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lf your child is having serious trouble
reading, consider having him or her tested for dyslexia--especially if
you or other relatives are decidedly slow readers. Dyslexia is a
perception disorder that may be either genetic or perhaps the result of
a childbirth trauma, such as inadequate oxygen, etc.
Dyslexia Symptoms
The term dyslexia has become a catchall
for reading retardation based on any number of factors: psychological,
educational, or cultural. Basically, however, it is a neurological
problem that may occur in children of all socioeconomic levels. One
hemisphere of the brain supposedly controls language ability; dyslexics
use both hemispheres when they read. Hence they confuse symbols in
space and sounds in time. For instance, 24 comes out as 42, was is
read as saw, etc. Dyslexics have trouble following a sequence of
words or lines. They may not hear sounds correctly, confusing b for
v, th for f or they may mispronounce words. Hand and eye
coordination is a problem as well.
The following are some of the dyslexics problems: poor awareness of
body movement; inadequate combination of motor and visual ability;
visual inefficiency; poor listening ability; difficulty in integrating
several sensory abilities; poor grasp of sequence; poor sense of
rhythm; difficulty mastering concepts of time, number, and space;
difficulty with the learning process; gaps in general knowledge.
Visual-motor exercises, such as walking on a balance beam, bouncing a
ball, and tracking a moving object with the eyes are often prescribed.
However, owing to controversy in the field over the efficacy of such
techniques, it is recommended that they be used only as a supplement to
a child's remedial academic learning program.
Incidentally, a dyslexic child may be clumsy at skipping rope or riding
a bicycle. Children with dyslexia appear normal enough for the problem
to go undetected. Often they are branded as under-achievers and put in
remedial reading groups, where unfortunately their problems may only
worsen. Some schools are set up to diagnose and treat dyslexia. A local
university may have a learning disorder center that is equipped to help
your child. Although diagnosis is difficult, more and more educators
and specialists are beginning to recognize the symptoms of learning
disabilities. Eventually all affected children will receive the
benefits of the new educational approaches.
Outstanding Dyslexics
Some dyslexics have made substantial
contributions in their fields and one, Hans Christian Andersen, became
a masterful writer even though he never learned to spell. Other notable
dyslexics included Leonardo da Vinci, George Washington, John D.
Rockefeller, Jr., Nelson A. Rockefeller, and Albert Einstein. There
continues to be considerable disagreement among those who study reading
problems about what causes dyslexia and how it should be treated.
Although several new treatments are helping some children, the real
breakthrough will come only when neurologists and other researchers
discover the precise connections that link visual forms and meaning.
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