Springtides, Inc.Dyslexia
What is Dyslexia?
The definition of dyslexia is provided by the International Dyslexia Association: Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities. These difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction. Secondary consequences may include problems in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that can impede the growth of vocabulary and background knowledge.
Warning Signs:
Difficulty...
- Understanding that words are made up of sounds (known as phonological awareness)
- Assigning correct sounds to letters-alone or when combined to form words
- Pronouncing words properly-blending sounds into speech
- Spelling words
- Learning the alphabet, numbers, days of the week-basic sequential information
- Reading with age-appropriate speed and accuracy
- Reading comprehension
- Learning numbers facts
- Answering open-ended questions, such as math or word problems
- Organizing thoughts, time or a sequence of tasks
- Learning a foreign language
Treating Dyslexia:
Incorporating the following strategies into the learning process can help overcome the difficulties of dyslexia:
- Early exposure to oral reading, writing, drawing and practice to encourage development of print knowledge, basic letter formation and recognition skills and linguistic awareness (the relationship between sound and meaning)
- Practice reading different kinds of texts (i.e., books, magazines, advertisements, comics)
- Multi-sensory, structured language instruction and practice using sight, sound and touch when introducing new ideas
- Modifying classroom procedures to allow for extra time to complete assignments, help with note-taking, oral testing and other mean of assessment
- Using books-on-tape and assistive technology such as screen readers and voice recognition computer software
- Help with the emotional issues that arise from struggling to overcome academic difficulties
The information on this page was taken from the following sources:
The National Center for Learning Disabilities (www.ncld.org)-direct link to information-www.ncld.org/content/view/454/391/
International Dyslexia Association (www.interdys.org)- Definition of Dyslexia PDF
Other Resources:
The following PDFs were taken from the International Dyslexia Association website:
- Accommodating Students with Dyslexia in All Classroom Settings
- At-Risk Students and the Study of Foreign Language in School
- Dyslexia and Related Disorders
- Dyslexia Basics-Facts Sheet
- Multisensory Teaching
- Orton-Gillingham Based and/or Multisensory Structured Language Approaches