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Anika also has challenges with auditory processing, meaning that she takes extra time to process information that she hears. Everyone with dyslexia is different so I encourage a lot more research. This information is meant to help, not replace time spent with a professional. I encourage all families to look at their children and see what learning styles inspire or frustrate them.
We are all different. Lenka Vodicka is a classroom teacher and mom. She learns from children every day. Follow her blog, LenkaLand: I can't wait to share with you books that your kids will love. An email to confirm is heading to your in box right now. Thank you for your insights. They really shed light on how dyslexia can make reading so hard. My question is, do you think that with time, learning to read becomes easier for someone with dyslexia, without all the early struggles.
What I mean is, if teaching the skill of reading is delayed until later in school eg children the age of instead of , would that make it any easier. Are there developmental stages that are obtained with age that make reading easier as someone gets older? Is it worth all the struggles in the early years of school or would a better idea be to focus on other pursuits in younger children and delay explicit teaching of reading until they are a bit older?
He is dyslexic for life, just as his father is dyslexic even now. With the right instruction, he will read better, but never with the same ease or automaticity as his typical peers. My continued hope is for children with dyslexia to be diagnosed as early as possible, so as to prevent the secondary consequences, such as anxiety, learned helplessness, poor self-esteem and self-worth.
Your list sounds so similar to my daughters struggles. She is 11 now. At 3, she knew all the letters and their sounds. Not by sight but she new that A said aaa, etc. I told her she was far to smart to not read. Boy was I wrong. Now, I understand and we are on a far different path. At 11, she is reading above grade level, though she still struggles with sounding out a new word. Her comprehension is great we did 2 phonics programs a year!! What a blessing that you are posting these signs to look for. They may not have them all, but people should be aware lest they hurt their child by PUSHING them to learn the same way as everyone else!
My daughter is 10 and in the 4th grade. She was diagnosed with dyslexia in the second grade — although she was tested in kindergarten but found to be average and age appropriate. She is slightly different from your daughter in the story. Similar to your daughter, she has a great memory for details -much better than my husband or I. Thank goodness she had and has supportive teachers and family members to keep her positive and help her fight the fight.
Hopefully people will judge her by the awesome, spirited, happy girl she is rather than by her learning challenge. I remember struggling through school, and no one helping me out. This was after I spoke English as a second language when clearly its my first.
I found out through a behavioral optometrist that the color pigments in my eyes where making it hard for me to focus on the text on white paper. And that I was consecrating on the word itself more and trying to get that right, than on the sentence is trying to say to me. I found some of the techniques in this list was helpful to myself may years ago when I decided to not let Dyslexia get to me… I learn things at my own paste, I taught myself how to re-read, and gave myself time and patients, it was hard because i was going through Uni at the same time, and doing 3 jobs….
Then I meet my husband, huge Scrabble Nerd! Who help me further with my learning words, teaching me scrabble and the maths behind scrabble, which teach me to understand little and strange words. I never had an issue with Maths, it was always words. I now work in the Education Department, and my Dyslexia does pop up from time to time, but I feel like since school days, I have improved myself and have a more appreciation for words and reading.
Be patient with your Dyslexic Kids, giving them time to understand the sentences and word, even with Maths, they will get it in the end, you see them struggling, then give a break, no yelling at them! Thanks for this article, I about to have a kid myself, and this was one of my biggest worry that they will become Dyslexic like me, but with these techniques i think the both of us will get through this together and have a great time in school!
Like you, I was so looking forward to reading with my daughter, but teaching her letters, shapes, and numbers was an absolute nightmare. She is in the 2nd grade and while she is making slow progress, she is very far behind her classmates and loathes the mere thought of trying to read anything. Even 2 or 3 letter words. Sometimes it makes sense. She tries so hard that it breaks my heart to have to correct her.
Trying to keep her encouraged is a huge undertaking. She has a much better disposition about math but reasoning, multiple steps, and reading directions hinder her progress. I know what I have to do now. I am going to get my daughter the help that she needs. Thank you so much! My middle daughter was diagnosed dyslexic in her second year of college. If her older sister had not been such an amazing fast learning genius I might have been able to notice something was amiss when she was younger.
