Over the years, the definition of dyslexia has evolved significantly. Initially described in narrow terms by Dr. Berlin in the late 19th century, today, the term is often used more broadly. Dyslexia commonly refers to a child or adult who appears bright but struggles with reading and written work. While it’s generally understood as a severe reading problem, there remains little consensus on what constitutes “severe” or how exactly dyslexia differs from other reading issues. Rather than getting caught up in definitions, it’s often more useful to focus on the symptoms that indicate a child may have reading challenges and, therefore, requires assistance.
Directional Confusion
One of the most common symptoms of dyslexia is directional confusion. This can manifest in various ways, from difficulty distinguishing left from right to trouble accurately reading a map. According to Dr. Beve Hornsby in her book Overcoming Dyslexia, a child should be able to differentiate left from right by age five and recognise it in others by age seven. Directional confusion can affect a range of concepts, including up and down, top and bottom, and compass directions. It may also affect a child’s ability to keep track of their position in games or follow instructions in gym class. Hornsby notes that up to 80% of severely dyslexic children exhibit directional confusion, though the percentage is lower for those with milder forms of dyslexia.
This confusion often leads to letter, word, or number reversals, such as b for d, p for q, or even mirror writing. Some common indicators of directional confusion include:
- Reversing letters like b and d, or p and q, either when reading or writing.
- Inverting letters, such as reading or writing n as u, m as w, or d as q.
- Writing words like no for on or saw for was.
- Mirror writing letters, numbers, or words.
Sequencing Difficulties
Dyslexics often have trouble with sequencing, which is the ability to perceive and remember the order of things. This can affect their reading and spelling abilities, as every word consists of letters in a particular sequence. When this ability is impaired, words like name can become mean, or act can become cat. Sequencing difficulties can also extend beyond reading and spelling, impacting the dyslexic’s ability to remember telephone numbers, the alphabet, and even the order of events during the day.
Some signs of sequencing difficulties include:
- Putting letters in the wrong order when reading, such as felt for left or reserve for reverse.
- Reading or writing words in the wrong order, like there are instead of are there.
- Struggling to remember sequences like the alphabet, days of the week, or months of the year.
- Mixing up syllables in words like animal becoming aminal.
Challenges with Short Words
Parents of children with dyslexia often notice their children can tackle difficult words but struggle with simple ones like if, to, and and. This problem is not due to carelessness, as it might seem, but is a common symptom of dyslexia. Dyslexics might misread short words, omit them, or add words that aren’t there.
Some signs of trouble with short words include:
- Misreading small words, such as the for a, or from for for.
- Omitting little words when reading aloud.
- Adding extra small words that aren’t in the text.
Late Talking
There’s a significant connection between delayed speech development and dyslexia. Research has consistently shown that children who are late talkers often experience reading and language difficulties later in life. Dr. Beve Hornsby reports that about 60% of dyslexics were late talkers, which means they didn’t begin to speak until after the age of two.
Parents should take note if their child is not meeting typical language milestones. For instance:
- By one year, a child should be saying their first words.
- By two years, they should have a vocabulary of up to 200 words and be using simple two-word phrases.
- By three, they should have a vocabulary of around 900 words and be speaking in full sentences.
- By four, a child should be able to speak fluently, although some grammatical errors are still normal.
If a child is still making significant speech errors by age five, this could be a sign of future reading challenges, and parents should consider seeking early intervention to support language development.
Handwriting Difficulties
Handwriting is often another area of struggle for dyslexics. The term dysgraphia is used to describe difficulty with writing. Dysgraphia symptoms include:
- Generally poor and illegible handwriting.
- Inconsistent letter formation.
- A mixture of uppercase and lowercase letters, or print and cursive styles.
- Unfinished or irregularly shaped letters.
- Difficulty using writing as a tool for communication.
Math Challenges
Dyslexia doesn’t just affect reading and writing—it can also impact math skills, a condition known as dyscalculia. Dyslexic children might struggle with basic arithmetic, such as adding, subtracting, and understanding mathematical terms. They may also mix up similar-looking symbols, such as + and ×, or confuse numbers like 17 and 71.
Signs of math-related dyslexia include:
- Difficulty with basic calculations or mental arithmetic.
- Trouble understanding math terms like difference, subtract, or total.
- Reversing numbers, such as writing 17 instead of 71.
- Difficulty telling time or remembering sequences like times tables.
Bizarre Reading and Spelling
Severe dyslexia can result in bizarre reading and spelling patterns, where the child guesses at words without regard for their meaning. For instance, the sentence, “We need a brave person for the mountain rescue” might be read as “We need a brave man of the mount chishimse.” These wild guesses, combined with unusual spelling errors, can make it challenging for dyslexics to read and write coherently.
Examples of bizarre spelling include:
- Substance spelled as sepedns.
- About spelled as chehat.
- Did spelled as don.
Other Symptoms
Dyslexic children often exhibit additional signs, such as:
- Making up stories based on pictures rather than reading the text.
- Reading hesitantly, word by word.
- Losing their place on the page or skipping lines.
- Mispronouncing words or putting the wrong emphasis on syllables.
- Struggling to remember what they’ve just read.
- Ignoring punctuation, leading to unclear sentences.
In summary, dyslexia manifests in a variety of ways, from directional confusion and sequencing difficulties to problems with reading, writing, math, and language development. Early intervention, patience, and targeted support can help children with dyslexia overcome these challenges and achieve academic success.
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