between two of the educational agents most important to him. Therefore, do not hesitate to express your concerns to the teaching team and maintain an agile contact channel to keep up to date with the child’s evolution and any auxiliary support that he or she may require.
3. Create time to read
For a child to improve his or her reading skills, he or she must practice. Create situations that stimulate your child’s reading. Of course, you should keep in mind that forcing him too much can be counterproductive because you can make him dislike reading. Therefore, little by little and without haste, introduce the habit of reading as something pleasant and desirable and he will improve as he comes into contact with books.
4. You can be their role model
Try to read something that stimulates yourself so that, in this way, your child sees you as an example to follow. Teach him that reading can be fun. Children do what they see in their parents: if they see you reading and enjoying with a book in your hand, I’ll probably follow your example