My middle daughter failed kindergarten, but after that she plodded through school with her cohort as a B student. You have totally described her. Thanks for the post! What a blessing it is to realize what is going on.
It was hard for me at first to accept. Now however, I am relieved because my daughter is very bright she just needs a different method of learning. God bless as you move forward. Melissa, I heasitate to write anything down because of my poor spelling ability. I will not use spell check so you can get an idea of my struggle. I am 59 I am dislexic. I am an antreprenure.
I have twin 5 year olds. My girl may be dislexic. I am reading which is unusual , a book called The Dislexic Advantage. It explains alot and keeps me on an emotional rolercoster of gradual understanding. My daughter was having trouble reading untill I started covering the ilustrations. Majicly she stoped struggling. This book also gives examples of what occupations are naturals for people with dyslexia: Books on tape turned into books on CDs.
I had to be tested to qualify for a unussuall books on tape program with a sosiaty for the blind and dislezic. I apreciate you bringing these learning differences to peoples atention. I hope your daughter can flurish with out to much difficulty. This sounds so much like my daughter. She was diagnosed with mixed expressive receptive language disorder in preschool. I am going to get her retested.
Thank you so much for writing this article. My daughter is now She started having petit mal seizures at 3. When she went to kindergarten the teacher was concerned about her learning. She repeated kindergarten to be more ready for 1st grade. Then we moved into a wonderful school district that did testing and found her to be dyslexic. They worked with her all through grade school. But when she would read aloud when it was her turn, she would read and then giggle. The teacher told her it was disrupting! Its just like you stated.
Noises were so distracting for her. She did better in a quiet room. By the time she got in high school, she was in B level classes. She would read her history and geography into a tape recorder and then listen to it back several times until she could remember it. She graduated from high school with a 3. But if she did the best she could, we celebrated whatever grade she got. She did go on to college for a couple of years but was so burned out by the fast pace that she dropped out. Thank you so much for posting. I like how you explained how your daughter would pile her sounds when trying to read.
My son has dyslexia and childhood apraxia of speech and does the same thing. Do you have anything you found was more helpful when she would get stuck in the cycle of piling? Anyway, I would love to hear practical suggestions. Thanks so much for this helpful post. My son whom is 18 also has dyslexia. He completed the Ron Davis Dyslexia program with much success. He had all the same struggles as your daughter. I could never figure out why he knew large words compared to small words. Well the small words were mostly sight words. After completing the Ron Davis program we figured it out.
My son thinks in pictures!
Your daughter probably does as well. My son would skip all the sight words. The horse went into the barn. My son would read horse, and barn, but went into and the he had no idea how it all connected! Thanks for such an interesting article!!! I understand completely what your struggle and your frustration was!!! Thank you for posing this. I knew around 2 years old that my daughter was not thinking the same as my other children or the children she was around.. She was not diagnosed with dyslexia until she was 4 years old. Most professional learning specialists will not diagnose children or label them with a learning disability until they are 7 or 8 years old.
By then you- the parent- already know that your child is seriously struggling with reading and possibly other subjects. My daughter has learned to read. She is now in her second year of high school. It takes a lot of positive reinforcement and the proper teachers to teach dyslexic children but it also depends on their level of dyslexia. My child happens to have a sever level.. However, she is exceedingly bright and can remember almost anything verbally. She is also verbal. She has learned to compensate but struggles daily with her dyslexia.
At the age of around 9 or 10 she could verbally tell friends and teachers about her dyslexia. It is really important that whatever learning disability a child struggles with to learn to understand it and also to be able to explain it to other people. The key is to make sure that your child knows that they are just as smart and capable as any other child. Build their self esteem. The struggle will never end. The other good news about children with dyslexia is that they have some kind of gift. The gift can me in art, music, speaking, building,… its just a matter of figuring it out.
Once a parent or child figure it out, this can help the child with building their confidence. In addition, I recently heard an inspirational handicap speaker that was sharing his thoughts about physical and other disabilities. He said that the people with a disability are the most passionate people in the world and that they are here in this world to do something great.
