Is My Child Dyslexic?

DYSLEXIA

Dyslexia is coming to the forefront as more and more states are looking at legislation around dyslexia and education.

Most sources now site 20% of students as being dyslexic.

Here are some questions to ask parents that will help them determine if dyslexia testing is warranted:

• Is there a family history of dyslexia?
• Was there difficulty learning the alphabet?
• Is there lingering difficulty with letter and number reversals, particularly after age 7?
• Does the student have difficulty sounding out unfamiliar words?
• Does he or she tend to add, omit, shift, repeat, or substitute sounds in words when reading, spelling, or speaking?
• Does the student have average to above average intelligence?
• Does the student have talents in non-academic areas (sports, acting, music, art, mechanics)?
• Does the student tend to be creative or artistic? Good at building things?
• Does the student see things in a different way? Think “out of the box?”
• Does the student tend to get very frustrated with himself over his reading and writing challenges, calling himself stupid or dumb?

All of these are very common symptoms of dyslexia.

Prognosis for Dyslexia

It is commonly believed that dyslexia is a life-long struggle, to be coped with but never to be corrected.  Neuroscience research proves that through targeted and intensive cognitive training, the brain can be rewired to learn to process information more effectively.

We have absolutely found this to be true!  Dyslexic learners CAN become good readers and spellers.  More reading will not do the trick, but identifying and correcting the weak underlying skills and then intentionally and sequentially remediating the reading and spelling skills will.

Do you or your child struggle with dyslexia, learning, or attention challenges?  These challenges can be changed.  While there are no simple, overnight solutions, most learning and attention challenges can be dramatically improved or completely corrected through developing the weak underlying skills that are causing the student to struggle and remediating the affected academic areas.  Need to know more??

DYSLEXIA RESOURCES

• Dyslexia Information and Free Resources Page
  • Free Dyslexia Screening Tool
  • Free Dyslexia Accommodations Guide
  • Definitions, Symptoms, Testing, and Treatment
• LD Expert Podcast with Jill Stowell
  • "Is My Child Dyslexic? Am I?" - Jill Stowell
  • "Wired Differently For Reading" - Dr. Joan Smith
  • "Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, and ADHD" - Jill Stowell
  • "Recognizing Dyslexia" - Dr. Dan Peters
  • "Stealth Dyslexia and the Trauma of Undiagnosed and Untreated Learning Challenges" – Dr. John Danial
  • "The Upside of Dyslexia" - Dean Bragonier

“Helping smart but struggling students dramatically improve or completely correct their learning and attention challenges by developing the underlying learning skills that are not supporting the learner well enough.”

We serve children and adults with diagnosed or undiagnosed learning and attention challenges including learning disabilities, dyslexia, ADHD, auditory processing disorders, and autism spectrum disorders.

Jill Stowell, M.S.

Founder and Executive Director – Stowell Learning Centers

Author: 

At Wit’s End A Parent’s Guide to Ending the Struggle Tears, and Turmoil of Learning Disabilities

Take the Stone Out of the Shoe A Must-Have Guide to Understanding, Supporting, and Correcting Dyslexia, Learning, and Attention Challenges