Dyslexia: What is it exactly?

1
Dyslexia What is it exactly?
2
Definition of Dyslexia

• 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. Secondary
  consequences may include problems in reading
  comprehension and reduced reading experience that
  can impede the growth of vocabulary and
  background knowledge. (International Dyslexia
  Association)

3
What causes dyslexia?

• Brain research shows that the brain of a dyslexic
  person develops and functions differently. People
  with dyslexia have problems discriminating sounds
  within words, which contributes to their reading
  difficulties. Dyslexia has nothing to do with
  lack of intelligence or a desire to learn.

4
Characteristics of Dyslexia

• Difficulty with oral language
• Difficulty pronouncing words
• Difficulty acquiring vocabulary or using age
  appropriate grammar
• Difficulty following directions
• Confusion with before/after , right/left etc.
• Difficulty learning the alphabet

5
Characteristics of Dyslexia

• Difficulty with reading
• learning to read
• rhyming, counting syllables (phonological
  awareness)
• Hearing and manipulating sounds (phonemic
  awareness)
• Distinguishing different sounds in words
  (auditory discrimination)
• Learning sounds of letters
• Remembering names and shapes
• Reverses letters
• Omits common small words
• Poor reading comprehension
• Slow laborious reading

6
Characteristics of Dyslexia

• Difficulty with written language
• Putting ideas on paper
• Spelling
• May do well on spelling test, but does not spell
  correctly on daily work
• proofreading

7
Why do students need to go a special class?

• Dyslexia cannot be cured, but children are taught
  coping skills.
• Denton uses a multisensory approach. (engages
  visual, auditory, and kinesthetic channels at
  the same time)

8
What do students learn in Dyslexia classroom?

• Alphabet
• Dictionary skills
• Letter sound relationships
• Coding
• Syllable division
• Reading comprehension
• Listening comprehension
• Fluency
• Handwriting (cursive)
• Spelling
• Grammar
• Written expression
• Rhyming
• Phonemic awareness
• Affixes
• Roots
• We will touch on most of these skills each day

9
THINGS TO DO AT HOME WITH YOUR CHILD

• Make sure they read out loud to you.
• Help them choose appropriate reading material.
• Consider reading to your child, or with your
  child, instead of them always reading to you.
• Choose poems and songs as well as books to read.

10
Developing Healthy Self-Esteem

• Focus on your childs strengths, not struggles.
• Help them develop problem solving strategies
• Provide choices
• Do not compare siblings
• Be empathetic

11
Bibliography

• Information was obtained from
• The International Dyslexia Association
• Margaret T. Smith
• LD Online