I thought that was uplifting and wanted to share it with others. I know for me, I have learned so much form my dyslexic child and that she is very passionate about causes that are important to the world. I do believe that she will do great things. Much of what you have shared sounds like my daughter. She has struggled every since kindergarten she is now in third grade.
We have fought for extra help at her school, and are finally getting some. However, when I mentioned dyslexia, the teachers said no. How do you get a diagnosis for dyslexia? What kind of doctor or specialist should I seek? My 14 year old grandson has been living with me for seven years. He loves math and science and plays guitar and keyboard.
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He has never been interested in books. Even when he was little, he would not sit still and let me read to him. Can you advise me on how to approach his teachers about my concerns. I hope you can help me help my grandson. Check into a wonderful program called Visualizing and Verbalizing. It is a great intervention not only for reading but for math as well. I am a retired Special Ed. Teacher and have seen great success using Wilson Reading System with students. It is based on the Orton-Gillingham system designed specifically for students with dyslexia. I enjoy working with children with reading difficulties because their progress is monumental!
I am married going on 28 years to a man with dyslexia and am a retired Special Education Teacher. Most actually have higher intelligence. My daughter turns 21 this week and this article was like reliving her life since kindergarten. She struggled through kindergarten and they wanted to keep her back and we refused. We took her to a Sylvan Learning Ctr. She was in the 4th grade when the school tested her and declared she was dyslexic according to the Scottish Rite dyslexia system.
She did the video program in a small group with a learning specialist that year and the next. In 3rd grade, they eventually gave up on her memorizing multiplication tables and said use a calculator. We went thru all school years with math, English, spelling, and reading difficulties. Then, in order to get help in the college years, we had to take her to a doctor for testing. That was where we were told to add short-term working memory to the list of other disabilities. She attended a nearby community college for two years and is now at a university. Such a great tell of what happens to young children.
I teach 5 year olds and we use the Davis dyslexia tools in our class. It can be a tough journey. Good luck with your future journey. Nice article, i was diagnosed with dyslexia with combined dysgraphia when i was 6 years old. After reading this article id say your spot on.
Many children who havd this issue get labbled as lazy, inattenative or unintellegent destined for a life flipping burgers. I was very lucky to go to a small private school that allowed me to have daily one on one training with a reading and writing specilist. It took me 6 months to learn to write fowards using a series of mirrors and hand tools and another year before i could read.
Even though i still read differently with hard work and persaverance i graduated high school with honors and in the NHS and went on to recive a masters in labaratory science. I still read magazines from back to front and even upsidedown just because its more comfortable but have certanly gone farther then my teachers imagined.
Wr need to remember that these kids need patience and confidence and they can do any thing. Thanks for getting the word out.
Thanks for writing this inspiring text! He is a true fighter, and I try to be as supportive and positive as I possibly can. For me now it is crystal clear that reading is something you can do in so many ways. He is such a charming, creative kid! He keeps constructing things, LEGO is a true favourite. Now we start to see the dyslectic traits in his younger sister. She too has a beautiful imagination and she shares her thoughts and stories with us. She too loves to build stuff. Thanks for pointing out that there are many different ways to learn how to read and write and how to enjoy stories.
And also pointing out how energy-consuming the reading process can be for dyslectics. It is so important to remember that they need time to recuperate. My three daughters all have the dyslexic gene and what you describe is exactly what I went though as a parent. Though I should mention that the symptoms were more challenging with my two youngest.
I am also a teacher and read many articles on dyslexia, but many fail to describe the learning-behavioral impact at home. You describe well the subtleties of the everyday challenges. How can a child know all their timetables to forget them all the following week? Why do they read one word at a time and forget what they read at the start of the sentence?
We have done the audio-books, encouraged the arts; drama, visual, creative story telling, etc. Yes, they are very creative and imaginative which are extremely important skills for the future, but it is very difficult to see these as a positives when 10 minute homework takes an over an hour to complete. That happened between grades 4 Homework was not as painful, though I maintained a constant communication with their teachers since short term memory was always an issue, it was important to keep the communication flowing.
