DyslexiaDyslexiaBy Alyssa HuckleberryBy Alyssa Huckleberry

What is it?What is it?

• Dyslexia is a learning disability that hinders Dyslexia is a learning disability that hinders a person’s a person’s ability to read, write, spell, and ability to read, write, spell, and sometimes speaksometimes speak

• Dyslexia is an impairment in the brain’s Dyslexia is an impairment in the brain’s ability to translate images received from the ability to translate images received from the eyes and ears into understandable languageeyes and ears into understandable language

Nemours (2010)

Signs a Student May be DyslexicSigns a Student May be Dyslexic

• StutteringStuttering• Has trouble tying shoesHas trouble tying shoes• Is late to establish a dominant handIs late to establish a dominant hand• Cannot pinpoint words that rhymeCannot pinpoint words that rhyme• Is easily confused by directionsIs easily confused by directions

– Cannot tell right from left, over from under, etc.Cannot tell right from left, over from under, etc.

• Mixes up wordsMixes up words– ““Aminal” instead of animalAminal” instead of animal

• Has trouble writing the alphabet in orderHas trouble writing the alphabet in order

Bright Solutions for Dyslexia, Inc. (1998)

Three types of DyslexiaThree types of Dyslexia

• Visual DyslexiaVisual Dyslexia

• Auditory DyslexiaAuditory Dyslexia

• DysgraphiaDysgraphia

MedicineNet.com (2010)

Visual DyslexiaVisual Dyslexia

• Numbers and letters are reversedNumbers and letters are reversed

• Symbols are not written in the correct sequenceSymbols are not written in the correct sequence

• Most common learning disability in childrenMost common learning disability in children

Auditory DyslexiaAuditory Dyslexia

• Student has difficulty processing soundsStudent has difficulty processing sounds

• Student has trouble sounding out letters or Student has trouble sounding out letters or groups of lettersgroups of letters

DysgraphiaDysgraphia

• Student has difficulty Student has difficulty

holding/controlling a holding/controlling a

pencil pencil

• Student struggles Student struggles

with fine motor skillswith fine motor skills

Three Sources of DyslexiaThree Sources of Dyslexia

• Trauma dyslexiaTrauma dyslexia

• Primary dyslexiaPrimary dyslexia

• Secondary/Developmental dyslexiaSecondary/Developmental dyslexia

Davis Dyslexia Association International (2010)

Trauma DyslexiaTrauma Dyslexia

• Occurs as a result of brain trauma or injury Occurs as a result of brain trauma or injury to the brainto the brain

• Permanent dyslexiaPermanent dyslexia

• Least common form of dyslexiaLeast common form of dyslexia

Primary DyslexiaPrimary Dyslexia

• Malfunction in the cerebral cortex Malfunction in the cerebral cortex – left side of the brainleft side of the brain

• Even as adults, these individuals cannot Even as adults, these individuals cannot read above a 4read above a 4thth grade level grade level

• Genetic/hereditary form of dyslexiaGenetic/hereditary form of dyslexia

• More commonly found in boys than girlsMore commonly found in boys than girls

Secondary/Developmental DyslexiaSecondary/Developmental Dyslexia

• Result of abnormal hormonal development Result of abnormal hormonal development during the early development of the fetusduring the early development of the fetus

• Diminishes as the child maturesDiminishes as the child matures– With practice, this form of dyslexia can be mastered completelyWith practice, this form of dyslexia can be mastered completely

• More commonly found in boys than girlsMore commonly found in boys than girls

Benefits of DyslexiaBenefits of Dyslexia(Because God is amazing and there is always reason to celebrate!)(Because God is amazing and there is always reason to celebrate!)

• Dyslexic individuals are more intuitive and creative Dyslexic individuals are more intuitive and creative than the average individualthan the average individual

• Dyslexic students excel at hands-on learningDyslexic students excel at hands-on learning

• Dyslexic students think in picturesDyslexic students think in pictures

• Dyslexic students are visual, multi-dimensional Dyslexic students are visual, multi-dimensional thinkersthinkers

Davis Dyslexia Association International (2010)

Teaching Dyslexic StudentsTeaching Dyslexic Students

• Use a Use a multi-sensorymulti-sensory approach to teaching: have approach to teaching: have the student hear, see, say, and then do something the student hear, see, say, and then do something related to the lessonrelated to the lesson

• Use flash cardsUse flash cards• Teach students to think about the way the mouth Teach students to think about the way the mouth

needs to move to make soundsneeds to move to make sounds• Tape classroom lessons and homework Tape classroom lessons and homework

assignments for the studentassignments for the student• Give the student extra time on testsGive the student extra time on tests

Dyslexia Teacher (2010)

ReferencesReferences

• Nemours. “Dyslexia.” 2010. Nemours. “Dyslexia.” 2010. http://kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/learning_problem/dyslexia.htmlhttp://kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/learning_problem/dyslexia.html

• Davis Dyslexia Association International. “Dyslexia the Gift.” 09 July 2010. Davis Dyslexia Association International. “Dyslexia the Gift.” 09 July 2010. http://www.dyslexia.com/http://www.dyslexia.com/

• MedicineNet.com “Dyslexia.” 2010. MedicineNet.com “Dyslexia.” 2010. http://www.medicinenet.com/dyslexia/article.htmhttp://www.medicinenet.com/dyslexia/article.htm

• Dyslexia Teacher. “Teaching Methods for Dyslexic Children.” 2010. Dyslexia Teacher. “Teaching Methods for Dyslexic Children.” 2010. http://www.dyslexia-teacher.com/t6.htmlhttp://www.dyslexia-teacher.com/t6.html

• Bright Solutions for Dyslexia, Inc. “Summary of Warning Signs.” 1998. Bright Solutions for Dyslexia, Inc. “Summary of Warning Signs.” 1998. http://www.dys-add.com/symptoms.html#sumhttp://www.dys-add.com/symptoms.html#sum