This spooky season, I want to share some scary misinformation that I have encountered as a teacher/tutor specializing in learning disabilities; specifically information regarding dyslexia.
When most people hear "dyslexia," I have found that the immediate thought is reading letters backward/mixing up letters. This is just one of the symptoms of dyslexia- it is much more complex than that. Dyslexia is a learning disorder that involves difficulty reading due to problems identifying speech sounds and learning how they relate to letters and words, also known as decoding. Dyslexia is not just a reading disability, it affects areas of the brain that process language as a whole.
If you saw my Instagram yesterday, you saw these common misconceptions:
Dyslexia is just reading and writing letters backward.
Dyslexia doesn't show up until primary school.
Kids with dyslexia just need to try harder to read.
Dyslexia goes away once kids learn to read.
Dyslexia is a vision problem.
Kids who don't speak English can't get dyslexia.
Dyslexia is caused by not reading enough.
These could not be further from the truth! Check out these facts:
Dyslexia affects speech, the ability to learn new words, and reading/writing.
The earliest signs of dyslexia emerge around 1 to 2 years of age when children first learn to make sounds.
Most children with dyslexia can learn to read fluently with the right combination of school and home support. Explicit and systematic instruction, which develops sound‑letter awareness and an understanding of how written language works, is a very effective way to help children with dyslexia learn to read.
Dyslexia never goes away. People with dyslexia always employ their modified methods of reading, writing, and interpreting speech.
Dyslexia is not a vision problem, it is a language processing problem and a learning disability.
Dyslexia affects people all over the world, in every language.
Dyslexia cannot be cured by reading more often! Practicing the employment of specialized tactics can help reading, but it does not cure dyslexia.
If you suspect a child has dyslexia, it is IMPERATIVE that you get them the support they need to be successful! If you have any questions about dyslexia or resources to support people with dyslexia, DM on Instagram! I would love to talk with you.
