1. It's the Brain's Fault
The left side of the brain that controls a person's ability to read or write is called the cerebral cortex. In a dyslexic, this side of the brain works differently. Due to damage in the area, a primary dyslexic will likely not ever be able to read or write beyond a fourth grade level. With secondary dyslexia, the ability to read or write is delayed, but the learning disability diminishes as the child ages.
2. Dyslexia Affects More Than Reading
When a child is diagnosed with dyslexia, it affects other areas of her life besides reading. Dyslexics also face problems with concentration, writing and activities that require memory skills. All of these areas are affected due to the way dyslexics view language. When a person has dyslexia, the brain works in a different way than other people. Although they have normal intelligence, dyslexics lack the ability to process words correctly. When a dyslexic sees a group of words, the letters in their mind may appear jumbled. For example, the words "dyslexic person" may appear as "dysl exicperson" to a person with dyslexia. Since reading's a large part of all school curriculum, dyslexic children often struggle in all of their studies.
3. Boost the Child's Confidence
Many children with dyslexia suffer from low self-esteem. They think they're dumb and feel poorly about their bad grades. Kids with dyslexia often act out because they're frustrated over their inability to understand things the same way as other kids. As a parent, you must build up their confidence. Involve the child in something he can excel at, like a sport or club. You may want to set up counseling sessions to help overcome a child's feelings of frustration and anxiety.
4. Learning Specialists Help
When your child has dyslexia, she can benefit from meeting and working with a professional that specializes in learning disabilities. Although dyslexia is not treated with medication, you can still help a dyslexic child by teaching her alternate ways to read. She may use flash cards to help her remember things or record school lessons instead of reading and taking notes. A learning specialist will also work with a child on how to distinguish between different letter sounds.
5. The Mixed Prognosis
The earlier that the child is diagnosed with dyslexia, the better the chance of overcoming the disability. In some cases, the dyslexia is mild and only requires minimal work with a learning disability specialist to overcome. However, in some severe cases, the dyslexia may never go away and prove a lifelong struggle for the patient. However, current research hopes to shed more light on the biological causes of dyslexia and different ways to treat the learning disability.
