What is dyslexia? According to studies conducted by The International Dyslexia Association, fifteen to twenty per cent of children and adults in the United States may be affected by some form of dyslexia (International Dyslexia Association, 2012).
People who have dyslexia demonstrate distinct difficulty in one or more areas of language, which is usually manifested in poor reading, writing, and spelling ability.
Consequently, their language skills are often significantly lower than their peers.
Experts also suggest; that up to eighty percent of students with Individual Education Plans are receiving special services directly connected to reading difficulties.
Despite these alarming statistics, many misconceptions about dyslexia continue to exist.
For instance, some people think being dyslexic is simply a matter of reversing letters in the alphabet.
Symptoms of dyslexia are much more complex than flipping letters.
Another common misconception is that people with dyslexia are not as intelligent as other people.
The truth is, people with dyslexia are typically very talented in other areas and possess normal to above normal intelligence.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke has concluded that dyslexia is a neurologically- based language disorder.
It deeply affects a person's ability to acquire and implement literacy skills.
Currently there is no cure for dyslexia; and as a result, it is considered a permanent condition.
However, with systematic, explicit intervention many dyslexics go on to gain the skills necessary to become good readers.
The earlier a person is identified with a reading disorder, the better chance they have to master the skills required to become a good reader.
How is a Diagnosis of Dyslexia Confirmed? The only way that a diagnosis of dyslexia can be confirmed is through the administration of a comprehensive, diagnostic evaluation.
An assessment to measure your child's intelligence will also be given to establish normal, or above normal intelligence.
Once the test has been administered, the results of these evaluations must then be carefully analyzed by a knowledgeable professional.
That professional should be specifically trained to interpret assessment data.
If you suspect that your child has dyslexia, please seek the guidance of a teacher, or school reading specialist as soon as possible.
Once you have attended an initial meeting with the teacher, continue to carefully monitor your child's progress.
If you still feel your child is not receiving appropriate instruction, request a second meeting.
However, at that time ask that the teacher, reading specialist and principal also attend the meeting.
Under federal law parents may request a free formal evaluation from the school in order to better assess their child's educational abilities.
What Happens Once a Diagnosis of Dyslexia is Confirmed? After the preliminary educational evaluation is conducted; you should be provided with a written copy of the results.
You will also be invited to attend another meeting with school staff.
At this meeting the test results will be explained and you will have an opportunity to ask questions.
It is important to ask for clarification of any information contained in the report which you may be unsure of, or may be confusing.
This report can be a valuable tool when making any future decisions regarding ongoing educational plans.
If your child does receive a diagnosis of dyslexia, do not despair.
The calmer you remain, the easier it will be for your child to accept the diagnosis.
There are several options available to get additional reading assistance for the newly diagnosed dyslexic.
If you decide to accept the school's help, the student will generally receive between forty to one hundred twenty minutes per week of additional reading intervention.
There are also independent organizations and some hospitals that train highly qualified individuals to provide services to dyslexic children and adults.
Typically these specialists meet with students three to four days a week.
These individual sessions range from one hour to ninety minutes.
Unfortunately, there is generally a cost involved for these programs.
No matter what option you choose, It's in Your Hand! is an effective tool to use in conjunction with other reading intervention programs.
References National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
2013.
NINDS Dyslexia Information Page.
National Institutes of Health.
Retrieved from: http://www.
ninds.
nih.
gov The International Dyslexia Association.
2012.
Information and resources for adolescents and adults with dyslexia-It's never too late.