6 Dyslexia Facts + Brain Training for Reading Struggles
Dyslexia is a term that is thrown around frequently when kids are struggling to read. They switch b’s and d’s; they read a word backwards… Does it mean it’s dyslexia?!
Dyslexia is not actually reading letters backwards or seeing jumbled words on a page. It’s a specific learning disorder that impairs your ability to process language as a whole—and it actually is based more in auditory processing weaknesses than in visual problems.
Here are 6 Facts about Dyslexia That May Surprise You:
- Dyslexics don’t see letters backwards. Instead, their brains just struggle to connect written letter → sound → word → meaning. This is a complex process that requires lots of different cognitive skills!
- Dyslexia can be diagnosed as early as age 5. Many people believe dyslexia can’t be diagnosed until your child is supposed to be reading—but that is not actually the case. Here are some of the most common early warning signs of dyslexia:
- Trouble with basic skills like rhyming or identifying first/last sounds
- Difficulty sitting still or focusing for any length of time
- Lack of interest in letters or words
- Struggling to remember or recite the alphabet
- A history of slower speech development and commonly muddling words
- Struggling with 2 or more steps in directions
- Often forgetting names of people or things
- Confusion with directions (like up and down) or with identifying patterns
- People with dyslexia often also often struggle with spelling, speech, and memorization along with reading. The dyslexic brain has specific weaknesses in areas of auditory processing, memory, and organization. These things impact all areas of life—not just reading.
- Dyslexia has a major impact on kids’ self-esteem and confidence in school. Beyond the academic repercussions, dyslexic kids often tend to have lower self-esteem and more resistance to trying hard things. When they feel like something basic (like reading) is out of reach, it impacts the way they view themselves and school in a really deep way.
- Dyslexia is primarily an auditory and phonological processing issue. Phonemic awareness and auditory processing skills (the ability to accurately hear a sound and manipulate it by rhyming, blending, segmenting, etc.) are foundational for all learners. But especially for dyslexic learners, building this skill is CRITICAL for helping them read successfully.
- Research shows a connection between dyslexia symptoms and weak short term memory and executive functioning skills. The ability to take in information, organize it, use it, and complete complex tasks is often hard for dyslexic learners. Strengthening these skills may be the key to building confidence and independence!
Brain Training for Reading Struggles
At LearningRx, we’ve worked with thousands of individuals with dyslexia. Our program is designed to approach reading struggles in a way that is very much aligned with the needs of dyslexic learners.
We focus on building phonological and auditory processing skills ALONG WITH memory, logic, processing speed, and visual processing skills. Since skill weaknesses are the underlying root cause of many reading struggles—including for individuals with dyslexia—this approach has been extremely effective for many individuals.
Between 2010 and 2018, over 2,200 students with dyslexia completed our reading training program and experienced amazing results! They grew over 3.7 years in all cognitive skills, but an astounding 5.7 years in auditory processing (the primary skill behind reading struggles).
Whether your child has a formal dyslexia diagnosis or reading just isn’t clicking, understanding their cognitive skill profile can help you understand the best way to help them become a confident, successful reader. Contact us today to learn more.
