What to know about dyslexia in children
Children with dyslexia should be evaluated by a professional as soon as possible to receive the necessary assistance.
Did you know that, in South Africa, one in ten people are dyslexic? This means that approximately 5-million South Africans are struggling with literacy problems in school or at the workplace.
Dyslexia is a learning condition that affects millions of children throughout the world. Dyslexics have difficulties reading and spelling; but this is not owing to a lack of intelligence. Rather, it is caused by a condition that impairs understanding and processing skills.
How early can dyslexia symptoms be spotted?
While many people believe that dyslexia cannot be “seen” until one learns to read, the indications of dyslexia may present earlier. Some children can (and do) exhibit symptoms as young as three years old.
Some of the first indicators of dyslexia are:
- Difficulties following directions, telling stories, or memorising the alphabet
- Speech delays
- Difficulty identifying the letters in their name
Other dyslexia indicators include:
- Mispronounces words
- Difficulty reading
- Difficulty understanding that words come apart
- Becomming distracted while reading
- Trouble finishing tests
- Frequently using imprecise language (“stuff” and “things”)
What are the causes of dyslexia?
There is a genetic component to dyslexia, which accounts for 80 to 90 percent of all learning difficulties. This means that children of dyslexic parents are more likely than other children to develop the impairment. However, it can also be induced by other factors, such as foetal exposure to hazardous chemicals and/or early stress exposure.
How is dyslexia identified?
You are the best person to detect early signs of dyslexia, even before your child learns their ABCs. Children as young as three can pick apart words and comprehend that bat and sat rhyme. However, children with dyslexia do not make that link, so seek assistance if your preschooler has difficulty rhyming or memorising lyrics.
Children in early primary school may complain about attending school, performing remote learning tasks, or doing homework. As they grow older, they may dislike reading aloud and have difficulty sounding out foreign words.
What dyslexia treatment options are available?
Dyslexia is diagnosed through a series of tests of memory, spelling, vision, and reading skills. Tests can be administered by a teacher or a health care provider, who may refer your child to a specialist.
Some parents and schools are hesitant to test and diagnose children for dyslexia. However, it’s important that dyslexic children get the help and support they need from a young age.
Children with dyslexia may need extra help at school. Various strategies and programmes have been shown to enhance children’s reading abilities. They all involve teaching dyslexic children how to sound out short, easy words, break down larger words, and memorise sight words.
If your child is diagnosed with dyslexia, remember that people with dyslexia have other strengths. Dyslexia does not have to limit what your child wants to be when they grow up.
