Throughout this course, we have discussed a lot about the different types of learning disabilities that are present. One of the most common types of learning disabilities is called dyslexia. Within this writing, we shall discuss what dyslexia is, causes of this learning disability, the different types of dyslexia, the types of signs one can look for to identify a possibility of this learning disability, areas of life this learning disability affects, strategies to cope with this learning disability, strengths of this learning disability and some interesting facts and statistics.
The definition of Dyslexia has been changing for a long time. For example, in the 1920’s dyslexia was defined as a type of defect in the visual system which lead for people with dyslexia to be unable to read (NINDS, 1996). Another example was in 1968, The World Federation of Neurologists defined dyslexia as a type of disorder which children despite conventional classroom experience, fail to attain the language skills of reading, writing and spelling commensurate with their intellectual abilities (Perlstein, 2013). The more correct definition of dyslexia based on the U.S National Institutes of Health is that it is a learning disability that can hinder a person’s ability to read, write, spell and sometimes speak (Perlstein, 2013). To explain further, if there are abnormalities such as ectopias in the cytoarchitectonic structure of neocortical regions in the postmortem brain, there is a relatively higher chance of dyslexia developing (
Even though we all now know that dyslexia is a type of learning disability which affects one’s reading, writing, spelling and speaking skills. It is still important to know the possible causes of dyslexia. There are thre...
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Moura, O., Simões, M. R., & Pereira, M. (2013). WISC-III Cognitive Profiles in Children with Developmental Dyslexia: Specific Cognitive Disability and Diagnostic Utility. Dyslexia, 20(1), N/a-N/a. Retrieved February 20, 2014, from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com.ezproxy.library.yorku.ca/doi/10.1002/dys.1468/full
Perlstein, D. (2013, December 02). Dyslexia Symptoms, Signs, Causes, Types, Diagnosis and Treatment - MedicineNet. MedicineNet. Retrieved February 20, 2014, from http://www.medicinenet.com/dyslexia/article.htm
Ramus, F. (2003). Theories of developmental dyslexia: Insights from a multiple case study of dyslexic adults. Brain, 126(4), 841-865. doi: 10.1093/brain/awg076
Shaywitz, S. E. (1996). Dyslexia. Scientific American, 275(5), 98-104. doi: 10.1038/scientificamerican1196-98
The specific language based disorder of dyslexia is a learning “disability” or “syndrome” that creates an imbalance of reading, writing and comprehension skills in children and adults (Lucid Research, 2006; Shaywitz, 1998). Around 4 percent of the population are affected by the specific language based disorder (Lucid Research, 2006), as well as 80 percent of people with a learning disorder are reported to be dyslexic (Shaywitz, 1998). Dyslexia is not connected to low levels of intelligence, inadequate schooling and education or social circumstances, rather, an individual who is deficit in the phonological process, the breaking down of a word, and the auditory process, taking in sound and interpreting correctly (Lucid Research, 2006; Shaywitz, 1998; Wang and Yang, 2014). Since dyslexia is reported to be a life-long learning disability and symptoms are varied for each person, large amounts of research have been conducted in attempts to understand the severity and the impairments associated with
Doctor Morgan of Sussex, England, published the first case of what is now known as dyslexia in 1896. Dr. Morgan wrote about Percy F, a 14-year-old boy who was intelligent, bright, quick with learning games, and the intellectual equal of his peers. He fell behind, however, in his inability to learn how to read. Today, as in 1896, most people associate intelligence with the ability to read, but Percy F and the experience of millions of people with dyslexia breaks down the relationship between reading and intelligence (1). But, researchers were left with the question, "What causes dyslexia if intelligence is not the marker?
