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[A16]A Child With Dyslexia

by Jennifer Petersen, Jen

If your child had dyslexia, do you think you could tell? Would you be able to recognize the signs? If you are like most people you may not even be sure what the signs of dyslexia are. Apart from well known signs such as mixing up letters, what else is there to alert you your child might have dyslexia?

Does your child read below the average level for kids of their age and intelligence? This might be an indicator to watch out for, and if found, your child should undergo comprehensive testing of speech, hearing and vision, as well as IQ. This will rule out conditions which mimic dyslexia. In most cases, problems will become apparent prior to the time for the child to enter school. And if the parents have not picked up on it yet, then experienced teachers probably will.

The most notable alert that your child may have dyslexia is the act of mirror writing, or writing words or letters backwards. Even this is not definitive however as it does take time for children to learn the proper way to write and some degree of mirror writing is normal.

Here are some things to look for it you are trying to determine if your child has dyslexia or not. They might appear to have trouble understanding spoken language and be slow to begin speaking as a toddler. They will have trouble spelling and reading single words. They will encounter the most problems when learning to print or write. Often they will avoid reading, have no desire to read, or dislike reading out loud. They may also have problems with localization such as confusing left and right and up and down, or even have difficulty knowing the day of the week.

Unfortunately, many children with dyslexia learn how to cover it up and cope with it on their own through trial and error. It isn't until later in their education such as college when the problem then becomes unbearable. This is regrettable because dyslexia can be easily and successfully treated up to the third grade age. So if you suspect your child has this disorder, it is very important to have them tested early while successful treatment is virtually guaranteed. Treatment can begin at any age however, it is never too late.

Much is being learned about dyslexia and the treatment options continue to grow and range from visual stimulation to diet changes. The best option for successful treatment is to catch the condition early and utilize special education classes to help the child learn to overcome the condition in the proper way so they can have a successful educational career and life.

WE get asked this question on a daily basis---parents concerned that their child is not succeeding in school, not reading, school remedial programs are not successful, even outside tutoring programs have not been successful. Parents are at their wits end. No one seems to understand. Their child tries SO hard to read but no amount of repetition of sounding out words seems to be working. If your child has difficulty reading, does it really matter WHAT you call it?

Reading can be easy for some “Any six-year old can do it!" or it can be excruciatingly hard for others�"whether they be adults or siblings of those who can read. Children do not CHOOSE not to read. Ask any six year old who is struggling to read�"more than anything they WANT to be good at reading! There is no doubt that in order to read one must be able to recognize and use symbols that when combined make words: alphabetic phonemic awareness. But what happens when a child does not recognize that the letters in a particular order actually MEAN something? Those words should create a PICTURE in their minds? What if they see a word on the top of the page, sound it out and then proceed to sound it out differently every time it appears on the very same page? Is this really a ‘reading problem’ or a visual memory problem?

Remember, one has to first recognize that symbols are similar in order to remember them�" Add to this that these are children (later adults), who are extremely creative, sensitive and learn best when using their VISUAL systems. It somehow doesn’t seem fair that those who learn visually are taught in a logical, sequential and auditory mode that does not work for them, and that they often have not been taught how to use their visual memory for school work..

As parents and educators it is important to support and teach these children with a holistic approach, using the strengths they have. In my experience of working with hundreds of children and their parents, when everyone, including parents, use the right tools that involve attention, visual motor training, alphabetic sequencing and creative visualization as well as positive language and goal setting, ANYTHING is possible. More than anything, reading, school success and self-esteem start to rise�"and the emotional outbursts that we as parents experience on a regular basis when our children feel defeated, are significantly reduced.

So call it what you like- but by all means make sure you consider learning systems that capitalize on your children’s strength, address their issues and help you to help them.. Our future depends on tapping your children’s potential.

We are 3D Learner, Inc. We started as very frustrated parents and professionals; then migrated to doing more traditional tutoring; and now see the benefits of a holistic approach that addresses:
1-Teaching children the way they learn best
2-Addressing vision and attention issues
3-Helping children with both the right accommodations and test taking skills

Article Source : Pg. 35

About Author

Both Jennifer Petersen & Mira And Mark Halpert are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Jennifer Petersen has sinced written about articles on various topics from Education, Education and Education. Jennifer Petersen is a staff writer at and is an occasional contributor to several other websites, including. Jennifer Petersen's top article generates over 3600 views. to your Favourites.

Mira And Mark Halpert has sinced written about articles on various topics from Education, Stress Management. Mira Halpert M.Ed. and Mark Halpert are parent-educators who have raised four children, two of whom had learning differences. They developed the 3D Learner Program ® and speak nationwide on Parents and Professionals Helping Students Beat Dyslexia. To le. Mira And Mark Halpert's top article generates over 1600 views. to your Favourites.