We are responding to some frequently asked questions regarding dyslexia today. Reading difficulties can be difficult for the entire family, regardless of whether you have reservations about your child’s reading or a dyslexia diagnosis that has been made. We are dispelling some misunderstandings and addressing some of the difficulties related to dyslexia so that you will be better able to support your child and create a plan of action.
What is dyslexia?
A language-based learning impairment called dyslexia makes it challenging for people to connect written letters to the sounds they produce. It may affect a child’s capacity for accurate word pronunciation, reading, writing, and spelling. Typically, it is not identified until after a kid has been exposed to reading and writing in a formal setting. A youngster who has a parent or sibling with dyslexia is more likely to develop the condition themselves.
Dyslexia training program from I Empower, LLC can help parents and teachers learn about dyslexia.
How do I know if my child has dyslexia?
As it requires extensive testing in intellectual, academic, phonological processing, and other processing skill areas, dyslexia should only be diagnosed by a psychologist or neuropsychologist. When a collaborative approach is taken for diagnosis, speech-language pathologists can also contribute.
Although dyslexia cannot be diagnosed at this age, its symptoms can be seen as early as preschool. Earlier indications of potential dyslexia include:
- A difficulty in making basic words rhyme, such as “hit, sit, mitt”
- Left/right confusion
- Late to establish a dominant hand
- Difficulty learning sound/letter associations, for example, “D” says “duh”
- trouble learning the first nursery rhymes
- Children in the early grades may struggle to sound out simple words, and they frequently skip reading assignments because they are difficult.
- Contrary to popular belief, many kids reverse their letters and numbers while learning to write, not just those with dyslexia. Usually, it is not a problem until a child is 7 years old. Conversely, a child does not have dyslexia if they do not make reversals in letters or numbers.
In accordance with COVID-19 requirements, we at I Empower, LLC provide online and live dyslexia training for teachers, parents, parent groups, and virtually any group interested in learning more about the lookouts for dyslexia. For the best fit with your requirements, we can adjust the training’s duration.
Why won’t the school officially diagnose my child with dyslexia?
A child who struggles with reading in school may qualify for special education services under the eligibility category of Specific Learning Disorder (SLD) in reading. Although it is not a clinical diagnosis, this administrative category is used by schools to decide whether a child qualifies for special education services or an IEP. Parents may find this to be very puzzling.
Many parents will request the school to conduct testing to determine whether their child has dyslexia. In many states, parents are often informed that dyslexia is not tested for. This is so because a licensed psychologist must make a clinical diagnosis of dyslexia. Even more frustrating is the fact that insurance often refuses to pay for this kind of psychological assessment because it should be completed in the schools. As a result, getting a dyslexia diagnosis can be costly and difficult.
What resources can I use to support my child?
Fortunately, technology has advanced to the point that our children can use it to overcome reading difficulties. For children with a specific learning issue, Learning Ally, for instance, offers audio books. With the help of this fantastic resource, children may study material that is appropriate for their school level without experiencing the usual frustration associated with reading textbooks.
You can get in touch with I Empower, LLC to know more about dyslexia training online.