The other day when I went for a family dinner at my uncle’s house my cute little cousin was being taught her English lessons by her father. As her father got busy in welcoming us in the house I went and sat by her side. Wanting to hear her kid speak I told her to read her book. She started very slowly with pauses in between “Jo-hany Jo-hany yess papa, eating sugar on pa-pa, te-ll-ing liez on pa-pa”. In the meantime I was called to the dinner table. As it happens on the dinner table our discussions revolved around family, friends to work and academics. And that is when my uncle worriedly told us about my cousin’s problem. She is dyslexic! Was that was why she read ‘no’ as ‘on’, I was pretty amused.

My amusement went away when I saw her notebook. The first page of the notebook and any normal person will consider it to be a kiddish mistake that children in primary classes often make. But turning through the pages will make you realize it is a different thing not a kid's thing actually! a matter that required attention from her parents and more than that their assistance so that she too can be a doctor or an engineer or a fashion designer or anything she would want to be  tomorrow. 

What is dyslexia?

Dyslexia is also known as developmental reading disorder in which a child is not able to recognize or remember certain alphabets. Dyslexia today on an average affects 3-6 percent of children in the country but many still lack awareness on the issue. It is an inability due to which in early grades face difficulties in reading, writing or grasping and learning what is taught to them in the school or at home. A dyslexic child may have an average or even more than average IQ level.

Children with dyslexia have---

• A poor handwriting
• Difficulty in reading - often read words from right to left rather than left to right. For example a dyslexic child will read ‘saw’ as ‘was’.
• Difficulty in writing – such a child will write ‘p’ as ‘q’ or ‘b’ as ‘d’. Dyslexic children reverse the letters while writing and reading.
• Difficulty in understanding directions in writing and reading both.
• Difficulty in remembering taught lessons.
• Difficulty in auditory reception.
• Difficulty in visual learning and perceiving.
• Low speed of reading and writing.
• Disinterest in studies may often develop.
• Poor drawing abilities are often present.

These symptoms can lead to the feelings of frustration in the child. If the parents fail to understand their child’s performance the child’s conditions can suffer more and can suffer a lifelong toll on self confidence. A complete neurological exam can be performed to confirm if a child is dyslexic because some children may have problems in reading due to vision or hearing problems.

The cause of dyslexia and reading problems in children can be attributed to aspects like improper teaching methods. Children who do not get proper reading instructions during the early learning years face reading problems. Dyslexic children often have auditory and visual perception difficulties. Language learning and processing difficulties are often found in such children.

What to do if your child is dyslexic?

• Make your teaching method easy for your child
• When you teach him the difference between two alike alphabets like ‘b’ and ‘d’ do it one by one, first make your child familiar with one alphabet then with the second. Do it one at a time.
• Do not over teach your child. Too much of information at a time can overload the little mind.
• Teach your child for short durations to avoid overdose of learning for your child.
• Phonics is the best way to teach a dyslexic child and that has been found in numerous research made in this regard.
• Teach your child step by step. Increase the difficulty level step by step and not at once.
• If your child fails to understand go back to the previous step.
• Reading before your child and showing him the correct way is the best way to teach him.
• Teach your child the directions with patience
  • Playfully ask the child to raise left hand then right then left and like that simultaneously
  • Teach pronunciation and side by side writing the words too.
  • Always make your child write on ruled pages and not on blank ones.
  • If the child doesn’t understand the difference between right and left try teaching your child the difference by tying a band on one hand
  • Teach your child to write from the side of the margin.
  • Give your child dots to connect that make a shape or a drawing
  • Word puzzles and picture puzzle games can be interesting too.

Treatment for dyslexia

• A dyslexic child needs extra assistance in learning
• Teaching in groups may not be as effective
• It is important to motivate your child constantly as dyslexic children often tend to develop a low self esteem. Do not let your child feel that he has some problem.
• A specialist can be consulted if you feel the child is not improving.

Some kids might be also having auditory problems. Some even have discrimination problems while listening or visualizing. While some others may have problems in learning and perceiving whatever is taught to them. Some kids may be having all the difficulties and such children will require immense support of their parents. One of the main difficulties that dyslexic children have is letter or word reversals. They often write reversed letters. Similar looking alphabets are most confusing to dyslexic children like b/d and p/q. Help your children with reversals with a calm attitude. Early detection can be of great help so that the child can be helped at an earlier stage for the best outcome.