Recognizing dyslexia in children - WCIV-TV | ABC News 4 - Charleston News, Sports, Weather

By Eve Glicksman, Staff Writer, myOptumHealth

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As a preschooler, Molly was slow in adding new words to her vocabulary. When she started school, she couldn't understand the connection between letters and sounds. By fifth grade, this child who was bright in many other ways was reading below grade level and had trouble with writing and spelling.

Molly's mother brought her to a learning specialist. Testing showed Molly had dyslexia, a learning disability that made it hard for her to process words and numbers.

Dyslexia is a condition of the nervous system. Children are born with this condition, and it can run in families. Recognizing and sounding out words is a struggle. People with this disorder cannot easily pair up sounds with the letter symbols for the sounds. They mix up letters in words, for example. And they may read slowly and not retain much of what they read.

Dyslexia should not be confused with low intelligence. In fact, many people with this condition are bright. Their brains simply process information differently.

How to recognize dyslexia
Dyslexia is usually spotted in children by a school psychologist or learning specialist. It is the most common cause of reading, writing, and spelling problems among children in school. Kids with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are more likely to have dyslexia than other children.

Signs that a child might have dyslexia include:

• High intelligence but poor reading skills
• Repeated reading and spelling errors, such as letter or word reversals
• Difficulty finishing long tests and assignments on time
• Trouble learning a foreign language
• Problems with writing and composition
• Confusion with directions, such as telling left from right or up from down

There are a variety of ways to identify dyslexia. Educators may look at a child's academic history, for instance. They may also use standardized tests that measure language, reading, spelling, and writing aptitude. It's also important that the child be given a physical exam to rule out any other health issues, such vision or hearing problems.

Although dyslexia has no cure, it can be managed successfully. Many schools now have trained teachers and specialists who can help children overcome common reading and spelling problems. Parents of dyslexic children can also help by taking on a larger role in their children's education.

SOURCES:

• National Center for Learning Disabilities. Dyslexia. Accessed: 03/18/2011
• International Dyslexia Association. Dyslexia basics. Accessed: 03/18/2011
• Dyslexia Awareness and Resource Center. What is dyslexia? Accessed: 04/18/2011

View the original Signs of dyslexia article on myOptumHealth.com