What saved them was their tenacity and their perseverance when face with a difficult task. Because of these challenges, they have developed great work habits over time and slowly improved their academic self-confidence as this was greatly affected throughout elementary school. I am proud to tell you that the two youngest are presently attending university and the eldest graduated two years ago as a nurse. All three are fully bilingual and love to read. They have proven many people wrong over the years….
This is brilliant, its like reading about my own daughter… We are just going through the processes with the school to find a way in which she can learn thats easier for her… thank you for sharing. My son is profoundly dyslexic and it has been a struggle that we have managed to deal with. He will be graduating from high school this year and we are looking into colleges and programs that interest him. He has dyslexia, dyscalcula, dyscraphia, audio processing disorder and attention deficit!
He learned to read and he made it through school with good behavior and a great IEP. My son was very similar to your daughter. He hated the ABC song and he refused to try to write in preschool. He would play for hours in the dress up center and would become a fireman, cowboy, police man etc. He had and still has a great imagination and can tell an awesome story and the occasional tall tale. He has overcome so much and he accepts his challenges without feeling sorry for himself.
He knows he is special and that he is different from many of his friends in regard to the way his mind works but he loves who he is and I thank God for giving me the strength to be his advocate for all of these years. I admit to knowing very little about dyslexia beyond the reversed letters and backward reading which I do to a small degree. However, despite her dyslexic issues perhaps in a small way because of them?
Thanks for sharing this info with us. I too am a teacher, and this is my girls story…. She has a gift, sees the world in colours and pictures…what an incredible and awesome thing that is! This sounds just like my daughter! Thank you for posting this. We are in the process of a diagnosis and need all the help she can get. Do you have any resources or games you would suggest using in a first grade setting for any kids we are noticing with these signs?
Are there things teachers can do more of for those kids? I think every teacher who teaches reading should read Overcoming Dyslexia by Shaywitz. It is life changing not only because I am an educator, but because I have a daughter with dyslexia. I have read it twice. Reading is taught not a natural part of us like our language. Dyslexia happens because part of the brain fails to connect during pregnancy.
Many educators think they know how to diagnose a child, but they do not. It is not just because they cannot read, it is so much deeper than that. Please read Overcoming Dyslexia by Shaywitz. Many schools do not identify dyslexia until the end of 2nd grade. The sooner you can begin therapy the better.
I want to find this book. I agree that the sooner we can recognize and support areas of challenge, the better. I wish we had a way to hold all children emotionally before they are identified. Keeping a positive self-esteem can be so tricky! Thanks for the book recommendation! This is my daughter you could be describing…exactly.
I think now we are going to find a tutor who has worked with dyslexics. She is in fifth grade and on her way to middle school. Thank you for taking the time to write this. Those parents all talk about the Lost Years- if only they had known… We all do our best, though. It may help to keep records of the help you are giving your daughter so you can sit with the teacher and show the struggles. We also have success with apps and technology practice tools online learning. My son had dyslexia and reading all the clues you said above, was just like him.
Math was also difficult for her. Patients is what you must have with your children because they have a high frustration level. My children never gave up. My son has BA in Math,minor. He is now a computer anylst. She almost has her masters in Library Science. No one talked much about these things years ago. My hope is that we can create a world that embraces the gifts that all learners bring into the world and support the challenging areas. I am glad to hear that your children had a strong advocate in you! Bravo, what a wonderful family!
Support, pride, love, and encouragement, and finally a trusting advocate is what all children deserve! Then the truth will prevail, and you will witness improvement and growth. I totally agree with your post! Parents know their children if they open their eyes and hearts. Your dedication and hard work is beautiful and society should be proud of the adults your kids worked so hard to become! We also have two at home, and all the struggles. But, I am also seeing the growth and answers unravel!
My husband jokes and says he may call the next bldg. I am always so saddened to see a child that needs the support at school or home, the potential stares me in the face and I just want to scoop them up too and get involved! Best wishes, and congrats for your hard work and their awesome success! I have dyslexia as does one of my 3 older brothers.
My brother has a son with it and luckily was able to help him more. I remember the struggles and spending more time on assignments that others. People thought I was losing focus or not trying to work quickly. I had good comprehension about what I read. I just needed more time to get through it. Luckily my mom and dad understood that I was working hard and kept encouraging me. I loved books and stories but hated to read assignments because they took so long and were so much effort.
