Research studies suggest that as large as 9 per cent of school aged children in the United States alone are suffering from Dyslexia. Some researchers have suggested even 17 per cent. It is understood that problem could be much larger in Europe and non-European countries. It is reported that in countries like the US, Canada, New Zealand and UK, there is lack of proper support and interest in learning disabilities of children in public schools. And in most of the countries, children are struggling with phonics and developmental disorders.
Dyslexia is a neurological or brain based condition. With this condition, there is supposed to be poor communication between the left and right brain hemispheres. It is a specific learning disability whereby elementary school children have reading, writing and spelling difficulties.
The word “Dyslexia†is composed of two Greek words – “Dys†meaning impaired and “lexis†meaning word. Children suffering from dyslexia are called dyslexic or dyslectic. A dyslexia child is not able to develop reading and writing skills despite normal teaching and sociological environment. Dyslexia is supposed to be both genetic and hereditary.
It is generally believed that dyslectic children are not in any way less intelligent or suffering from sensory problems like poor eyesight, though in some cases they have poor vision also. They could be having all the intellectual and physical abilities, but still be dyslectic. They are motivated, but they are not able to develop enough reading and writing skills as their other classmates.
Though dyslexia affects primarily reading and writing skills, they are also reported to be having speaking and other non-language difficulties. Boys are supposed to be more dyslectic than girls. Dyslexia can range from mild to severe conditions. Some experts are of the view that the term dyslexia should be applied more to children with acute learning problems of about 5 per cent of all dyslectic cases, and “Reading Disorder†or “Reading Disability†should generally be applied to most of the other cases.
While understanding dyslexia, it may, however, be noted that poor reading skills are not solely because of dyslexia. These could also be the result of poor teaching methods.
Dyslexia Symptoms
Dyslectic children can be spotted early. While still in their First, Second or Third grades, they may demonstrate speaking difficulties and mixed up sounds and pronunciations. They may not speak letters like R’s, L’s, M’s or N’s properly. In short they lack in speech. They may wrongly pronounce words like “red and green†as “wed and green†and the like. They could also be having listening problems.
