Dyslexia is a language-based learning disability that typically affects reading and spelling. Students with dyslexia often have difficulty decoding words, spelling accurately, and writing effectively. If your child has dyslexia, the earlier you can seek a diagnosis and appropriate treatment and services, the better.
Early signs of dyslexia
Signs of dyslexia can vary based on your child’s age. Children in grades prek-1 might have difficulty with phonemic awareness skills (including rhyming), identifying the beginning and ending sounds in words, and blending sounds together orally to form words. They might also have trouble learning the names of the letters and their corresponding sounds. They may confuse letters, such as b and d or p and q, may read very slowly (if they are able to read), and might avoid books and reading in general.
Students in grades two and above may have difficulty decoding and spelling single and multi-syllabic words. Their writing may be messy, and they may insert random capital letters in the middle of words. They may struggle with punctuation, grammar, and writing organization. Their slow, labored reading might affect their ability to comprehend what they are reading.
Students with family history of dyslexia may be at a higher risk of dyslexia than their neurotypical peers.
How do I know if my child has dyslexia?
To know if your child has dyslexia, a comprehensive evaluation should be completed. As part of this process, the evaluator will typically review your child’s family, educational, and medical history, including learning about any family history of dyslexia. They should ask you about your child’s developmental milestones and ask you to describe their academic performance to date.
For the evaluation, the evaluator will likely test your child’s phonemic awareness, reading, spelling, writing, and math skills. They will also likely integrate cognitive testing, including assessing memory, attention, processing, and executive functioning skills, amongst other areas, and determine their overall cognitive abilities. They may also include a social/emotional component in the evaluation.
Based on this testing and the overall information collected, the evaluator will determine if your child has dyslexia or any other type of diagnosis.
IEP
If your child has dyslexia and struggles with reading, writing, or other academic areas, including math, they may qualify for an IEP. An IEP, or Individualized Educational Program, is a legal document that provides students with disabilities (including dyslexia) with the specific support and services they need to receive a Free and Appropriate Public Education. It typically includes the student’s levels, goals, accommodations, modifications, and specific services they may need, amongst other information.
Orton Gillingham tutoring
While your child should receive the support and services they need at school, sometimes it isn’t enough. Students with dyslexia typically respond well to Orton Gillingham tutoring, which may or may not be available at your child’s school. The Orton Gillingham method is a research-based, multi-sensory technique that helps students develop their reading and spelling skills. Even if your child receives Orton Gillingham instruction at school, they may need additional support outside of school through Orton Gillingham tutoring. This method can help them tremendously to improve their reading and writing skills.
Students with dyslexia often have many gifts, but they may also struggle in school.
Reading and writing tend to be very challenging for them. Help your child with dyslexia excel academically by having them evaluated early, seeking an IEP if appropriate, and making sure they receive the specialized services they need.
