If your child has dyslexia, the right support can help him succeed in school and later in life.
Dyslexia is a problem with recognition, understanding of letters and words, and a learning disability. It is also called a specific learning disability. Dyslexia is a neurobiological condition. This means that the brains of people with the disease work differently than the brains of other people.
The reasons
We don't know what causes dyslexia. But it is reliably known that it tends to occur in families in which one or both parents pass it on to their children through genes.
Signs
Symptoms are often detected in the first two years of school, usually when children begin to learn to read. Before children start school, it is a little more difficult to determine if they have this disorder. But there are some signs and symptoms:
- started talking late;
- cannot link together similar words - for example, "cat, bat, hat";
- cannot repeat parts of nursery rhymes.
When your child starts school, they may develop dyslexia if they:
- has difficulty reading one word;
- has difficulty spelling;
- struggles to see the similarities and differences in words;
- reads below the expected level for their age;
- has trouble remembering the sequence of things;
- can't understand quick instructions.
Your teenage child may have this condition if they:
- tries to read and write, but turns out very badly;
- avoids reading books out loud;
- difficult to summarize stories;
- difficult to remember things.
Diagnostics
If you have a family history of reading difficulties or are concerned that your child is having problems at school, especially with recognizing and understanding words, there are several steps you can take to make a diagnosis.
Talk to your child's teacher
The first step is to talk to your child's teacher. You can ask questions about how he is doing with reading and spelling. It might also be worth talking to the teacher about how your child feels about school.
Ask to rate (test)
At this stage, a speech therapist and a psychologist can be involved. They will help you check for all possible causes of your child's learning difficulties.
Specialized support for your child
Dyslexia cannot be "cured". But with time and specialized support, many people learn to improve their language and reading skills. Your child can receive support such as:
- individual sessions
- extra time for passing tests
- specialized computer software - for example, spell checker and speech-to-text conversion.
The sooner the child receives the help of a specialist, the more chances he has for success. There is no "miracle cure" for dyslexia, despite some advertisements. But there are many simple, rewarding, and productive ways to help children with learning difficulties. For example, you can talk to your general practitioner, pediatrician, your child's teacher, or psychologist.
What can you do yourself
Help your child build self-esteem and confidence in their abilities. For example, reward and praise your child's efforts and successes, whether in class or in other areas such as sports, theater, or music.
Talk to your child. For example: “Don't let what happened today upset you. You just might need a little more time and practice to get it right."
Maintain a close bond with your child's teacher.
Try to take time to read together. The bonus is that this is a very special time for both of you.
