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Coping with dyslexia

Introduction

Are you the parent of a child who just doesn’t seem to fit in at school? Perhaps he’s having difficulty recognizing letters, tying his laces, remembering nursery rhymes or clapping a simple rhythm. Have you considered that he may be dyslexic?

By Supernanny Team

27/12/2007

(Not rated)

Helping your dyslexic child succeed

Your child’s experience of dyslexia is that it makes letters and numbers look jumbled up – and this can make schoolwork a struggle. He isn’t dumb – in fact, many kids with dyslexia are of above-average intelligence and highly creative – his eyes and brain are just not communicating properly. Don’t write him off because there’s a lot you can do to help him overcome the obstacles in his path to success.

Spotting the signs

Dyslexia can be hard to diagnose before your child starts school, but it can be inherited so if you have a family history of the problem monitor how early your child starts talking and how well he learns new words and nursery rhymes. Once he starts kindergarten you may notice he’s having difficulties learning to read and write or that there’s a growing discrepancy between his abilities and his achievements – for example, he may be able to carry on an intelligent conversation with you but struggle when he’s trying to read or do math. Look out for these symptoms:

Reading two or more years behind grade level even though he is obviously bright.
Poor spelling and math He may write letters backwards or persist in spelling words phonetically when he’s writing (for example, pleeze instead of please). He’ll also tend to rely on his memory of how he has seen a word spelt but may jumble letters if he can’t remember the proper order (for example, he may write siad instead of said). He may also write numbers backwards too, particularly if numbers that resemble letters, such as 9; and may have problems sequencing numbers in the right order when counting.
Confusion over left and right He may have difficulty telling his left hand from his right or following directions in which he is told to go right then left.
Poor organizational skills Kids with dyslexia often have problems with organizing and planning ahead.

Learning strategies

There’s no cure for dyslexia but you can teach your child coping strategies that will enable him to overcome his difficulties. One of the key things you can do is praise him for all the things he can do and not get frustrated with him when he can’t remember things. Dyslexia isn’t just about being able to read or write – it’s also about working memory, organizational skills and concentration.

Break it down Don’t expect your child to remember a string of instructions – break tasks down into bite-size pieces, show him how to do something first and then ask him to copy you. This is really a case of where patience will win out.
Use color coding so he’ll have visual clues as well as auditory clues to remember things. For example, cover or mark school books that cover one subject area with the same paper or colored marker pen. Your child will then know to choose these books for the appropriate lesson at school. You could even ask their teacher to put the same colored mark on the door of the appropriate classroom so your child can instantly identify it instead of missing out on what his teacher is saying because he’s worried he won’t be able to find the class he has to attend next.
Teach him to touch type If your child has problems with his handwriting this can be a useful skill to help him hand in presentable, legible homework to his teacher. Encourage teachers to accentuate the positive when they’re correcting your child’s schoolwork instead of dwelling on the mistakes. This helps keep your child’s self-esteem in tact and ensures he’ll stay positive and motivated about his school work and the school environment.

Supernanny Team

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Find Out More

International Dyslexia Association offers info, advice and factsheets.
Learning Disabilities Association of America has advice on understanding learning disabilities, negotiating the special education process and helping your child and yourself.
Everything Parents Guide to Children with Dyslexia: All You Need to Know to Ensure your Child’s Success By Abigail Marshall. Packed with advice on how to diagnose and cope with dyslexia, find the right treatment program for your child, chose the right school and avoid homework struggles.