This is a subject and disorder near and dear to my heart. My personal experience with dyslexia, with myself and my daughter, has given me great insight into what dyslexia is, what the signs are, and how soon you can detect the potential for problems. It is not always the case that dyslexia is the sole source of reading and reading comprehension difficulties, there are other disorders that can exist at the same time, and this is important to know in order to help students improve their reading abilities. But, dyslexia will not only affect reading abilities and reading comprehension. It can affect writing, spelling, math, memory, listing comprehension, self-esteem, social skills, the ability to understand sarcasm, understanding spatial concepts,
Too frequently dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia are clumped together and thought to be the same problem. In reality, the three issues are similar but also constitute many of their own distinct complications. Dyslexia is manifested not only in seeing letters backwards and upside down but is the inability to decipher sounds and letters or shapes. “Dyslexia reflects a deficiency in the processing of the distinctive linguistic units, called phonemes, that make up all spoken and written words.” (Shaywitz pg98) This makes it difficult for the child to sound out words phonetically to read fluently; they might also struggle with remembering
Dr. W. Pringle-Morgan originally described dyslexia as “congenital word blindness,” in that he had a patient who was normal in all learning aspects other than his pronounced inability to read (Morgan, 1896). In order to test the severity of the child’s deficiency, Dr. Morgan devised a simple test to determine reading/writing capabilities in the patient, noting from his results that the patient was incapable of writing words exactly as they were spoken, as well as not being able to recognize all but the simplest words from a text. Other skills tested (arithmetic and algebra) fell within acceptable ranges of capability, and no other obvious deficiencies or defects were present. It was speculated that the child suffered a congenital condition similar to that described in adults to be “word blindness,” as his “visual memory for recalling written words” was absent. Anecdotal evidence, provided by the patient’s father in regards to teaching his son the alphabet, indicated that the child did suffer from an inability to map symbols (letters) to his memory for recall.
To begin with, dyslexia is not a something that can be seen right away. People do not have symptoms like nausea or congestion to show that have dyslexia. Dyslexia is a disability that happens in the brain. Even though it can not always be physically seen, there are a few ways to tell if someone has dyslexia. If a child has dyslexia, it can be shown by the child reading with pauses or reading the words incorrectly by placing another word in instead of the one written down. An example would be by confusing the word ‘cat’ with bat or word like “fell/fall and who/how” (Dyslexia) There can be many possible reasons for misreading these words, one reason would be because the brain is just too tired to be able to connect what it sees to what it is supposed to sound like. Non dyslexic people can tell how words are supposed to sound by dividing the word into “individual phonemes” (V., Nathan). Phonemes are similar to syllables. Except there can be many phonemes in a one syllable words. Phonemes are the units of sounds words. An example is the words ‘bag.’ If divided by phon...
Many of us can identify with struggling at least once during our school years. Imagine struggling every day and in every class just cause your learning strategy is not the same as everyone else. Dyslexia is a specific difficulty with learning how to read or write in nearly 3.5 million American children (Dyslexia Research Trust). This difficulty originates in children who are normally intelligent and receive adequate teaching; however, they are not able to process information as efficiently as regular learners. Dyslexia is an inherited condition, which children inherit from parents or family members. The condition results from abnormal nerve cells usually inherited which make children vulnerable to immune factors affecting brain development and causing deficiency of Omega-3. Dyslexia begins to become a problem when children are learning to read and write but, many children show signs of dyslexia before learning to read Dyslexics have problems concentrating in the classroom, pronouncing words properly and visualizing words. Many individuals often identify dyslexic people as people who...
Dyslexia is one of several distinct learning disabilities. It is a specific language based disorder of constitutional origin characterized by difficulties in single word decoding, usually reflecting insufficient phonological processing abilities. These difficulties in single word decoding are often unexpected in relation to age and other cognitive and academic abilities; they are not the result of generalized developmental disability or sensory impairment. Dyslexia is manifest by ...
“Once dyslexia is identified, and a child gets the right type of help, they can finally reach their potential” says a mother, named Susan Barton (Bright Solutions). Many people around the world have dyslexia. Dyslexia is a condition that is inherited and makes it extremely difficult to read, write, and spell. The cause of dyslexia is genes and neurological differences (Bright Solutions). Dyslexia makes life more difficult. Although many people think dyslexics people see things backwards that is not true because dyslexia is not from seeing it has nothing to do with your eyes it is all in the brain. According to Bright Solutions, “People with dyslexia do not use that part of their brain, and there appears to be no consistent part used among
Before we can expect people to alter their perceptions, they must understand what it is. Dyslexia is a learning disability linked to those who struggle with reading. Although, it seems pretty simple, dyslexia is extremely challenging to identify because it is not defined by one specific thing. Moreover, it includes a wide array of difficulties such as: trouble spelling words, reading quickly, writing out words, “sounding out words in” head, pronunciation and comprehension.
