Dyslexia Treatments For Children And Adults

By Marci Glover


Dyslexia treatments teach reading, writing, and phonics. They develop comprehension and memorization skills using multisensory techniques and mnemonics. When a child displays normal intelligence, vision, hearing, but just can't seem to master reading and writing, dyslexia may be the problem. It's a learning disability that can't be cured and doesn't disappear with age. With specialized educational techniques and daily practice, dyslexics can succeed at school and at work.

Early diagnosis prepares students for success. Students with undiagnosed dyslexia often feel frustrated and stupid. Signs of this learning disability include letter reversal or mirror writing, poor spelling, difficulty knowing left from right, difficulties with rhyming, difficulty with phonics, problems understanding and remembering what is read. The delayed learning curve doesn't match intelligence estimates made from other observations.

Specialized learning strategies include a variety of multisensory techniques. Wooden alphabet letters painted to identify the correct side can help students "feel" the correct form of letters. Tracing letters and creating letters out of clay may help the student feel the difference between similar letters. Similar letters like "d" and "b" are formed differently in cursive so often this style of writing is easier for dyslexics to read and write. Oral spelling may be easier for some. An alphabet card can help dyslexics master writing skills.

Testing includes reading, spelling, writing. The specialist looks for mirror writing, letter reversal, dropping, changing, or adding words, transposing letters and words, and pulling words from different lines. Testing identifies dyslexia and the problem areas. From this information a learning specialist can recommend helpful learning techniques.

In the U. S., schools are required to set up an IEP, Individualized Educational Plan, when students have a learning disorder. They must provide specialized instruction. Dyslexics may be given tests orally, given additional time to take tests, or allowed to take tests in a separate quiet room. They may be allowed to take tests on a laptop computer. They may be provided audiobooks to assist with learning.

Many educational programs are available in the marketplace. Some well known programs include Lindamood-Bell Program, Wilson Reading System, PALS Reading, Failure Free Reading, and Corrective Reading. There are many more. An educational specialist can help identify problem areas and learning styles that will lead to success. Dyslexia is a neurological processing disorder. With daily practice new neural pathways are established. Age is no barrier to learning success.

Modern technology has expanded the available coping strategies. Although a severe dyslexic may never be a fluent reader, they can enjoy and learn from audio books. Text to audio software allows a poor reader to work proficiently and accurately. Many dyslexics prefer to record their notes. With computers and spellcheck, poor writers can become prolific and creative writers. Scanning written materials is difficult. Develop an organized filing system with color coding. Use a GPS when traveling.

Dyslexia does seem to be inherited. It's not a physical disability but a neurological processing disorder. It is not an indicator of intelligence. Successful people in all walks of life have coped with dyslexia. Some well known names include Albert Einstein, Leonardo da Vinci, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Tom Cruise, Mohammad Ali, and John Lennon.




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