Isn’t that the thing where kids mix letters up?

No, although that is how many people think of it.  

The simplest description is that a person who is otherwise mentally normal has a lot of difficulty decoding words on a page.  For instance, the word car. We see it, and instantly think of an actual car. Someone with dyslexia can be unable to even figure out that the letters make the sounds that lead to the word car.

That sounds odd.  Are you sure it’s not made up?

Very much so.  In fact, there are a number of centers in the US that focus on reading.  Research at one of those centers with a special kind of MRI has shown that those with dyslexia are actually using different parts of their brain while reading.

So it’s a real thing.  Why should I care, though, I don’t know anyone with dyslexia.

Actually you might.  In one study one in 5 kids had dyslexia.  Since dyslexia never goes away, that means many adults also have it.  You may never have noticed because the person has most likely learned to compensate.  This means that they have found a way to read despite not having the usual brain pathways, or have found jobs where they don’t have to read much.

Does dyslexia only cause trouble with reading?

Because of how the pathways in the brain are in these kids, they can have some related issues including: poor spelling, bad handwriting, difficulty finding words when trying to talk, difficulty with rote memorization, and doing significantly worse on multiple choice tests.  

How do I know if my child has dyslexia?

Typically dyslexia has been diagnosed in the US around third grade.  In the first few years in school children are taught to identify letters, then read small words, and finally pull apart and read bigger words.  In third grade they don’t really teach reading anymore; reading is now for finding new information, and kids who can’t read well are unable to compensate and keep up anymore.  Also, before we knew more about dyslexia, it was much more common to ‘wait and see’ if a struggling child in the first years of school would be able to catch up on their own.

Now that we know how dyslexia causes problems in the brain and the steps our brain takes when we learn to read, it’s possible to detect problems as early as 4-5 years old.  Of course, it may not be obvious right away.

In the early years they can have a mild speech delay.  Also, because dyslexic children are less sensitive to rhyme, they will not be excited and drawn in with rhymes like most children are.  They will also have difficulty identifying letters, and especially the sounds they make.

During the early-middle school years there may or may not be a decrease in school grades.  They often will resist reading out loud and sometimes do anything to avoid it. They have difficulty in understanding what they’re reading, but if someone reads a passage to them they are easily able to answer questions about it.  They have bad handwriting and prefer to type. Spelling is poor.

Older children and adults with dyslexia still have bad spelling and handwriting.  Many of them have learned to just put more effort and time into reading, so will be able to read, but it will take a lot longer than a regular reader.  They are still unable to sound out new words for the most part, but are good at figuring out the meaning of the word by paying attention to the words around it.  Also, a lot of them tend to focus in one area, so they memorize the words that relate to their job.

Finally, dyslexia can be genetic.  So if your parents, children, or siblings have dyslexia, it is very possible you do too.

What do I do if I think my child has dyslexia?

To determine an actual diagnosis of dyslexia, a child needs to be properly tested.  This is to not only make sure that the learning disorder – of which there are many – your child has is actually dyslexia, but also to make sure there aren’t any other problems your child has as well.  A proper diagnosis can help you make sure your child is getting the right treatment, and can help you get the services and modifications they will need to succeed in school.

Technically the school should be able to do this for you if you ask.  However, they are often underfunded and overwhelmed, and may be unable to or have a long waiting list.  If you have the ability you can have your child independently tested by a qualified professional-usually a psychologist that has a PhD.  The testing can take a few days, and can cost quite a bit of money that insurance doesn’t usually pay for.

Make sure your child knows that while they may have dyslexia, they have good qualities as well.  Often people with dyslexia have good imaginations, can think out of the box, are very intelligent, are good at making models, and have a good understanding of things read to them.  Testing may be able to help you discover what your child’s strengths are.

So there is treatment for it, then?

Yes.  Not a cure, but treatment.  Depending on when it is started – the earlier the better, of course – a child can learn skills that help him make up for the different way their brain works.  In fact, if started early enough, there is evidence it may change how the brain works.

Some schools are able to provide very good instruction to students with dyslexia.  If you are not in one of those areas you can lobby the school to get the proper instruction, or find a place in your community that can help.  In either case, you should ask questions such as ‘is this a scientifically proven treatment?’, ‘how often do you measure progress’, and ‘how does this work with his classroom work?’  Also, you need to make sure you are your child’s cheerleader.

Where can I find more information?

Most of my information for this post came from the brilliant book “Overcoming Dyslexia” by Sally Shaywitz, MD.  It is chock full of information about how kids learn to read, how dyslexia works, and what you can do for your child.  (I am not making any money from this recommendation.)

Also, there is the following websites:

Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity 

International Dyslexia Association