Dyslexia

What is Dyslexia?

 Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities. These difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological components of language  that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction. Seconday characteristics may include problems in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that can impede growth of vocabulary and background knowledge. (The Revised Dyslexia Handbook, 2007).

The primary difficulties of a student identified as having dyslexia occur in:

       awareness and manipulation of sounds in words

       single-word decoding

       reading fluency

       spelling

Secondary consequences of dyslexia may include difficulties in reading comprehension

and/or written expression.

These difficulties are UNEXPECTED for the student's age, educational level, or cognitive abilities.

Also there is often a family history of similar difficulties.

How would I know if my child has characteristics of dyslexia?

The characteristics of dyslexia vary from person-to-person. Some children experience problems in many areas while some may have difficulties in only one area. Many children exhibit one or more of the following characteristics; however, persistent occurances should alert teachers and parents to the possibility of dyslexia:

 Young children may exhibit:  

   Delays in learning spoken language

   Problems in learning the names of the letters of the alphabet.

   Difficulty in learning to read.

   Difficulty in finding that "right" word when speaking.    

   Difficulty in learning to write the alphabet correctly in sequence.

Intermediate/older children may exhibit:

   Reversal of letters or sequences of letters/numbers after age 8-9.

   Repeated erratic spelling errors.

   Ability to learn to spell a "list" of words sufficiently to "pass" a weekly test, but may be unable to spell any of the words the    next week.

   Strong listening comprehension skills.

   Ability to express self orally but unable to write what s/he has said.

   Inability to rhyme or "play with sounds" in words.

   Family history of similar problems.

(Copied from Northwest ISD Student Services web site: http://www.nisdtx.org)

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Procedures to follow if you suspect your child has dyslexia or related disorder:

     Contact your child's teacher and/or the school Counselor.

     The school will go through it's Student Support Team procedures for Dyslexia referral. A Dyslexia referral will be considered only after remediation opportunities have been provided and a lack of progress is demonstrated in reading. A referral for Dyslexia will follow the same procedures as a Section 504 referral and offers the same protections so that no child is taken out of the general education placement unless it is the only placement available to meet the educational needs of the student.

        If you decide to, you may get a private evaluation. The evaluation has to follow Section 504 Guidelines

of the Rehabilitation Act. Please note, with a private evaluation, the school must consider the evaluation; however, they do not have to accept the evaluation.

For more information:

     The International Dyslexia Association www.interdys.org

      State Dyslexia Consultant www.region10.org

      Scottish Rite Hospital for Children   www.tsrhc.org