One in five children has Dyslexia. Dyslexia is a specific learning disability defined by a deficit in the phonological component of language. People with dyslexia have high cognitive function and intact vision yet struggle with reading, writing and comprehension. Often children with dyslexia struggle with math and other subjects as well due to the language component of education. There are many different types of dyslexia. Some common types are phonological, surface, rapid automatic naming, double deficit, comprehension, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia. Phonological dyslexia refers to a deficit in phonological awareness – being able to identify sound and to be able to blend sounds. Surface dyslexia refers to the inability to read words. Dyscalculia is a term used to define children with a deficit in math. Dysgraphia is a disorder of written expression. Many children have more than one type of dyslexia – a double deficit. Typically, dyslexic children have delayed reading and writing skills. As children advance without the appropriate supports, difficulty with comprehension and written expression are common. These deficits impact a child’s level of frustration and self-esteem.
Children with dyslexia are eligible for an IEP for a specific learning disability. Children can be screened in the early years of kindergarten and first grade so that they can receive an individual evidenced based multi-sensory reading program such as Orton Gillingham. This program helps make neurobiological connections to facilitate the skills a dyslexic child needs. It is important to have a child who is showing language-based deficits fully evaluated by a school district, including specific dyslexic evaluations, an occupational therapy evaluation and a pragmatic speech evaluation. The combination of the proper reading intervention, pragmatic speech support, occupational support and an IEP with the proper accommodations and modifications can allow a dyslexic student to succeed in their years of education.
If a parent has concerns about their child and suspects that they may have dyslexia, they should request an evaluation and speak with a special educational advocate about what steps to take with the school district
