What is Dyslexia ?
Dyslexia is a neurological condition that affects a persons learning ability in processing information from reading and writing. A person with dyslexia can struggle with processing graphic symbols and sounds of words along with word recognition, spelling and the ability to match the correct letters to sounds.
Dyslexia is the most common learning disability and occurs throughout the world in 3-7% of the population. Some researchers say up to 15%. Dyslexia although common, has no relation to intelligence.
Diagnosis for dyslexia is determined through a series of tests for reading, spelling, vision and memory skills.
Early diagnosis and treatment leads to better long-term outcomes.
What is Dyslexia ?
Dyslexia is a neurological issue that has both an environmental and a genetic basis, so it can run in families. It is not a result of poor teaching, education or parenting.
The kind of dyslexia that comes about due to a head trauma, stroke or dementia is called an “acquired dyslexia.”
The effects of dyslexia can be very challenging for children in school and can effect everyone differently in terms of severity. Generally, dyslexia will affect the language, spelling, counting and reading processing centers of the brain.
The underlying mechanisms of dyslexia are a result of structural differences and integration capabilities in the brain’s language processing region.
Although the severity and variation from the condition differs from person to person, generally those who suffer from dyslexia have trouble reading and understanding what they just read. They need to slow down the process and go over everything again.
Though it can be challenging to read and comprehend once they get the instruction they need, those with dyslexia can learn to read just fine.
There was a legislative bill passed in 2018 related for the need of those with dyslexia to get early treatment for the condition because of the benefits it shows in early child development.
Symptoms of Dyslexia
Symptoms of dyslexia can appear at any age but generally will arise in early childhood.
Some of the challenges children with dyslexia will show are in these areas:
Reaching developmental milestones. Children with dyslexia can learn to walk, talk, crawl or draw later than there same age peers.
Speaking. Those with dyslexia may demonstrate difficulty forming words, mispronouncing words and be challenged with rhyming and matching sounds.
Reading. Dyslexia symptoms can show up in recognizing sounds in words having difficulty with grammar, descriptive writing, sentence structure and comprehension. Those with dyslexia may feel uncomfortable with reading and be reluctant to read aloud due to poor fluency.
Writing. This area can be a struggle for those with dyslexia because they may put letters or numbers out of sequence without noticing. Or they may spell something correctly then forget how to the next day.
Sound processing may be an issue when a dyslexic person may not absorb the sounds required to process a word to understand the meaning of it or to spell it correctly.
Database of information can be disrupted because information is not being properly absorbed. So learning new basic information like, the alphabet, words, sounds, directions, days of the week, month and year etc. take longer to learn in those with dyslexia.
Coordination challenges can sometimes be an issue with those with dyslexia because of a neurological issues eye-hand coordination and confusion of right and left brain control of muscle movement.
Concentration deficits can be common with children with dyslexia because studies show a strong correlation of 30% dyslexia and ADHD when compared to the general school population of 3-5%.
Autoimmune issues are seen in a higher rate in those with dyslexia from, asthma, allergies and eczema to name a few.
Causes
Researchers have been trying to determine the cause of dyslexia since it was first diagnosed in 1881. There appears to be a genetic link because it shows up in families. Research suggests changes seen in DCDC2 gene as associated with reading challenges and dyslexia.
Most of the research into what causes dyslexia have come from post-autopsy examinations of the brains of people with dyslexia. Researches observed anatomical differences in the language centers of the brains. Malformations in cell and cortical structures suggest abnormal cortical development presumed to occur before or during the sixth month of fetal brain development as the cause of the abnormalities.
The brain areas most affected in dyslexia are the corpus callosum and the left inferior frontal gyrus.
Some causes for dyslexia can be traced to an acquired head injury or TBI, dementia or stroke.
A connection can be seen in those with dyslexia in how their native language can influence their ability to experience the condition. Some people with mild-moderate dyslexia, certain languages make it easier to learn by making a connection from there written form to the sounds they produce.
Languages with unclear connections between written forms and the sounds they produce make it more confusing for those with dyslexia. An example would be, “height” and “weight” or “waste” and “waist.”
Types of Dyslexia
The official diagnosis is unclear for dyslexia because it can take on so many forms. It can present itself in a variety of ways from person to person. So a specific diagnosis is an age-related category of groups of symptoms that are experienced more prevalent at certain stages of life. Identifying the specific challenges and getting the right support is what makes the biggest difference.
Types of dyslexia include:
Double deficit dyslexia- Having difficulty addressing names of letters and numbers to their specific sounds.
Phonological dyslexia (auditory dyslexia)- Having difficulty with the pairing/matching of sounds to their written forms because of an inability to break down words into smaller parts.
Rapid naming deficit- Having a slow response to identifying and naming a number or letter when seeing it.
Surface dyslexia- Having difficulty recognizing words by sight. This makes the learning process more challenging. This is also referred to as dyseidetic or visual dyslexia.
Dyscalculia- Is having specific difficulties in learning math or numbers.
Directional dyslexia- Is having difficulty with aspects of right and left sense of direction.
Dyslexia is a neurological condition that has a genetic basis which when combined with certain environmental factors can result in learning difficulties for some children. Dyslexia takes on many forms in the learning process of language, numbers, spelling and sound recognition. Whatever the type, dyslexia is the most common learning disorder worldwide. Identifying someone with dyslexia at an early stage and assisting them to learn in a way that they can best manage to absorb new information at a rate which they feel comfortable. Will ensure the best plan to keep them on pace, productive while giving them the feeling of accomplishment that they will need to succeed.
-A Balanced Brain is a Better Brain-