By Stacy Carroll, Center Director, Dyslexia Awareness Network
You may have heard of this word and have the understanding that people with dyslexia get their letters backwards like, b’s and d’s, or that they read words backwards, like “saw” says “was.” Dyslexia is simple and complex all at the same time. If we break down the word and look for its meaning, we’ll find <dys->, a Greek prefix meaning “abnormal” or “difficult,” like in the word dysfunction. The root <lex>, means “word” or “speak,” like in the word “lexicon,” the vocabulary of a person. The word ends in the abstract noun suffix <-ia> denoting a condition, like in the word “arrhythmia,” a condition in which the heart beats with an irregular or abnormal rhythm. Adding together all of the parts, we can see that the word “dyslexia” actually means, “a condition of difficulty with words.”
Can you imagine going to work or school every day with a condition that affects almost everything a person would do in their regular routine? What would you do if you couldn’t read, write, speak, or spell well? Would you join in on lunch room conversation? Would you flunk spelling tests? Would you be finding a way to get sent out of the classroom because it was just about your turn to read the next paragraph in class? Statistics show that 15 to 20 percent of the world’s population has a language-based disability of which dyslexia is the most common.
Students may exhibit poor speech early on, have a hard time remembering spelling words, have difficulty in letter-to-sound association or struggle to read with fluency and comprehension. They also may have an inventive creativity, excel in music, art, or sports. Often they are problem solvers and out-of-the-box thinkers. There is a long list of famous people with dyslexia including Cher, Charles Schwab, Whoopi Goldberg, Henry Winkler, Tim Tebow, Jennifer Aniston, Galileo, and at least three of the TV show Shark Tank investors.
FAQ’s from parents
- Where do I start?
- Who does the testing to identify dyslexia?
- Once I have the results, and my child is identified with dyslexia, a specific learning disability, or a reading disability, what do I do next?
- Where can I find help?
- How do I best help my child succeed in school?
The first step is to have your child tested by a licensed psychologist or a neuropsychologist. Upon receiving a dyslexia identification or diagnosis, you will need to find a certified Orton-Gillingham-trained tutor who can work with your child twice a week for at least two years. Schools also have intervention methods in place with their response to intervention (RTI) process where students can receive specialized intervention. An Individualized Education Plan (IEP) may need to be implemented to provide your child with helpful individualized instruction and accommodations or a 504 plan that can help with accommodations in the classroom. The Dyslexia Awareness Network in Peoria is a local nonprofit organization that provides tutoring for students with dyslexia, trains tutors, and provides professional development, while offering community awareness and advocacy support for families.
A reading disability, often known as a specific learning disability or dyslexia, is the leading cause of students dropping out of high school. Don’t let this happen to someone you love. Visit our website at www.DyslexiaAwarenessNetwork.org, contact the Dyslexia Awareness Network at info@dyslexiaawarenessnetwork.org, or call 309-679-0788 for more information.
This article space was donated by Christian Psychological Associates, a team of clinical psychologists, professional counselors, and social workers providing quality care for the whole person, since 1974. They work with area physicians, attorneys, court services, and pastors to bring healing to the lives of children, adolescents, and adults. They are located at 3716 W. Brighton Ave., Peoria, IL and can be reached at 309-692-7755.