Dyslexia

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Dyslexia is a general term that refers to a variety of problems with oral and written language -- either input (listening and reading) or output (speaking and writing). Although the term is found frequently in the media these days, it covers a range of problems and isn't very helpful in developing an educational program to meet your child's unique needs.

Years ago, dyslexia was a medical diagnosis, so schools were cautioned not to use the term. Instead, educators talk about learning disabilities or language disorders because these are defined in law and may open the door to special education services. Dyslexia is not one of the eligibility criteria listed in federal law, so the IEP team needs to agree a child with dyslexia meets one of the recognized eligibility criteria in order to be considered for special education services.

What's more helpful than a label when discussing your child is to be able to identify the specific skills she already has and those she needs to master in developmental sequence, e.g., hearing differences in sounds, learning letter names, spelling words that don't follow the rules, etc. This allows you and the teacher to plan the next steps of your child's instructional program by building on what she already knows.

Dyslexia is a persistent, lifelong condition. There's no cure for it, but there are ways to approach learning and be successful. This may include gaining new skills, as well as using bypass strategies. Language problems may be inherited, so other family members often report similar learning experiences. They may be able to offer suggestions of strategies that help them.

Although kids with dyslexia have language processing and learning difficulties in common, the symptoms and severity can be quite different. Kids learn some academic skills at a level lower than others their same age and intellectual peers, but they can do other things quite well. They may be talented in the arts, skilled in technology, adept with spatial relationships, or gifted in interpersonal relationships. These strengths and talents need to be encouraged and reinforced.

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