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Can a child outgrow dyslexia?
Research suggests that with specific identification and intervention
prior to the 3rd grade, children with dyslexia can learn to read
and can become fluent readers. Without intervention, children with
dyslexia may eventually learn how to sound out words and may memorize
many words, but they will read slowly and inefficiently. Bright
students can even "hide" their dyslexia for many years.
However, as the demands of reading become greater, their struggles
with reading may become more apparent (sometimes this does not occur
until the college years in exceptionally bright individuals). Interventions
can also be effective later in a child's life, but the brain is
most readily adaptable to change earlier in life. Waiting for a
child to fail seems to be a particularly harsh way of determining
whether he or she needs help, though failure is often required by
schools before they will assess for reading problems. Reading tutoring
from someone who is specifically trained to address children with
phonological processing deficits will likely lead to reading improvements
for the child with dyslexia.
My child has problems pronouncing
words, often switches sounds in words, and is hard to understand
when she reads aloud. How can we find out if she has a speech impediment
or dyslexia? Could she have both?
Yes - a child can have both a speech impediment and dyslexia. To
find out if your child has a speech problem, reading problem, or
both, a qualified professional, such as a Licensed Psychologist
or specialists at your child's school, should conduct a comprehensive
evaluation. Through such an evaluation, the Licensed Psychologist
can identify your child's strengths, weaknesses, and any areas of
disability, and make appropriate recommendations to assist your
child in overcoming her challenges.
My 5-year-old often reverses the
letters "b" and "d" and sometimes writes words
backwards, Does this mean he has dyslexia?
No, this problem in isolation does not mean that your son has dyslexia.
At this young age, many children reverse their letters. When children
first learn their letters they think of them as they would any other
object. A table, for example, is a table, even if it is upside down.
A 5 year-old child may not realize that, unlike a table, the orientation
of a letter gives its meaning. Until letters become more meaningful
it is common for children to reverse them.
My 6-year-old has a hard time identifying
letters and sounding out words, but she does not write letters or
words backwards. So, can she really have dyslexia?
Yes - many people with dyslexia have difficulty with identifying
letters, sounding out letters in a word, and blending sounds in
a word together to read the complete word. When older children continue
to reverse their letters, testing for dyslexia should be considered.
However, letter reversal is not necessary for a diagnosis of dyslexia.
My child reads accurately, but incredibly
slowly. Could she have dyslexia?
Yes - a slow reading rate could be a sign of dyslexia. Some individuals
with dyslexia have problems sounding out and accurately reading
words. These children are considered to have a phonological processing
deficit. Other children with dyslexia can accurately read words,
but read very slowly. These children are considered to have dyslexia
due to a reading fluency deficit. Finally, some children have both
phonological and fluency deficits. It can also be the case that
a person's weak phonological skills hinder the "automaticity" of
their reading and manifest as a reading fluency deficit. Dyslexia
does not manifest in children in exactly the same way. However,
if your child is reading very slowly it is possible that she has
dyslexia that is presenting as a fluency deficit.
My child is an excellent reader
but can't understand or answer questions about what he's just read
very well. Is this dyslexia?
Only testing by a professional, such as a Licensed Psychologist,
can determine if your child has dyslexia. Often reading comprehension
problems occur as a result of dyslexia. If a child can't read the
words in a passage accurately or fluently, it is unlikely he or
she will be able to understand the passage. However, a child who
can read accurately and fluently but is unable to comprehend what
he just read is more likely to have a reading comprehension deficit
rather than dyslexia. Reading comprehension deficits, like dyslexia,
are also considered to be a learning disability. If your child is
presenting with a significant deficit in reading comprehension,
he might be eligible for either special education or 504 services.
I am a parent and have struggled
with dyslexia my whole life. What are the chances that one of my
children will also struggle with reading?
Research over the past 30 years has shown that dyslexia is very
heritable. Up to half the children of dyslexic parents are also
affected. Because of this, if you are a parent with dyslexia, it
is probable that one of your children may also have dyslexia. It
will be especially important for you or someone else to read daily
to your child. Other literacy promoting activities, such as playing
rhyming games, can also promote phonological awareness in your child.
If you notice your child having difficulty understanding rhyming
or how words are made with individual sounds, a dyslexia evaluation
is recommended. If caught early, children at risk for developing
dyslexia have excellent chances of reading at levels similar to
those of their peers.
My 12-year-old is very bright, but has always had a harder time with reading than with math. He learned how to read, but reads much more slowly than his peers. His teachers say his reading is almost at grade level, so he can't be dyslexic. Still, I wonder if maybe he is dyslexic, but just smart enough to "hide" it.
To put it simply, children with dyslexia have more difficulty with reading than would be expected for their age. Given that your son has an easier time with math and his reading is not quite at grade level, despite being bright, indicates a strong likelihood that he has dyslexia. Your son’s slow reading rate indicates that reading has not yet become automatic for him, which likely results in frustration for your son. A comprehensive psychological assessment could help determine whether your son has dyslexia and provide recommendations for use at home and in the school setting to help him build confidence in his reading ability and ensure that he is able to reach his academic goals.
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