Overcoming Dyslexia
Shateia Peterson
General Survey and Mental Health
GHU 140XM
Prof. Juanita Saunders
Overcoming Dyslexia
Dyslexia a word derived from the Greek word "dys" meaning poor or inadequate. Unfortunately most people with dyslexia can feel this way. Dyslexia is a reading disorder that can hinder the potential of an individual who is diagnosed with the disorder. This reading disorder if not properly treated can effect an individual academically which will lead to the feeling inadequacy in all areas of life. Dyslexia is defined as a learning disability characterized by problems in expressive or receptive, oral or written language. It is characterized by extreme difficulty of learning and remembering letters, written or spoken words, and individual letter sounds. Extremely poor spelling and illegible handwriting are common symptoms. Problems may emerge in reading, spelling, writing, speaking, or listening. For example a person with dyslexia may see the following phrase "Mind over Matter" as "Mnid voer Maettr". Dyslexia is not a disease, therefore it does not have a cure. Dyslexia describes a different kind of mind that is often gifted and productive that just learns differently.
Dyslexia is a complex reading disorder. Doctors still cannot explain why dyslexia occurs in many individuals. However there has been extensive research on dyslexia which has led to doctors knowing the different types and causes. This research has led to treatments and new preventive services that can assist people diagnosed to learn how to deal with the disorder. There are three main types or ways that dyslexia can occur in an individual. The first type is known as traumatic dyslexia. Traumatic dyslexia occurs in a person when an injury to the brain effects the ability to read or write. The second type of dyslexia is called primary dyslexia. Primary dyslexia allows the brain not to change or grow. This type of dyslexia also affects the left side of the brain. Most individuals diagnosed with this type of dyslexia will not be able to read up to a fourth grade level. The third type of dyslexia is called secondary or developmental dyslexia . This type is caused by hormonal development during the early stages of fetal development. This type of dyslexia can be formed within six months of fetal brain development. Unfortunately all three types may not be detected until an individual is school age or exposed academically. In the U.S alone there are 10% to15% of people that are dyslexic and the percentage increases 2% every year. According to the DSM-IV 2012 the percentage has increased to 17% ; however one out of five people are diagnosed and properly serviced.
Dyslexia can often be misdiagnosed which can lead to a child being placed in special education classes rather than getting the proper services needed. This can lead to a person feeling stupid and often having anxiety which can lead to deep depression. In addition to depression without intervention, people with dyslexia can develop a negative outlook on learning and can develop a negative self-image. They can feel ashamed and embarrassed to admit their disability because of the stigma associated with learning disabilities. If left unchecked, having dyslexia can negatively affect a student's learning experience by making learning more difficult and decreasing motivation and the desire to participate in school.
The most common misdiagnosis of dyslexia is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder also known as ADHD.This disorder is a comprehensive term for a subset of psychiatric disorders that lead to hyperactivity, difficulty maintaining concentration, as well as impulsive actions. Scientists are still unsure of the exact causes of most forms of the disorder. A child with dyslexia can have ADHD symptoms simply because of the difficulty in understanding how to handle their reading disorder. Although this misdiagnosis takes place often many people with dyslexia can have ADHD. Based on several studies done by the American Association of Neurology the cause of dyslexia seems as elusive as the cause for ADHD. However, they have discovered suspected genetic links for both conditions. Dyslexia is neurological in origin that source of the condition is in the brain, as is ADHD.
Special services are available through the public school system once dyslexia is detected. By law once a child is diagnosed with Dyslexia or any other learning disability an Individual Educational Plan is created also known as an IEP. Dyslexic students face their own unique challenges and often can fall behind in a traditional classroom. Dyslexic children tend to have more difficulties presenting their ideas and information. If left in a traditional classroom with no services in place a child can fall behind and struggle to achieve their potential. Many parents find that an IEP is the most effective way of improve their child's grades in the Board of Education (BOE) system as it focuses on their individual needs. Some may argue that Board of Education schools has limited services compared to specialized schools for dyslexia such as Woodcliff Academy located in New Jersey or Winston Preparatory School located in Connecticut. Due to these concerns in the BOE schools an IEP accommodations maybe included in an individual service plan. The two main accommodations is to allow extended time during testing so a child will not feel under pressure and will be able to show his or her full potential. Secondly a dyslexic child may be pulled from normal classroom settings for approximately an hour a day to learn exercises that allows them the ability to learn with the disorder. People with dyslexia are very intelligent and just have a different way of learning from the traditional way of being taught. Many people with dyslexia are visual learners. Instead of writing a word an instructor may need to show charts or diagrams.