One day, your kid begins sounding out the words on a page, and the next day they can’t make heads or tails of it. They might be able to read something one day, but the next day they can’t manage it anymore.
What’s going on?
Most likely, your kid has dyslexia.
It’s not a matter of intelligence. As the experts have been saying for decades now, the vast majority of people with dyslexia have above-average IQs. They can learn to read the same way an average kid does. It’s just that it’s a lot harder and more time-consuming for them.
It’s not that they’re not trying. On the contrary, most people with dyslexia are just as smart, determined, and hard-working as their friends without the condition.
It’s not a matter of motivation. Here’s something that might surprise you: many kids with dyslexia hate it. They are embarrassed by it. They can’t understand why they’re having so much trouble with something that seems so easy.
They don’t know why — they don’t know that they have dyslexia. But they do know that they’re struggling and that their struggles are different from their classmates.
As parents, one of the first things we can do is find out why our kids are struggling and what we can do about it. So the first step is to find out if your kid has dyslexia.
What is dyslexia?
True dyslexia, by the way, is a brain-based problem. It’s not something that is “made up,” nor is it something that can be cured by more effort or motivation. It is not something that can be cured by teaching the kid to lower their standards, either. This problem needs to be handled with skill, creativity, and care.
This condition is caused by a brain that is wired differently. The part of the brain that “codes” language is not appropriately connected to the part of the brain that understands it and processes it. That makes decoding and processing language very difficult, like taking apart a broken machine and putting it back together again.
Signs That He/She Has A Dyslexia
If you think that your child is struggling with dyslexia, there are some things you can watch for to make sure.
Here is a list of the most common symptoms:
*Your child has problems with spelling (but they don’t have a hearing problem).
*Your child has problems with writing (and their parents don’t have a hearing problem).
*When your child reads, they can’t “sound out” the words or guess at the end spelling of an unfamiliar word. They also may read slowly.
*They might read a word or two, but then when you ask them to reread it, they find it confusing.
*Your child has problems with following directions.
*You can read a foreign language (Italian, French, etc), and your child has problems reading it.
*Your child has problems remembering lists of words, dates, or numbers.
*When you ask your child to read something aloud, they don’t quite get it right.
*Your child has trouble in school, but you can still tell they’re brighter than their performance is showing.
*When your child reads a story, they can’t remember the details.
*Your child will have trouble with the alphabet.
Dyslexia is not only a reading problem, nor is it responsible for all reading problems. Many kids with dyslexia also get in trouble with math, science, spelling, and writing because they have trouble processing and understanding other skills.
What causes dyslexia?
Dyslexia is a genetic problem. It can be inherited from one or both of your parents. You cannot and should not “cure” dyslexia with practice. You can only make it better by teaching your child the right techniques and skills.
Helping your kid
The biggest challenge of helping your child with dyslexia is that it’s hard to work around the issue. You can’t just give them books in more significant type, or let them use a magnifying glass. They need to learn how to see the differences between letters, their sounds, and the words they make up.
That’s why it works best to pick a method of Dyslexia treatment with your child’s skill level in mind. For example, if your child has trouble decoding words, it’s best to start with phonics. If they’re more advanced, then reading/language arts works. If they’re still struggling, you might try them on a combination of phonics and reading.
Their condition may also affect their social and emotional relationships, so it’s crucial to help them too. For example, if they are struggling with their inability to read, learning how to cope with that frustration can make a huge difference. They also need counselling to help them understand the condition and help them relate to others in their class.
If you think that your child is struggling, don’t feel bad — but don’t wait. Get the right kind of help as soon as possible. Consult a specialist. If you think that your child has dyslexia, schedule an appointment with a qualified educator. They will be able to test them and make the diagnosis. This is the first step in getting your kid on the right track.
The bottom line
There’s no such thing as a stupid kid. Your kid isn’t stupid, and they’re not lying about their struggles. The best thing we can do is get the right kind of help for them.
The most important thing you can do for your kid is to connect them with the help they need — from specialists to counsellors to teachers.
As parents, be brave. Take the time to learn and understand what’s going on in your kid’s minds and with their struggles. It’s the right thing to do — and it may be the best chance that they have.
