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50 Interesting Facts About Dyslexia

Angela — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 03:14:00 +0000

What is Dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a learning disability that includes difficulty in the use and processing of linguistic and symbolic codes, alphabetic letters representing speech sounds or numeric representing numbers or quantities.
The first description of dyslexia appeared in 1896 by Dr. W. Pringle Morgan in Sussex, England, this is what he wrote: “Percy F.,… aged 14,… has always been a bright and intelligent boy, quick at games, and in no way inferior to others of his age. His great difficulty has been—and is now—his inability to learn to read.”
The word dyslexia is derived from the Greek word ‘dys’ (meaning poor or inadequate) plus ‘lexis’ (words or language). Implying only an inadequacy in language tasks.
Dyslexia is not the result of neurological damage, but the product of neurological development.
Dyslexia varies from mild to severe.
Dyslexia does not reflect an overall defect in language, but, rather, a localized weakness within the phonologic module of the brain. This module is the functional part of the brain where the sounds of language are put together to form words and where words are broken down into sounds.
Dyslexia is a unique mindset that is often gifted and productive but learns differently than other minds.

Prevalence of Dyslexia

Dyslexia affects nearly 10% of the population.
Dyslexia is by far the most common learning disability.
According to NIH research, of those who are placed in special education for a learning disability, around 80% of those have dyslexia.
A study at Yale found that the numbers of girls and boys who have dyslexia are about the same.
Dyslexia commonly runs in families.
Children don’t outgrow dyslexia.
Some of the most brilliant minds of our time have been known to have dyslexia: Albert Einstein, Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison, Winston Churchill, Benjamin Franklin, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and John Lennon, to mention only a few.
There are people with dyslexia in many types of highly respected careers such as: Tom Cruise, Danny Glover, Cher, Magic Johnson, Carl Lewis, Bruce Jenner, and General George Patton.
“Given the high prevalence of reading difficulties, it is more likely for your child to have a reading problem than almost any other physical problem for which he is being checked.” – Overcoming Dyslexia by Sally Shaywitz, M.D.

Dyslexic Gifts

Dyslexics often enjoy and excel at solving puzzles.
Dyslexics have excellent comprehension of the stories read or told them.
Most dyslexics often have a better sense of spatial relationships and better use of their right brain.
Dyslexics have excellent thinking skills in the areas of conceptualization, reason, imagination, and abstraction.
Dyslexics have a strong ability to see concepts with a “big picture” perspective.
Dyslexics are adept to excellence in areas not dependent on reading.
Dyslexics typically have a large spoken vocabulary for their age.
Dyslexics tend to be more curious, creative, and intuitive than average.
Dyslexics’ special mode of thought easily produces the gift of mastery.
Dyslexia is not related to low intelligence.

Symptoms of Dyslexia

Dyslexia can affect spoken language, written language and language comprehension.
Dyslexics have trouble breaking down unfamiliar words into letter-sound segments. As a result, reading is slow and filled with errors.
Dyslexics require extra time and effort to process language information.
Dyslexics often need to be taught to look at words linearly, left-to-right.
Dyslexics have difficulty in learning (and remembering) the names of letters.
Dyslexics often fail to understand that words come apart; for example, that “batboy” can be pulled apart into “bat” and “boy” and, later on, that the word “bat” can be broken down still further and sounded out as ‘b’ ‘aaa’ ‘t’
Dyslexics often have a difficult time learning to associate letters with sounds, such as being unable to connect the letter b with the /b/ sound.
Dyslexics will sometimes make reading errors that show no connection to the sounds of the letters; for example, the word “big” is read as “goat.”
Dyslexics often struggle to read small “sight” words such as “that,” “an,” “in.”
Dyslexics often substitute words with the same meaning for words in the text they can’t pronounce, such as “car” for “automobile.”
Dyslexics often omit parts of words when reading.
Dyslexics often have difficulty remembering dates, names, telephone numbers, and random lists.
Dyslexics often have an extreme difficulty learning a foreign language.

Dyslexia Research Findings

Despite popular belief, dyslexics do not see letters backwards. They often have difficulty naming and writing letters, and in fact, writing letters backwards is something that many kids do when they’re first learning to write, whether they have dyslexia or not.
Many individuals with dyslexia have proven to see things three dimensionally, which can effect how they look at words.
Often dyslexics are thought to be reading backwards because of what is called the “Recency Effect.” In which they pronounce the word using the most recent sound first, like “tap” for “pat.”
Research has shown strong correlations between dyslexia symptoms and deficits in short-term memory and executive functioning.
Dr. Glenda Thorne stated, “Dyslexia is not a deficit in the visual processing system; however, it is a language processing problem. The hallmark characteristic of dyslexia is a breakdown in what is called phoneme awareness.”
Yale researchers have shown when people with dyslexia try to read the front part of the brain is over-stimulated while crucial portions in the center and back are under-stimulated.

