In the Mahalo article titled How to Diagnose Dyslexia the types of dyslexia, signs and symptoms to look for, and diagnostic testing were discussed. This article on how to treat dyslexia will explore the symptoms in depth and offer some important facts about dyslexia and methods of coping and treatment.

Dyslexia is a learning disability that includes many types of dyslexia. It can range from mild to severe, and affects each individual differently. It is estimated that about 15% of school children suffer from some form of dyslexia. If you suspect your children might have dyslexia it is important to see if his or her teacher concurs from their observations. The next step is to make an appointment with your medical doctor to have a complete physical examination and rule out any other possible physical problems or vision problems.

Talking to the school psychologist to discuss the testing of your child is the final step to a formal diagnosis. Once you give your permission, testing can begin. The results will be discussed with you and a plan of action will be developed by the assessment team to address your child’s particular issues. Early intervention and treatment are the keys to the child being more successful with his academic learning and future career plans.

Dyslexia is different from reading difficulties caused by a vision or hearing problem, or from poor instruction. It is caused by the inability of the brain to process sounds and letters, or to break words up into separate speech sounds. It can also occur after a brain trauma or injury, but it most frequently occurs from being inherited. Usually a close family member will also have dyslexia.

Dyslexia is the number one learning disability in children and continues throughout their lifetime. Children with dyslexia have problems reading things that are written or visually noted. They also may have problems with comprehension, sequences, or following more than one command at a time.http://www.depression-guide.com/dyslexia.htm

It is estimated that about 40% of children with dyslexia have Attention Deficit Disorder (with or without hyperactivity). Another 3% to 8% have light sensitivity (scotopic sensitivity). These children have a hard time seeing black print on white paper and often have problems with fluorescent lighting. Colored lenses may help the letters stand still but the lenses will neither cure dyslexia or teach the child how to read. http://www.dys-add.com/symptoms.html

Whatever the malfunction in the brain that causes dyslexia, at this time there is no way to correct it. The child can be helped by early intervention and remedial education. This intervention program is developed through psychological testing to see where your child’s problems lie.http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dyslexia/ds00224/dsection=treatments-and-drugs

Dyslexia is not only a problem in childhood because it lasts through the individual’s lifetime. It does not go away. If individuals with dyslexia do not get treatment as children, it can cause a lifetime of frustration and lack of achievement. It is harder to identify in adults because if they have not been previously identified and treated for the condition, they develop ways to cope with their problem or hide it from others.

Dyslexia is not a disease and has no cure. It can take a lot of hard work and support of the family, teacher and friends to help a child succeed in school and later on in their careers.http://www.dys-add.com/symptoms.html Some of the most famous people that have/had dyslexia are: Walt Disney, Pablo Picasso, Tom Cruise, Cher, Thomas Edison, General Patton, Nelson Rockefeller, George Burns, Hans Christian Anderson, Leonardo da Vinci, Winston Churchill, John Lennon and Magic Johnson.http://www.dyslexia-test.com/famous.html

Children with dyslexia are all different. One characteristic that all of them share is they are all at a lower reading level than other children of their intelligence and age. Children or individuals with dyslexia will have approximately 10 of the following behaviors or traits. They can change by day or by minute. There is absolutely no consistency in their behavior.

General behaviors:

1. considered lazy, dumb, or a behavior problem;
2. not considered to be enough behind the class for the school to help them;
3. tests well orally but not in writing, has adequate or high IQ;
4. has poor self-esteem and feels dumb, covers up weaknesses with bad behaviors;
5. may have artistic talent, and do very well in sports;
6. loses track of time and daydreams a lot;
7. lacks the ability to pay attention;
8. learns well through hands-on training like demonstrations and observations.
   
   

Spelling, Vision, and Reading Problems:

1. often complains of physical illness when reading;
2. confused by numbers, letters, words, sequences;
3. reading or writing may show additions, omissions, repetitions, substitutions, transpositions, and reversals of letters, words, or numbers;
4. reports seeing or feeling movement of letters that doesn’t exist;
5. appears to have vision problems which are not supported by examination;
6. either has good eyesight and observant, or has no depth perception or peripheral vision;
7. lacks comprehension of reading;
8. spells phonetically and inconsistently.
   
   

Hearing and Speech:

1. hears things others don’t hear and often distracted by sounds;
2. problems putting thoughts into words, stutters when stressed, doesn’t complete sentences, doesn’t pronounce long words correctly, or transposes words, phrases and syllables when speaking.
   
   

Writing and Motor Skills:

1. difficulties writing, copying, holding pencil, poor handwriting;
2. uncoordinated, clumsy, does not perform well playing ball or team sports, problems with fine and gross motor skills, suffers from motion sickness;
3. may use either hand, confused about left and right, over and under.
   
