Dyslexia is the most prevalent learning disability among children and adults. It impacts school and daily life, often in unexpected ways. This comprehensive guide explains what dyslexia is, how its diagnosed, and how to pursue dyslexia treatment.
What Is Dyslexia?
Dyslexia is a learning disability that affects a person’s ability to read, interpret letters and memorize information. Reading may seem like a straightforward process, but it’s actually quite complex. The eyes send a signal to the brain, and the brain sorts the information to form sounds and words. Someone with dyslexia may have trouble seeing differences between similar letters or converting the words they read into words they know.
Dyslexia is not an intellectual defect. In fact, most people with dyslexia are fast thinkers with creative minds. Their reading abilities do not reflect their actual brain capacity, which makes their struggles all the more frustrating.
What Causes Dyslexia?
Dyslexia often runs in families, but the official cause of dyslexia is still a mystery. It has something to do with the way part of the brain interprets language. Dyslexia is likely linked to genetics in some way, and people with a family history of dyslexia and learning disabilities are at a higher risk of development.
What Are the Symptoms of Dyslexia?
The symptoms of dyslexia vary by age group. Parents typically notice a delay in reading development that turns into frustrations at school.
Early symptoms of dyslexia:
- Difficulty learning nursery rhymes
- Reversing sounds in words
- Trouble remembering the names of numbers and colors
- Confusing similar letters for one another (b and d, q and p, etc.)
- Delays in language development
Dyslexia symptoms in school-aged children and teens:
- Incorrect spacing between letters and words
- Trouble sounding out unfamiliar words or learning new vocabulary
- Avoiding reading tasks
- Issues with sequences and memorization
- Difficulty summarizing information they’ve read
- Taking extra time to complete schoolwork
If your child is struggling with language development, it may be time to get tested. Learning disability testing offers definitive answers that you can use to take action. This won’t change whether or not your child has dyslexia. It will, however, put you on the path to treatment and management.
How Is Dyslexia Diagnosed?
Dyslexia testing involves a psychological evaluation. This may include a written exam, an oral interview, or a series of tasks for the child to complete. From there, the specialist will assess the symptoms to determine if dyslexia is the underlying issue.
Note that dyslexia symptoms overlap many other conditions. For instance, your child may have trouble pronouncing words because of a discrepancy between what he thinks, what he hears, and what his mouth translates in the end. Your child may be struggling in school because of anxiety, not necessarily a learning disability. Maybe there is a child in his reading class that creates an intimidating environment, thereby making the class more difficult.
You can get the answers you need with a professional evaluation. CNLD Testing & Therapy offers dyslexia testing in Michigan, as well as dyscalculia testing, ADHD testing, anxiety testing, and more. Contact us at (734) 994-9466 to schedule an appointment or learn more about our neuropsychological testing services.
How Is Dyslexia Treated?
Dyslexia treatment involves a combination of academic accommodations, tutoring, therapy, mental exercises, and more. Most children receive an individualized education plan (IEP) to get support in school, but they may require supplemental training with a dyslexia specialist.
Treatment is extremely effective, especially at an early age. Children can learn how to work around their symptoms and retrain their brains to boost their reading abilities. Testing is the first step in the process, so we highly recommend getting a diagnosis when symptoms start.
Can Dyslexia Be Cured?
Dyslexia cannot be cured, but it can be managed. It’s entirely possible to have a successful and fulfilling life with dyslexia. Treatment helps dyslexic individuals learn effective coping strategies and tools for reading. CNLD Testing & Therapy is here to help every step of the way.