I just want you to know. It sound like you are on the right track with your daughter. I love to read now. I read for pleasure all the time. I read several novels a week now. I always loved books but preferred sharing it with my mom and taking turns reading when I was younger, just because it was such a challenge and so frustrating. I read fluently now and no longer have to worry about not finishing a timed test. I was out of college already before this happened for me. I know others that had similar experiences as children that now are fluent readers who enjoy it too. I feel confident your daughter will read everything she can get her hands on as an adult and love it as well and you will be a big part of why.
You sound you are doing things very similar to the way my mom handled school work with me. You are making a difference in her life she will thank you for. I know I do my mom. I wish you and your daughter well. Aw, thank you so much! You are a great encouragement! The great news is that my daughter is starting to read to herself at bedtime- not because she is required, but because she likes it: I am hearing from many people that the long road gets to the same place as long as we hold a love of stories as the goal. Thanks for the kind words! Wow most of the things you wrote about my son does, he is in first grade and not doing well.
It helped so much since every one around me said it was just an age thing but i knew better. I switch numbers orders and when i read aloud i will switch the first three or found sounds with the next word but i hear it write while others are clueless to what i just said.
You have just given me the tools and information to get my son help and to better help me understand how to help him and my self. So again thank you so much. You are very welcome!
We knew that she was happy socially and understood other concepts easily, so we moved forward. My girl has such a range between gifted ideas and basic challenges. There is a wonderful university in Arkansas, University of the Ozarks, in Clarksville, AR that gives assistance to dyslexic students. Worley, Yes, attention and no sense of time is a component of dyslexia. Concerta helps him focus on classwork and schoolwork.
I have read that book- the insights are valuable. I have so many questions now. What about inability to focus on tasks and no sense of time? What Genius Thought That Up? But Ben—who also has dyslexia—is not a bad kid. Then a new boy named Trout shows up in class. Trout also has ADHD. But Trout is a much bigger troublemaker than Ben.
This story for kids 9—12 takes a frank look at ADHD and give kids a lot to ponder. In this witty novel for ages 12 and up, Travis finds an unusual friend and a determined teacher who both help him succeed at his new school. The book is about the power of literature—and the power of friendship. The nonfiction book Backwards Forward: My Journey Through Dyslexia , by Catherine Hirschman, is a firsthand account of living with dyslexia.
The book was cowritten by Hirschman, a year-old woman with learning issues, and her mother. The authors offer a personal window into their lives, beginning in early childhood and continuing through adulthood. The book is good for older kids middle and high school as well as parents. The book features bright colors and designs.
More than 60 short chapters address distinct topics, such as dating, homework and family life. This book is for kids 13 and up. This nonfiction book was written by a Victoria Biggs, a teenage girl with dyspraxia , which affects motor skill development and often exists with learning issues. A Dyspraxic Guide to Breaking Free is a positive, practical guide for teens struggling with the physical, social, emotional and learning issues caused by dyspraxia. In a conversational style, Biggs describes the primary effects of her learning difference—disorganization, clumsiness and poor short-term memory.
And she also talks about the bullying , low self-esteem and loneliness she endures. It offers teens a solid base of information about learning disabilities. The book includes definitions, coping strategies, tips on interpreting test results, legal considerations and postsecondary school options. Each chapter includes a description of how it feels to have a particular disability.
It describes symptoms and offers practical suggestions and resources. Profiles, success stories and quotes are sprinkled throughout. As high school students with LD start to think about college, how do they plan for their college years? College Success for Students with Learning Disabilities , by Cynthia Simpson and Vicky Spencer, provides guidance and practical strategies specifically for students with learning disabilities so that they can make the most of their college experience.
The books in this slideshow provide kids with great ideas for addressing the challenges of their learning and attention issues. There are other ways to help, too. Consider finding your child a mentor. Self-awareness is an important quality for tweens and teens with learning and attention issues to develop. Self-awareness can help your child come to grips with his issues and understand how they affect him in school and elsewhere.
Focusing on strengths is just as important as recognizing weaknesses.