Dyslexia is an impairment in your brain's ability to translate written images received from your eyes into meaningful language. Also called specific reading disability, dyslexia is the most common learning disability in children.
Dyslexia usually occurs in children with normal vision and normal intelligence. Children with dyslexia usually have normal speech, but may have difficulty interpreting spoken language and writing.
Children with dyslexia need individualized tutoring, and treatment for dyslexia often involves a multisensory education program. Emotional support of your child on your part also plays an important role.
Symptoms
Dyslexia symptoms can be difficult to recognize before your child enters school, but some early clues may indicate a problem. Once your child reaches school age, your child's teacher may be first to notice a problem.
Before school Signs and symptoms that a young child may be at risk of dyslexia include:
Late talking
Adding new words slowly
Difficulty rhyming
School age Once your child is in school, dyslexia symptoms may become more apparent, including:
Reading at a level well below the expected level for the age of your child
Problems processing and understanding what he or she hears
Difficulty comprehending rapid instructions
Trouble following more than one command at a time
Problems remembering the sequence of things
Difficulty seeing (and occasionally hearing) similarities and differences in letters and words
An inability to sound out the pronunciation of an unfamiliar word
Seeing letters or words in reverse (b for d or saw for was) — although seeing words or letters in reverse is common for children younger than 8 who don't have dyslexia, children with dyslexia will continue to see reversals past that age
Difficulty spelling
Trouble learning a foreign language
When to see a doctor Dyslexia is characterized by a delay in the age at which your child begins to read. Most children are ready to learn reading by kindergarten or first grade, but children with dyslexia often can't grasp the basics of reading by that time. Talk with your doctor if your child's reading achievement level falls below what's expected for his or her age or if you notice other signs or symptoms of dyslexia.
