Dyslexia Symptoms – More than just Flipped Letters
We often get asked, when a child struggles with reading or is flipping letters, if they have dyslexia symptoms. Dyslexia is a learning disability that makes it difficult to read, write and spell.
Here are some common myths about Dyslexia:
- Dyslexia is a sign of low intelligence. This is one of the most persistent myths. Many individuals with dyslexia have average or above average intelligence.
- Dyslexia only affects reading. It can also affect writing, spelling and even math. Thought organizing or sequencing information is a problem for people with dyslexia.
- Dyslexia relates to seeing letters and/or numbers backwards. This is the most common myth. Dyslexia is more about processing language. For students who struggle with flipping letters, it can be dyslexia, but our testing usually indicates this is more of a memory issue – especially for younger students.
- Dyslexia can be outgrown. Unfortunately, dyslexia is a lifelong condition. With strong coping strategies and improved reading skills, the effects of dyslexia can be minimized but dyslexia doesn’t just go away.
- Dyslexia is related to laziness or lack of motivation. These difficulties are not due to a lack of effort but neurological differences in processing language. Those with dyslexia often work harder than their fellow students to achieve the same outcomes.
At LearningRx, whether a child (or adult) has dyslexia or general struggles with reading, we find a common cognitive profile and root cause.
These struggles usually relate to cognitive skill weaknesses in memory, auditory processing and sometimes visual processing. Because our training is 1-on-1 and targets the areas that are deficient, our clients see significant gains in reading skills. LearningRx Brain Training identifies and addresses the root cause of general reading struggles.
In fact, recent peer-reviewed research with over 3,500 struggling readers (in the 25th percentile in reading or lower) found statistically significant changes in both reading skills and cognitive skills after just 24 weeks of training with ReadRx. [Disclaimer: LearningRx is not a cure for dyslexia. You or your child may not achieve the same results but give us a call at 970-672-2020 = we’d love to share more about our one-on-one brain training programs with you.]
Hiding in Plain Sight – the Root Cause of Dyslexia
If you are seeking reading or dyslexia support, the key is to address the root cause.
When memory is low, the reading impact is an inability to retain sight words and later, difficulties with non-phonetic words (like “said” or “laugh”) along with all the English language exceptions and rules. Difficulty with word recognition, spelling and reading comprehension all contribute to this reading problem.
With a firm grasp of reading, you open your child’s world to one of adventure and curiosity. Yes, schoolwork is easier, but so is the world outside of school – life – where reading is fun!
Dyslexia Symptoms – The Sequencing of Sounds
The other skill often impacting reading is auditory processing. Auditory processing is the brain’s ability to manipulate and segment sounds. When auditory processing is low, students struggle to blend sounds and can often struggle with the sequencing of the sounds when trying to decode or often adding sounds that are not in the word.
Our reading training follows the Science of Reading guidelines, but we go a step further by ensuring each child has a strong foundation of cognitive skills (like memory and auditory processing). Unless these cognitive skill weaknesses are addressed, students typically continue to struggle as expectations increase and the root cause is not addressed. In fact, students who are not caught up in reading by the end of 3rd grade, rarely catch-up.
Reading is Key to Getting on Track with Dyslexia
Reading is a critical skill that enables lifelong learning and impacts other academic subjects (like math, history, etc.) as students advance. If your child is struggling and you are seeking reading support, contact the LearningRx Fort Collins location to schedule an initial assessment.
This assessment will identify the root cause as to why your child struggles with reading and includes a follow-up consultation to answer your questions and provide recommendations as to how to get help. Call 970-672-2020 to get started or click the link below.
Don’t let dyslexia symptoms delay your students’ advancements. With the right tools, a student can excel – let’s just get beyond the myths that society has put out there about dyslexia. And if you suffer with this issue along with your child, we can support you as well. Call us today 970-672-2020.
