Dyslexia
Ongoing Concerns
Each child with dyslexia has a different set of abilities and disabilities, which can range from mild to severe. A child's academic future lies in the severity of dyslexia, his or her intelligence, support of family and school professionals, family resources, motivation to learn, and any associated disability, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
It is estimated that around half of children with language and learning disabilities have other impairments that interfere with their schooling. Disabilities often associated with dyslexia include ADHD, behavioural or memory problems, or difficulty using problem-solving skills to achieve a goal.
The earlier dyslexia is recognized and addressed, the greater the chance that your child will learn to read at his or her highest possible level.3 In those children whose symptoms are mild to moderate, one of the biggest challenges may be recognizing that the child has dyslexia.
Studies that have followed children with dyslexia from kindergarten through high school indicate that most learn to read accurately, although they usually read at a slow rate and are not completely fluent readers. Thus, many teens with dyslexia may need some special assistance in the classroom.
Extra time to finish classroom assignments or tests is often needed by all children with dyslexia. Other accommodations include taping classroom lectures, using books on tape to access texts and other required readings, and allowing students to take tests in other formats, such as short essays or even orally. Children with dyslexia also may need help managing their schedules, organizing work, and completing multiple assignments and long-term projects, especially when they reach middle school.
Parents can effectively support their child if they understand dyslexia and how to deal with their child's special needs. Having dyslexia can lead to poor self-esteem, depression, or behavioural problems in some children which can hinder their reading progress. If you think your child has self-esteem problems related to dyslexia, professional counselling may help.
Will my child learn to read and succeed at school?
Typically children with dyslexia are very bright, although reading will probably continue to be a challenge throughout life. The earlier dyslexia is recognized and addressed, the greater the chance that your child will learn to read at his or her highest possible level.3
Encouraging and supporting your child while staying involved in his or her education are other key factors. Helping children with coping strategies as they advance in school will also help. Although extra effort and dedication are required, often children with dyslexia are able to contend with this disability and succeed in academics and other areas.
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| Author: | Amy Fackler, MA Debby Golonka, MPH Carrie Henley | Last Updated: October 16, 2006 |
| Medical Review: | Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics Thomas Emmett Francoeur, MDCM, CSPQ, FRCPC - Pediatrics Louis Pellegrino, MD - Developmental Pediatrics | |
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