Solutions for Dyslexia

Research has proven that explicit, systematic phonics can actually help ‘rewire’ the brain and help dyslexic students learn to read.
The use of the Orton-Gillingham approach can significantly compensate for the language learning and processing problems that arise from dyslexia.
Dyslexics score significantly higher on test when they are given additional time and given the test orally.
Dyslexics do best when directions are two steps or fewer. They often get confused and frustrated with a long list of “to dos” or directions.
The more important, consistent, frequent, multi-sensory, and emotionally reinforcing information is presented, the easier and more enduring language learning becomes for dyslexics.

Learn more about dyslexia in Reading Horizons free webinar: “Dyslexia: From Symptoms to Solutions” ›

SOURCES

Overcoming Dyslexia by Sally Shaywitz, M.D

Does Time Cure Dyslexia?

Angela — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 06:34:00 +0000

Does time heal dyslexia? Here is our Dyslexia Specialist, Shantell Berrett, with the answer:

To learn more about dyslexia, watch our free dyslexia webinar: “Dyslexia: From Symptoms to Solutions.”

Is There a Treatment for Dyslexia?

Angela — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 06:54:00 +0000

With the reading and language problems dyslexics often have to deal with, many parents wonder: is there a treatment for dyslexia? You see your child struggling with dyslexia and you want to find a way out for them. You hate that you can see their value, but all they see is that they aren’t learning as easily as their peers. You see how creative and inventive and sweet they can be, but they just see their weakness. Unfortunately, there is no true cure for dyslexia (perhaps someday…). But, even though there is yet to be some magic pill or operation that can take away dyslexia, researchers are continuously learning more about the condition.

Here are some recent news articles that offer the latest information in dyslexia research:

“Brain Scans Predict Which Dyslexics Will Read” – Reuters

“Dyslexia Breakthrough as Gene Link Between Right & Left-Handedness and Reading Difficulties is Found” – Mail Online

“Misconceptions Persist for Dyslexia” – AZ Central

“Rewiring the Dyslexic Brain” – Video of Dr. Papanicolau from the University of Texas

But it’s hard to wait on researchers to solve a problem that you want solved yesterday. Despite the lack of permanent treatments for the condition, there are steps you can take to help your child improve the language difficulties this condition creates. Researchers have found that the best option for helping your dyslexic child improve their reading is phonics-based Orton Gillingham reading programs. But before you get overwhelmed by all of that jargon, I’ll break it down for you:

Phonics Based

Phonics based reading programs help dyslexics improve reading by helping them learn how to split words up into smaller parts. Dyslexics have a strong right brain which leads them to look at things from the “big picture.” This is a valuable quality, but this makes reading difficult for dyslexics. When learning to read, it is important for a child to be able to break apart words into smaller pieces so they can sound out new words. By understanding phonics they have concrete skills they can use to break apart any word.

Orton Gillingham

This phrase sounds a lot scarier then it really is. In fact, the Orton Gillingham method is your dyslexic child’s best friend. It is what makes it possible for dyslexics to learn phonics. Their weakness in phonics is what makes reading hard for them. So how do they learn phonics? By applying the Orton Gillingham method to a phonics program.

The Orton Gillingham method is a multisensory approach to teaching phonics. It requires that instruction involves a child in visual, auditory, and kinesthetic activities. By engaging multiple senses during instruction, your child makes new connections in their brain that helps them make sense of what they are learning.

Another aspect of the Orton Gillingham method that helps dyslexics learn phonics is its requirement that the program be taught in a step-by-step and logical manner. This also helps dyslexics attach more meaning to the phonics rules they are learning.

Even though there is yet to be a cure or treatment there are things you can do help your dyslexic child and researchers are always learning more. Feel free to offer any advice to other parents of dyslexic children, or ask any questions you may have!

Other Resources:

Blog Posts:

How to Get a Professional Dyslexia Diagnosis

What Causes Dyslexia? An Overview of 5 Theories

What is Really Known About Dyslexia?

Free E-Book:

Learning Disabilities 101- With a section on dyslexia symptoms and interventions!

Free Dyslexia Webinar:

“Dyslexia: From Symptoms to Solutions,” presented by Reading Horizons Dyslexia Specialist, Shantell Berrett.

Register to watch the free dyslexia webinar! ›