For some children, learning to read is like learning to walk—a few unsteady steps but with enough practice, they’re suddenly running everywhere. For others, however, reading remains difficult and downright agonizing. These struggling readers may suffer from dyslexia, a disorder that affects roughly one in five students.
October = dyslexia awareness month
With a new school year underway, it’s important for parents to be aware of the signs of dyslexia.
According to the Mayo Clinic, here are some of the signs to watch for in a school age child:
May have difficulty learning the connection between letters and sounds
Has consistent reading and spelling mistakes
Struggles decoding simple words
Confuses basic words such as at/to, said/and, does/goes
May be slow to learn new skills or facts
Dyslexia also tends to be genetic, so if someone in the family struggles with dyslexia, be watchful of similar difficulties in children. Left untreated, dyslexia can have a long-term term ripple effect in a child’s life beyond just poor academic performance, leading to low self-esteem, behavior problems, social withdrawal, as well as anxiety and aggression.
Help is available
Thankfully, tutoring or a specialized educational program can significantly help children struggling with dyslexia. If you suspect that your child may suffer from dyslexia, contact his or her teacher and request an evaluation. For additional information on dyslexia, contact the Center for Autism and Dyslexia here in Findlay at 567-525-4487.
For additional reading support, organizations such as The Clubhouse Reading Center at the University of Findlay (findlay.edu/education/the-clubhouse) or the Literacy Coalition of Hancock County (hancockliteracy.org).
