How Can You Help A Child With Dyslexia
Do you have a child at home or in your classroom who struggles with reading, writing, and spelling even the simplest of words? Does your child tend to mix up letters, skip words, or have difficulty understanding instructions?
If so, they may be showing signs of dyslexia.
Dyslexia in children is more common than you may think. The International Dyslexia Association says that dyslexia affects about 15-20% of the population. That means roughly 1 in 5 people have some form of dyslexia.
To truly identify and help a child with dyslexia, you need to be aware of the symptoms and know how to support them.
In this post, we’ll explore dyslexia in children and how you can help your child with it at home or in the classroom.
What is Dyslexia?
Dyslexia, often called a reading disability, is a learning disorder that impacts a person’s ability to read. It involves difficulties in recognising speech sounds and understanding how they connect to letters and words.
Dyslexia doesn’t mean someone is less intelligent or has trouble hearing or seeing.
It concerns certain areas in the brain called language processing areas. These areas are responsible for helping individuals understand and use language.
Types Of Dyslexia
Dyslexia can manifest in various forms, each presenting unique challenges. The primary types of dyslexia include:
- Phonological Dyslexia: Also known as dysphonetic or auditory dyslexia, this type involves difficulty processing the sounds of language. Children with phonological dyslexia struggle with phonemic awareness and may find it hard to decode words based on their sounds.
- Surface Dyslexia: Also called dyseidetic dyslexia or visual dyslexia, this form is characterised by difficulties in recognising whole words. Individuals may rely heavily on phonetic decoding rather than recognising words by sight, often leading to slow reading even for familiar words.
- Rapid Naming Deficit: This type of dyslexia affects a person’s ability to quickly name a sequence of objects, letters, colours, or numbers. The deficiency can impact reading fluency, as it hinders the rapid retrieval of words.
- Double Deficit Dyslexia: Some children experience both phonological difficulties and rapid naming deficits. This type is often more severe and impacts reading fluency on multiple levels.
Understanding these types can help you, as a parent or educator, identify the specific challenges a child with dyslexia may face and provide appropriate support and interventions.
Causes Of Dyslexia
Dyslexia is primarily attributed to genetic and neurological factors. Research suggests that it tends to run in families, indicating a potential genetic link.
Certain genes are believed to influence the development of brain areas associated with language processing, impacting an individual’s ability to read or interpret words accurately.
Additionally, differences in brain structure and function, particularly in the left hemisphere, have been observed in individuals with dyslexia. These variations can affect how the brain processes language, leading to the reading and spelling difficulties typically associated with dyslexia.
Although the exact causes of dyslexia are complex and multifaceted, understanding these underlying factors can aid in developing targeted interventions and teaching strategies that better support those affected.
Symptoms Of Dyslexia
A child with dyslexia will show difficulties in reading, writing, and spelling.
Some common symptoms include:
- Speech delay
- Trouble following instructions and directions
- Struggle with pronouncing new words
- Lack fluency
- Reverse letters and numbers when reading and writing
- Struggle with note-taking
- Tired when reading for a long period of time
- Difficulty with sequencing and organisation
- Poor handwriting
- Difficulty with rhyming and sound recognition
- Trouble remembering information from text or when reading aloud
- Incredibly frustrated
It is important to note that not all individuals with dyslexia will exhibit these exact symptoms, as each person’s experience can vary in severity and type.
How Can You Help A Child With Dyslexia
If you spot the above symptoms in a child, follow these tips to help them cope and succeed:
1. Seek Professional Help & Get An Evaluation
If you suspect your child may have dyslexia, it is important to seek professional help as soon as possible.
A professional reading specialist, a speech and language therapist, an educational evaluator, or a school psychologist can offer a proper diagnosis and give you an evaluation report.
These professionals use a “dyslexia test” to assess the child’s reading, writing, and spelling skills and other cognitive abilities related to language and literacy.
2. Educate Yourself About Dyslexia
The more you know, the better you understand the condition and the better equipped you are to help the child.
To learn more about dyslexia, you should browse online resources, read books about the topic, or join a support group for parents of children with dyslexia. As an educator, you can also attend workshops and seminars to learn about teaching strategies for dyslexic students.
3. Create A Supportive Environment
Children with dyslexia often struggle with self-esteem.
A learning environment that does not support their needs can amplify their insecurities and frustrations. As a parent or educator, it is essential to create an environment that encourages the child to thrive.
You can do this by:
- Providing positive reinforcement for their efforts and achievements.
- Offering patience and understanding while they learn at their own pace.
- Collaborating with other teachers to establish individualised education plans that address the child’s unique needs.
- Setting up group tasks where children can work together and support each other.
- Encouraging the child’s interests outside of academics, such as sports or arts, to help boost their confidence in other areas.
- Extending deadlines for assignments and providing extra time for tests if needed.
4. Incorporate Multisensory Activities
Multisensory activities are an effective way to teach children with dyslexia. These activities engage multiple senses, making learning more enjoyable and memorable for the child.
Some examples of multisensory activities include:
- Tracing letters or words in sand or shaving cream.
- Using coloured blocks or beads to create words.
- Playing memory games with sight words or phonemes.
- Tapping out syllables while spelling a word aloud.
- Flashcards with pictures and corresponding words.
- Singing songs or creating rhymes to reinforce spelling patterns.
- Performing a play or skit to act out a story.
5. Embrace Assistive Technology
Assistive technology can be a valuable tool for dyslexic students in the classroom and at home. These tools provide additional support and accommodation.
Some examples of assistive technology include:
- Text-to-speech software that reads text aloud to the student.
- Speech-to-text software that allows the student to dictate their thoughts instead of writing them out.
- Graphic organisers or mind maps to help with organising thoughts and ideas.
- Audiobooks for reading comprehension.
- Electronic spell checkers or word prediction programs.
- Dictation devices for note-taking during class lectures.
It is important to note that assistive technology should not replace traditional teaching methods but should be used in conjunction with them to support the child’s learning.
6. Encourage a Positive Mindset
Dyslexic children can often struggle with feelings of frustration, embarrassment, and low self-esteem due to their learning differences. Parents and teachers need to help children with dyslexia develop a positive mindset.
A positive mindset is one in which the child feels confident, capable, and resilient in the face of challenges. To accomplish this, you need to be patient and award every little achievement that the child accomplishes, no matter how small.
Teaching dyslexic students to have a growth mindset can help them develop resilience and overcome obstacles in their learning journey. This includes teaching them about neurodiversity and helping them understand that their dyslexia does not define them or limit their potential.
7. Use Tutoring Services
Tutoring services, especially organisations that offer special needs tutoring programs, can be an excellent resource for helping children with dyslexia.
These programs are designed to provide individualised instruction and support for children struggling with learning disorders and disabilities.
Tutor Doctor Tutoring Services
At Tutor Doctor, we understand how important quality one-to-one tutoring can be for students with dyslexia. Our tutors are trained to tailor their instruction and methods to the individual needs of each student, including those with dyslexia.
With our in-home and online tutoring services, we provide a comfortable and familiar environment for your child while also catering to their unique learning needs.
We serve the whole of South Africa, offering tutoring in all subjects and at all levels, from primary school to university.
You can find out more about our tutoring services by contacting us today!
Final Thoughts
You can help a child with dyslexia by providing them with the right tools, resources and mindset. With the right support, they can overcome their challenges and achieve academic success.
Remember to be patient, understanding and encouraging throughout your learning journey. And always celebrate every achievement, no matter how small it may seem.
There is no cure for dyslexia, but with the right strategies and support, these children can grow and thrive in their education.