FAQs -
Frequently Asked Questions
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| 1. What is dyslexia? |
| Dyslexia is a specific learning disability
that is neurological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties
with accurate and/ or fluent word recognition and poor spelling
and decoding problems. These problems are unexpected in relation
to other cognitive abilities. See the page “What
is Dyslexia?” |
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| 2. Who has dyslexia? |
| It is generally accepted that dyslexia
occurs in 10-15% of the population. It may vary in terms
of severity, is often in families with a history of dyslexia;
and it is not related to race, culture, age or socio-economic
status.
See the page “What
is Dyslexia?” |
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| 3. Does dyslexia affect
more males than females? |
| No. It affects just as many females
as males, as well as persons speaking languages other than
English. Since there are dyslexic individuals in many parts
of the world, the International Dyslexia Association has
affiliates in Brazil, the Philippines, Czech Republic, and
Israel. |
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| 4. Is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder related to dyslexia? |
| Approximately 35% of students with
an attention disorder also have a reading disability. Dyslexia
is not caused by disabilities such as attention disorders,
mental retardation, behavioral problems or lack of opportunities
to learn, primary sensory deficits, or the ability to speak
more than one language. |
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| 5. Can an individual outgrow
dyslexia? |
| No. It is important to note that dyslexics
can learn to read and write more efficiently. Although
reading and writing may be challenging for life, many dyslexics
achieve their dreams through hard work and determination.
They start companies, compete athletically, and achieve
greatness in the art world, acting, and many other professions.
See famous people with dyslexia on the page entitled, “What
is Dyslexia?” |
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| 6. How is Dyslexia Identified? |
By a thorough evaluation completed
by school district personnel or a diagnostic professional
who specializes in the field. There is not one specific
test for dyslexia. Individuals can be tested at any age.
Generally, an evaluation will
include:
- A history - medical, academic, developmental,
behavioral, family and classroom information
- Determination
of intellectual functioning
- Educational tests to evaluate
basic skill levels in reading, spelling, and written
language usually including:
- vocabulary and syntax
and phonemic awareness (letter knowledge, sound/symbol
matching, sound manipulation)
- decoding both real
words and nonsense words
- oral and silent reading
- spelling both real and nonsense
words
- handwriting
- sentence, story and/or essay writing.
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| 7. How is Dyslexia Remediated? |
There is not one curriculum that is
appropriate for all students. Programs in reading instruction
that are research-based, systematic, direct, structured
and multisensory are effective. Often called the Orton-Gillingham
approach, this method is effective when used by a highly
trained therapist. It includes explicit instruction in
the structure of our language and uses all the pathways
simultaneously (visual, auditory, kinesthetic) which enhances
memory and learning.
The teacher, tutor, or therapist who is responsible
for working with the individual with dyslexia must be
well trained in the theory, development, and teaching
of reading and reading disabilities. Educational Therapists,
Dyslexia therapists and Academic Language Therapists
are certified by accredited training programs.
…no general formula can be given which will be
applicable to all cases. Each case of developmental delay
forms an individual problem in which factors derived
from the neurological status, the emotional reactions,
the educational needs and the facilities for carrying
on retraining must be evaluated and a program devised
to conform to all of these. …We are all prone to
search for a simplified and universally applicable formula,
but no such “method” can be identified for
any of these syndromes and any attempt to apply such
a blanket prescription without thorough diagnosis of
the individual case would assuredly lead to error and
misguided effort. ------ Dr. Samuel T. Orton, M.D. |
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| 8. My 3rd grader reads
okay, but is a terrible speller. The school says she can't have
dyslexia because she can read. What do I do? |
| Answer: Many children with dyslexia
can read, but they often do not get beyond a fourth grade
reading level because they are reading by memorizing the
shapes of words. They are not sounding out words. Some
children are very good at using context clues (pictures
and content) to figure out words. Spelling words in isolation
is hard. A student may study for a spelling test and do
OK, but the next day they can't remember how to spell
the words. Call our SWIDA hotline # 505-255-8234 and have
a qualified Academic Language Therapist test your daughter.
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| 9. My child
is in first grade and tested at grade level in reading on the
school district’s test. Yet, she has difficulty reading
simple words and blending sounds. Is she dyslexic? |
Answer: Yes, possibly. Often young
children will test at grade level or slightly below
and the school might say that the child needs to be
a t least three semesters behind before qualifying for
help. The child may be struggling with written work
and reading directions, but verbally can answer questions
and appears to be bright. She may have difficulty with
the sounds of letters and how to blend them, but she
can memorize all the words in her first grade reader.
Some early warning signs that a child may have a reading
disability are:
- Difficulty learning the alphabet
- Difficulty sequencing letters or numbers
- Difficulty rhyming
- Difficulty with sequence and memory of words
- Difficulty learning to read, write and spell
Other characteristics that may accompany dyslexia are:
- Poor ability to finish work on time
- Poor pencil grip and messy handwriting
- Poor attention and poor ability to stick with a task
- Poor sense of time and space
- Poor concept of before and after, right and left
- Poor organization and inability to keep track of possessions
- Difficulty with arithmetic and mathematics
- Poor study habits and inability to complete homework
*from: Straight Talk about Reading by Susan L. Hall
and Louisa Cook Moats, Ed. D
A specialist can test children
for Learning Disabilities such as dyslexia. The school
can do the testing, or you can have your child privately
tested. There are advantages and disadvantages to both.
The International Dyslexia Association website (www.intersdys.org)
provides a fact sheet called, “Testing for Dyslexia”
that explains the diagnostic process. Such testing may,
or may not result in a specific diagnosis, but should
give you information about your child’s strengths
and weaknesses.
If the testing report recommends that the child receive
tutoring, it should be with multisensory structured
approach by a trained Academic Language Therapist (see
“How Dyslexia is Remediated”). |
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