The common learning disability in reading is called dyslexia. Reading problems occur in a student when they have difficulty unders...
Whether we graduate from highschool or college we all hope to find a challenging career that will propel us forward in today's society. For those suffering from dyslexia this only adds to the frustration and fears associated with seeking employment. Many adults with dyslexia or other forms of learning disabilities never disclose their disability in interviews or once employed for fear of being discriminated against. Several investigators have noted, however, that many persons with learning disabilities adjust well to the demands and complexities of adulthood. (Greenbaum et al. 1996). The basic cause of dyslexia is still not known, however, much research is being done to determine the problems underlying dyslexia. In many cases, dyslexia is highly inherited. Studies have shown a number of genes that may set the stage for its development. Characteristics of dyslexia are now more apparent to educators than ever before. Early educational interventions are helping individuals to manage their dyslexia. There have been some studies that attend to accommodating persons with learning disabilities in post-secondary and occupational settings. Only a few articles will be reviewed having been found worthy of this subject. However, before reviewing the articles, in order to gain a greater understanding of the types of learning disabilities people face lets define one of the most significant learning problems: dyslexia. A Type of Learning Disability: What is Dyslexia? The word dyslexia is derived form the Greek "dys" (meaning poor or inadequate) and "lexis" (works or language). Dyslexia is a learning disability characterized by problems in expressive or receptive, oral or written language. Problems may emerge in r...
Multiple cases show dyslexics having exceptional talent in drawing, painting, and music. The appropriate way to describe dyslexia is not calling it a disability but as a learning difference. Despite the fact that the obstacles flourish, treatment, educational techniques, positives can provide wellbeing and overpowers the weaknesses.
Dyslexia is now a widely accepted condition that is prevalent in many classrooms. However, defining dyslexia is difficult as it can be described as a continuum. Although experts largely agree that dyslexia is identifiable as a developmental difficulty of language learning and cognition (Rose, 2009). Dyslexia can pose a host of difficulties for the child and can make daily activities and school life very challenging. The NCLD (2013) states children with dyslexia may have difficulties with ‘accurate and fluent spelling, accurate and fluent written expression, phonological awareness, memory, verbal processing speed and information processing.’ As teachers it is vital that we are aware of the underlying difficulties as the child’s consistent underachievement can appear on the surface as carelessness and lack of effort (Hodge, 2000). Dyslexia is not only about literacy, although weaknesses in literacy are often the most visible sign, it effects all areas of learning as the ability to read and write sufficiently permeates all areas of learning within the curriculum. ‘Dyslexia occurs across the range of intellectual abilities’ however, the difficulties posed by having dyslexia can affect a child’s ability to learn (Rose, 2009). Every child has the right to succeed and so the teacher must strive to provide the key for learning and implement effective interventions which develop the child’s literacy skills and help them reach their full potential (DCSF, 2007; DfES, 2004).
According to dyslexic researchers, Emma Sumner, Vincent Connelly, and Anna L. Barnett dyslexia shows it itself via, “ …significant difficulties with acquiring orthographic knowledge and [children with dyslexia] show poor phonological skills” (Sumner, Connelly, and Barnett, 2013). Owen Barden, another dyslexia researcher states, “Dyslexia is a specific learning difficulty which mainly affects the development of literacy and language related skills… It is characterized by difficulties with phonological processing, rapid naming, working memory, processing speed, and the automatic development of skills that may not match up to an individual’s other cognitive abilities” (Barden, 2014). Finally, according to the International Dyslexia Association the formal definition of dyslexia is, “Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities. These difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction” (International Dyslexia Association). Another definition for dyslexia, according to Emma Sumner et la, dyslexic researchers, is, “ Children with dyslexia have significant