What is Dyslexia? ,psychology homework help

Provide a minimum of a 100 word response to a classmate. In your response, please share your thoughts on how to support children with these disorders in your future professional role (elementary school teacher).

What is Dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a language disorder that effects between five to twenty percent of children. Piper (2012) defines dyslexia as “a category of reading disorders associated with impairment to the ability to interpret spatial relationships (in print) or to integrate auditory and visual information” (8.3). Although most associated with word or letter reversal, dyslexia can be the diagnosis for a myriad of language processing disorders that effect reading and comprehension (Piper, 2012, 8.3).

What is my Child Going Through?

Children with Dyslexia may have mild to severe symptoms. These symptoms can include the characteristic letter reversal, although this occurs only occasionally. A child with this disorder may begin speaking at a later age than other children their age, and may have problems remembering names or words of objects. They may have problems staying on task when there is background action or noise, which could lead to a diagnosis of ADD. Children with dyslexia may also “omit or add letters when reading, writing, or just copying words” (Piper, 2012, 8.3). Those with dyslexia may also have problems with spoken words. Per The International Dyslexia Association (IDA) (2017), people with Dyslexia “may find it difficult to express themselves clearly, or to fully comprehend what others mean when they speak” (3). This may unfortunately lead to some bullying.

How Can My Child’s Teacher Help?

Teachers should always be supportive of all children in their care. This is truer with a child with Dyslexia. It is important that a teacher reward the child for trying just as they would for getting a high score. Be sure that teachers are “Rewarding effort, not just “the product.”” (International Dyslexia Association, 2017, 6). It is also important for teachers to listen to a child’s feelings as they battle through the symptoms. Finally, your child’s teacher should help your child set a goal they can strive for. “Many students with dyslexia set perfectionistic and unattainable goals” (7). Hopefully, the teacher can prevent the child from setting themselves up for failure and becoming discouraged with the learning process as a whole.

What can I do as a Parent?

It is important first that you listen to your child and reward them for trying their hardest. Also, research and look for a qualified professional to work with your child. Unfortunately, many schools are not equipped with professionals properly trained to best assist a child with Dyslexia. The IDA states “Unfortunately, most preparation programs at universities and colleges, including departments of special education, literacy, and reading, have not prepared teachers adequately enough to meet the needs of students with dyslexia” (2017, 6). Finally, be sure to read to your child or teach them to listen to audio books. This will help your child “develop a love of listening as well as an appreciation for good literature” (2017, 6).

Resource for more information

For more information on Dyslexia and how you can help your child who is living with Dyslexia, review the International Dyslexia Association’s IDA Handbook: What Every Family Should Know found at https://dyslexiaida.org/ida-dyslexia-handbook/.

References

International Dyslexia Association. (2017). Dyslexia in the Classroom: What Every Teacher Needs to Know. Retrieved from https://dyslexiaida.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/DITC-Handbook.pdf.

International Dyslexia Association. (2017). IDA Handbook: What Every Family Should Know. Retrieved from https://dyslexiaida.org/ida-dyslexia-handbook/.

Piper, T. (2012). Making meaning, making sense: Children’s early language learning. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education.