   

Math and Time Management:

1. has problems telling or managing time, learning sequences, or being on time;
2. uses finger counting, can’t do math on paper but knows answers;
3. is able to count but has problems counting money and objects;
4. can do basic math but not word problems, algebra, or higher math.
   
   

Memory and Cognition:

1. excellent long-term memory for faces, experiences and locations;
2. poor memory for things not personally experienced;
3. thinks more with feelings and images, not words or sounds.
   
   

Behavior, Health, Development and Personality:

1. either extremely disorderly or compulsively orderly;
2. too quiet, troublemaker, or class clown;
3. may develop very early or very late;
4. may have food sensitivity or other allergies to chemicals or additives, and multiple ear infections;
5. may sleep very lightly or extra deeply; bedwetting when older;
6. little or extra tolerance for pain;
7. perfectionist, sensitive, sense of justice is strong;
8. confusion, pressure, emotional stress, or illness causes more mistakes and increased symptoms.http://www.dyslexia.com/library/symptoms.htm

Multisensory Approach:

One of the techniques used to help children with dyslexia to learn is the multisensory approach. It involves using hearing, vision and touch to help the child learn. While the child is listening to a tape, he or she can be tracing the shapes of the letters used in the words spoken which can help process information.

There are five areas that the therapist may use to help the child, such as:

1. ”phonemic awareness – phonemes are the smallest sounds in spoken words
2. phonic recognition
3. oral reading ability
4. building a vocabulary
5. reading comprehension”http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dyslexia/ds00224/dsection=treatments-and-drugs
   
   

Categories of Treatment Programs:

There are three general categories of treatment programs for children with dyslexia: developmental, corrective, and remedial. Elements from more than one category may be combined.

1. The developmental approach uses previous methods but gives the child extra attention and time.
2. The corrective approach puts an emphasis on the abilities and interests of the child. It is conducted in a small tutoring group and encourages the children to overcome their difficulties by using their special abilities.
3. The remedial approach attempts to resolve both educations and psychological issues that interfere with learning.http://www.dys-add.com/symptoms.html
   
   

How Parents Can Help:

Reading to your child often, spelling out words, and pronouncing letters can help your child learn. First, listen to books on tape with the child and then read the same story together. Children with mild dyslexia eventually learn to read well enough to make it through school. Emotional support and activities that don’t involve reading are very important for children with dyslexia.

Children with severe dyslexia may never be able to read well. It is important that these children eventually get trained in vocations that do not require reading. There are many careers they can learn and be successful. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dyslexia/ds00224/dsection=treatments-and-drugs

There are several things parents should do to help their child cope with dyslexia, including:

1. Having a learning disability can affect your child’s self-esteem. Be sure to show him or her love and encourage their strengths and talents.
2. Explain what dyslexia is to your child and that it is not because they are a failure. Once your child understands this, they will be better able to compensate for their disability and cope with it.
3. Provide a place for your child to study that is organized, clean, and quiet. Make sure the child gets good nutrition and rest. Go to places where the environment is good for learning.
4. Be sure to keep in touch with the school and make sure your child is on track for learning. If helpful, ask the teacher to record the lessons for the day so you can play it back with them at home. If they have tutoring available from someone who specializes in learning disabilities, this may also be helpful.
5. Join a support group if there are any in your area to share experiences with other parents who have children with learning disabilities. They can provide you information and emotional support.http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dyslexia/DS00224/DSECTION=coping-and-support
   
   

There are special skills that many people with dyslexia have because of their unique architecture of their brain. These are skills controlled by the right side of the brain: art, sports, music, mechanics, people, and 3-D visual-spatial. They may also be very intuitive, creative, curious, and have a vivid imagination.

Some good careers for people with dyslexia are architecture, interior and exterior design, psychology, teaching, marketing and sales, cooking, woodworking, carpentry, acting, sports, music, scientific research, engineering, computers, mechanics, graphic arts, and photography.http://www.dys-add.com/symptoms.html

Federal Law Regarding Dyslexia:

Every child over three diagnosed with dyslexia is required, by federal law, to have an[[Individualized Education Program[[ (IEP) that is developed for that specific child’s needs. This IEP will detail the disabilities, how they should be taught, and the goals for the academic year. It has to be evaluated once a year and changes made based on progress. If the parents do not agree with the IEP they have a right to appeal. By law, the child must also be prepared for further education, employment, and independent living beginning no later than age 16.http://children.webmd.com/tc/dyslexia-treatment-overview

The content on this page is for information purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Speak with a qualified heath care professional to ensure that you have the most accurate information regarding any medical diagnosis.