Dyslexia

Dyslexia is classified as a learning disorder that involving difficulty reading and writing. It is also known as a language processing disorder, so it can impact all forms of language, spoken or written. Issues with decoding or translating speech sounds and their relation to letters and words. Dyslexia impacts the areas of the brain that process language. People with dyslexia typically have a normal intelligence and normal eyesight.

Most struggling with dyslexia can succeed in school with tutoring and additional resources through school to adapt to the difficulties. Emotional support throughout schooling is important to increase confidence and understand life with this learning disorder. There is no cure for dyslexia, like most psychological disorders. Early assessment and intervention can help to assist in receiving additional services in school, having increased emotional support, and leading someone down the path to success.

Children who have dyslexia have an increased risk of having attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and vice versa. ADHD is characterized by difficulty sustaining attention, hyperactivity, and impulsive behavior, leading to dyslexia being more challenging to treat.

What are the signs of dyslexia?

Signs of dyslexia can be difficult to recognize before a child enters school, but there are early clues that can point towards a problem. Once a child reaches school age, teachers are often the first to recognize a problem with reading and writing. Recognition of dyslexia will vary depending on severity but is best recognized in reading.

Symptoms of dyslexia before school age may include: delayed speech, learning new words slower, problems forming words correctly, reversing sounds in words or words that sound similar, difficulty naming letters and numbers, or difficulty learning nursery rhymes.

Symptoms of dyslexia seen in school-aged children may include: reading below grade level, trouble hearing what others say and processing the information, problems finding the right words or answer questions, difficulty remembering the sequencing of words/numbers/letters, difficulty differentiating letters and words that are similar, inability to sound out words that are unfamiliar, difficulties with spelling, and spending abnormally long amounts of time (or avoiding) to complete tasks that involve reading or writing.

Symptoms of dyslexia are similarly seen from older children to adults, but may also include: difficulties reading (aloud or internally), slowness and difficulties with reading and writing, problems with spelling, avoiding reading activities, mispronouncing words or retrieving words, not understanding jokes or idioms, problems with comprehending stories, difficulties with learning different languages, trouble memorizing, and difficulties with math problems.

Most children begin learning to read in kindergarten or first grade, yet children with dyslexia typically struggle to learn the necessary skills by this time. When dyslexia is undiagnosed, reading difficulties in childhood will continue into adulthood untreated. Dyslexia often is seen throughout families and is seen to be linked to genes that affect how the brain processes reading and language.

Undiagnosed dyslexia can lead to several problems, like learning troubles, social problems, ongoing issues into adulthood, and emotional impacts. Reading is a basic skill needed for school subjects, and with dyslexia as a disadvantage, those diagnosed may have difficulties keeping up with peers. Social problems are often related to emotional impacts of falling behind peers in school. Dyslexia can lead to low self-esteem, anxiety, behavior problems, and withdrawing from friends and loved ones. Trouble reading can carry ongoing issues into adulthood that can have long-term impacts on education, social life, and economic stability.

Dyslexia Test / How to Test for Dyslexia

Dyslexia is a learning disorder that causes problems for patients with decoding or translating speech sounds, reading, writing, and processing language. A Dyslexia Test/How to test for dyslexia involves word decoding, phonological awareness tasks, and reading fluency and comprehension tasks. These assessments are performed by a clinical neuropsychologist. During the evaluation, the neuropsychologist will rule out alternative explanations for the reading and writing difficulties of the patient to ensure proper diagnosis.

How to Diagnose Dyslexia

A neuropsychological evaluation is how to diagnose dyslexia. Neuropsychologists know how to diagnose dyslexia through the use of word decoding, phonological awareness, and reading fluency and comprehension tasks. If dyslexia goes undetected without proper diagnosis and treatment, things like learning, social interaction, and emotion regulation will become negatively impacted.

Dyslexia Test for Kids

Signs of dyslexia can be difficult to recognize prior to a child entering their school years. However, attending to early signs and clues will indicate when to get a dyslexia test for kids administered by a clinical neuropsychologist. Once in school, the symptoms of dyslexia in school-aged children may include reading below grade level, having trouble processing information, finding it difficult to remember a sequence of things, or even having problems finding the right word or answer.

Dyslexia Test for Teenagers

Signs of dyslexia in teenagers may include difficulty reading (out load or internally), slow reading and writing speeds, problems with spelling, mispronouncing or retrieving words, and difficulty memorizing things. When these signs begin to appear, it is important to visit a clinical neuropsychologist who can administer a dyslexia test for teenagers. Undiagnosed dyslexia can cause a myriad of problems at school, in future jobs, and in social interactions with family and friends.

What is the treatment for dyslexia?

Dyslexia impacts each person differently, but with therapy, individualized education plans, and various approaches to ease the difficulties in daily tasks. Receiving an accurate diagnosis early in life can mean important support in education that can have lifelong benefits. Diagnoses and treatment include an evaluation of individual needs, implementing adapted learning tools, ongoing guidance, therapeutic support, and regular evaluations throughout life to continue to support each individual’s needs.

Interested in a dyslexia test? Our neuropsychologists can discuss how to obtain an individualized classroom education plan for your child to get specific accommodations at school as a means to maximize your child’s ability to benefit from education and demonstrate his/her skill set. Thomson’s cognitive rehabilitation therapists can partner with you and/or your child to teach academic strategies (e.g., organization, memory). Our therapists are skilled in addressing the impact of dyslexia on both your and your child’s psychological health so that feelings of frustration, depression, or anxious worry do not worsen. We are ready to provide you referrals to outside providers who may help facilitate your or your child’s academic and work performance.