"I may have dyslexia... but dyslexia does not have me." -Unknown

Since it's something that has been clearly identified and is well-known in today's society, the purpose of this article is to look at the subject of dyslexia. We're going to look at ways to spot it, the educational challenges it raises and the help available in and out of school systems in the United Kingdom.

In reality, dyslexia is on of the most common learning difficulties in England, since it is thought to affect between 4 and 8 per cent of all children.

But, what exactly is dyslexia? For those who aren't familiar with the term, dyslexia is a common type of learning difficulty which affects the ability to read and spell words accurately. Doctors have now found that dyslexia often runs in families and it's the condition that makes it difficult to process words or numbers it can also affect other areas like the ability to remember sequences of actions.

Before we continue on, it's necessary to mention that dyslexia has nothing to do with intelligence. For instance, most dyslexics have an average or above-average level. There are loads of famous, incredible, and highly successful people who have had or have dyslexia and these include Richard Branson, Albert Einstein, Cher, Michelangelo, and Walt Disney.

Without further ado, let's consider how to get to grips with dyslexia!

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What are the Challenges Posed By Dyslexia?

learning disabilities and feelings attached
Dyslexia makes people feel isolated and as if they lack intelligence in comparison to others. (Source: Unsplash)

Alike various learning difficulties, dyslexia is developed during the formative years. But, how is it caused? As we've mentioned, in many cases, dyslexia is genetic; however, it's been believed that dyslexics find it difficult to recognise phonemes when they begin to read at an elementary level, thus finding it challenging to connect a letter/phoneme symbol and its sound.

But, what exactly are phonemes? Phonological awareness is the understanding that words are made up of specific phonemes and researchers have found that this is believed to play an important role in the development of early reading and spelling skills. For example, all words are made up of smaller units called phonemes; changes in individual phonemes in a word can change its meaning. Any examples? Well, take the phoneme ‘s’ in the word ‘seek’; if we substitute it with an ‘m’, the word becomes ‘meek’.

Additionally, other challenges affected by dyslexic persons include verbal memory which is the ability to remember a sequence of information received verbally or a list of items spoken to the person. Dyslexics take longer to process verbal information, they can find it difficult, for instance, to write down a telephone number or a word that is spelt to them.

Some of these intriguing facts may not compute for people who don't have difficulties reading. Therefore, if you would like to know what it is like to read a sentence or passage as a dyslexic person, typical sentences might look something like the following:

  • Asentencemightlooklikeithasnospaces (A sentence might look like it has no spaces),
  • The rem aybei rregular it iesinthe spacing (There may be irregularities in the spacing),
  • A dyslexic mei rite tha wrd as it sawnds to them (A dyslexic may write the word as it sounds to them).

All of the previously mentioned ways that a dyslexic person may write or read pose problems in a typical learning environment since they might be excelling at all subjects but having major difficulties reading and writing. Special assistance through private tutoring is probably required for the student to catch up and get the help they need.

But, how can teachers and parents catch dyslexia sooner than later? Let's take a look at the following subheading to find out more!

What are the Primary Indications of Dyslexia?

pushing through
Dyslexia has to do with reading and identifying language. Many more people may have than you might have realized. *(Source: Unsplash)

Due to stigmas and fear of being bullied, dyslexics sometimes try to hide their learning difficulties from teachers and parents. Yet an early diagnosis is vital if families are to take positive steps towards overcoming this hurdle together. Some signs mothers, fathers, and teachers may notice in children with dyslexia include the following:

  • An overall difficulty reading despite being of average or above average intelligence in all other school disciplines, 
  • The child may not be able to finish written tests or essays within the set time, 
  • Dyslexics may have difficulty remembering terms, 
  • Dyslexic children may have difficulty memorising lists and numbers, 
  • Most dyslexics may be unable to understand basic directions, 
  • Children or adults with dyslexia may have difficulty learning foreign languages.

According to the British Dyslexia Association, some factors which are present both in children and adults with dyslexia include difficulties with sequencing and a tendency to have good/bad days without any seemingly logical explanation. Other indications vary according to age. For example, children in preschool may mix up phrases by reversing letters, they may find it difficult to memorise the names of everyday objects or develop speech at a later stage.

At a slightly older stage, children with dyslexia may write letters, symbols and numbers in the wrong order, have difficulty memorising the information taught in lessons, or have difficulty comprehending written text. However, on the other hand, in a non-academic sphere, they can often surprise parents because of the many areas in which they reveal their intelligence and alertness.

Now that we're all aware of the symptoms of dyslexia, what type of help is available to parents and teachers in the United Kingdom? Keep on reading to find out!

What Help is Available for Students With Dyslexia?

assisted learning
Nowadays, there are many resources and trained experts who know how to help those with dyslexia and other learning difficulties. (Source: Unsplash)

The first step to getting help is recognizing that you or your child has a learning issue that needs to be dealt with. Thankfully, there are many steps you can take if you are a parent who suspects their child has dyslexia. First and foremost, speak to your child’s class teacher or the head teacher of the year, if your child is in secondary school. Most schools in major cities and towns are savvy enough and have a good understanding of dyslexia which will make it easy and quick to formulate a plan of action.

After notifying your child's school, the next thing you should do is read up on dyslexia. The following three sites are extremely informative:

  • The British Dyslexia Association,
  • NHS Choices,
  • Kids Health.

While all are great and highly recommended, The British Dyslexia Association provides a directory of local associations and helplines.

Additionally, it's greatly suggested to request an appointment with the school’s Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO). They will create an Individual Education Plan, specifying the steps the school needs to take to satisfy your child’s specific learning needs and goals.

Another resource that parents should not rule out for their dyslexic children is private tutoring. The personalised assistance, fantastic tips and tricks, and the understanding that private tutors offer their students dealing with dyslexia make children and teens feel less alone and like they have a partner in crime to help them.

You might want to consider visiting sites such as Superprof to discover all the tutors that could provide academic help to students struggling with dyslexia.

What Kind of Learning Assistance Do Dyslexics Receive? 

Since it's probably uncharted territory for you as a parent, you might be wondering what type of learning assistance your dyslexic child will receive. Well, it's important to state that a specially trained teacher will enrich your child’s phoneme awareness, will enlighten them on the relationship between specific letters and sounds, and will also share useful practices like listening to a recorded book or using particular computer software.

Psychologists, special needs educators, or private tutors that work with students dealing with dyslexia do their best to employ patience and kindness to make their pupils feel that what they are going through doesn't make them a lost cause.

Also, the emotional support of family and friends will also go a long way towards helping those with dyslexia realise that they can be anything they want to be in life; all it takes is patience, discipline and help from a specialist in the field.

In conclusion, we sincerely hope that you have found this article useful and please feel free to share your experiences with the education system and coping with dyslexia here via the comments.

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Brentyn

Avid movie-goer, reader, skier and language learner. Passionate about life, food and travelling.