Dyslexia

By Elizabeth Henke

Decoding Dyslexia

What is it?

Dyslexia is neurological differences in the brain that affects the ability to decode and make sense of the written language. 10-15 % of the population is dyslexic Dyslexia is a genetic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKekE10b82s

People with Dyslexia tend to rely more on the right side of the brain vs. the left.

• Most students are diagnosed with dyslexia after the 3rd grade. The sooner the student is diagnosed the better the chances are for the student to succeed.

Common Myths

• Despite popular belief, most dyslexics do not see letters backwards. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1O7pJaWrphM

• “Recency Effect.” In which words are pronounce using the most recent sound first, for example the word PATIO could be pronounced Tapio “tap” for “pat.”

• Dyslexia is not an impairment of the visual processing system. It is a language processing difference.

• Children do not grow out of Dyslexia

Myths Continued

• People who are dyslexic have lower intelligence.

This is a common misunderstanding due to the fact that dyslexic people have difficulty reading and writing. In fact 50% of NASA employees are dyslexic.

• Students that are dyslexic are lazy, don’t care and have a lot of behavioral problems.

Failing over and over and over again takes a toll. Trying to make the words stop moving and come into focus is exhausting. This can lead a student to act out in class.

Comparison

• 67% graduate vs. 74% in in the general population.• 20% drop out vs. 8% in the general population.• 10% are enrolled in a four-year college within two

years of leaving school vs. 28% in the general population.

• Most LD students are NOT encouraged to go to college. Please don’t count these students out! I’m living proof that we can not only go to college but also excel.

80% of All LD Students are Dyslexic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehNo3PsRWbQ&list=PLf90qchDcoEISBTc7zdM_YYM63dYIe-A5

Learning Difference NOT Disability

What Can You Do?

• Be aware of the Font you useElegant Font =Bad Calibri =Good

• Technology is your friend USE IT!e-reader, YouTube, spell check, class websites for homework

• Be organizedA cluttered white board can be very hard to read

The Most Important Rule

Do Not Make Your Student Read Aloud!!!

Under no circumstance should your dyslexic student have to read aloud.

That is the biggest mistake you can make with your LD students.

Bibligrophy• Galaburda, A. M. and Kemper, T. L. (1979), Cytoarchitectonic abnormalities in

developmental dyslexia: A case study. Ann Neurol., 6: 94–100. doi: 10.1002/ana.410060203 viewed at onlinelibrary.wiley.com 3-25-14

• http://www.austinlearningsolutions.com/blog/38-dyslexia-facts-and-statistics.html

• Angela, 50 Interesting Facts about Dyslexia, readinghorizons.com Posted on December 30th, 2011

• www.ncld.org viewed on 3-28-14

• Embracing Dyslexia Documentary on YouTube

• HBO Documentary Journey into Dyslexia