What Are the Most Effective Treatments for Dyslexia?

You can help your child who has dyslexia read and write better by choosing from among several treatments. Kids who participate in these activities are better able to keep up with their schoolmates.

Children have superior success rates with treatment when they begin earlier in life. The good news is that with the correct support, adults who have dyslexia can keep developing their abilities throughout their lives.

Treatments for dyslexia differ from one person to another. Specialists will work with your child to create a plan tailored to his specific needs.

What Is Dyslexia?

More over 10% of the population has dyslexia, making it much more widespread than previously believed. Reading, writing, and easy decoding of words or symbols are all made more challenging by dyslexia, a neurological disorder that disrupts the learning process.

People who are dyslexic pay close attention to how each letter sounds while they read, and they may struggle with the pronunciation of unfamiliar words. The stress of this activity breaks down their working memory, reducing their brain's capacity to devote its attention to more complex tasks like reading comprehension.

Multiple studies have shown a deficiency in neural connections involved in language processing as the root cause of dyslexia. Dyslexics have problems seeing words because of a breakdown in communication between the parts of their brains that are responsible for language and phonetic processing.

Because of the possibility of a genetic component to dyslexia, it is not uncommon for multiple members of a single family to struggle with reading and writing. Dyslexia can affect both sexes of typically intelligent children and adults, and it typically manifests only in reading and does not impact a person's vocabulary or other cognitive abilities. People with dyslexia tend to be highly perceptive, intelligent, and creative.

Although the effects of dyslexia on a person's development, sense of self-worth, and sense of frustration may vary depending on the type of dyslexia a person has, it is crucial to recognise and treat dyslexia as early as feasible. 

Characteristics of Dyslexia

Different children with dyslexia may experience varying degrees of difficulty with reading, and there is no single set of symptoms that characterises the disorder. This disorder's symptoms are difficult to predict, and they might shift even within a single day and develop in various ways in different children. If you're looking for a grammar school that fosters critical thinking, strong character, and a lifelong love of learning, click here.

Dyslexia can be identified by the following traits:

• Issues with executive functions: These are the complex cognitive abilities responsible for task planning and task breakdown. Task analysis and requirements gathering would be the first phase in this process, followed by organising the workload, establishing targets, evaluating the results, making any necessary adjustments, etc. One of the most prevalent symptoms of dyslexia is a delay in the development of executive functioning skills. Consequently, children with dyslexia may find it difficult to complete tasks that call for advanced planning, such as tidying their rooms or completing their schoolwork.
• Problems with learning and communicating, such as not being able to follow rapid instructions, get the humour in idioms like "out of the blue," which suggests something happened that was unexpected, or use idioms effectively. Incapacity to acquire and properly articulate novel vocabulary. Having trouble expressing oneself verbally.
• Difficulty reading is caused by difficulties deciphering and remembering any linguistic codes or symbols. Dyslexic children have difficulty processing and interpreting what they read, and they frequently mistake the pronunciation of words. That's why they tend to have a disinterest in reading.
• Difficulty with spelling is a common issue for dyslexic youngsters since they have trouble learning new words and putting them into practise. They struggle to put their thoughts down on paper. They may grasp the material being presented, but they still struggle to jot down notes. The way they hold a pencil is different from the norm, which causes their writing to be shaky, illegible, and then either too big or too little.
• Challenges with Moving Around and Finding Your Way: Challenges in telling right from wrong, up from down, inside from out, etc. Perhaps a slur is to blame for this issue. They seem clumsier and more easily disoriented than other kids their age. Coordination-based activities like cycling and team sports like football are typically beyond their skill level.
• Time estimate distortion causes trouble keeping track of the day and is a source of general confusion.
• Problems with arithmetic arise because they have trouble recognising symbols, and many arithmetic operations (adding, subtracting, multiplying, etc.) rely on symbols. Dyslexic kids also have a hard time memorising their times tables.
• Children with dyslexia may have difficulty expressing themselves socially and emotionally, leading to behaviours such as acting out in class or remaining withdrawn. Either they are wildly disorganised or obsessively neat. As a result, we observe both situations of defiance and intolerance, as well as cases of submission.

Given that the symptoms of dyslexia can vary from kid to child, it's crucial to stay in touch with a child's educators as reading becomes more central to the classroom curriculum.

What Causes Dyslexia?

People with dyslexia appear to have distinct brain characteristics, although the origins of dyslexia remain unknown.

According to research, those who suffer from dyslexia may have atypicalities in the corpus callosum, the part of the brain that connects the left and right sides. Dyslexics may also have differences in the left hemisphere of the brain. However, conclusive proof that these variations trigger dyslexia is lacking.

Scientists have linked various genes to these psychiatric deviations. So, they have to conclude that dyslexia probably has some sort of hereditary foundation.

Furthermore, it seems to be hereditary. Researchers have found that parents who also have dyslexia are more likely to produce children who also have the disorder. Additionally, these biological characteristics may cause changes in the surrounding ecosystem.

Some parents with dyslexia, for instance, might not read aloud to their kids as much as other parents.

How Is Dyslexia Diagnosed?

A thorough evaluation is required to make a dyslexia diagnosis for your youngster. Educative evaluation will be the focus here. Tests of the eyes, ears, and nervous system could also be a part of the evaluation. Additionally, it may enquire about your family's literacy background and your home's literacy practises.

The government of Australia provides educational support for kids who have special needs. Sometimes it can take weeks to schedule and get a comprehensive diagnosis for dyslexia, so in the meantime, parents and educators may decide to start supplemental reading education.

When looking at the cognitive side of things, cases of dyslexia tend to show the same deteriorating pattern in skills like memory function. Reaction speed, processing speed, and executive function are still commonly affected. Dyslexia can be a symptom of low levels in any of these cognitive skills.

Often, it is difficult to determine whether we have this learning disability. CogniFit's validated neuropsychological assessment, on the other hand, allows us to gauge not only our operative and working memory capacities, but also a wide range of other cognitive abilities that are strongly correlated with dyslexia, including our auditory short-term memory, naming, photographic perception, divided attention, concentrate, planning, and processing speed.

It's possible that dyslexia isn't the correct diagnosis if your youngster improves quickly with supplementary teaching.

If your child is not reading at grade level or if you observe the other symptoms of dyslexic, particularly if you have a family history with reading challenges, you may want to take them to a doctor to discuss a comprehensive evaluation, but most of the screening is done in school.

Treatment

The youngster must be diagnosed with dyslexia before any treatment can begin. This is difficult because schools typically lack the resources necessary to identify dyslexia. If they do, they may not be equipped to deal with the issue, thus the child may need to transfer to a more suitable school if one is in the area. Typically, it's the parents who have to shoulder the responsibility. They need to be alert, watchful, and quick to diagnose the condition. They will then need to take appropriate measures. If treatment can begin sooner rather than later, the kid will have a higher chance of overcoming the disorder and avoiding the frustration and feelings of failure they may experience on a daily basis in a school setting.

Dyslexia is a permanent problem because there is now no treatment for the underlying brain disorder that causes it. However, success rates can be increased with early detection and assessment of needs and appropriate treatment. This is something that will plague you forever. Avoid wasting time by avoiding beginning treatment for the condition until severe symptoms have developed. Early diagnosis is the key to treating dyslexia successfully.

Dyslexia Treatment: Method

Reading instruction based on the Orton Gillingham (OG) method, created in the 1930s by Samuel Torrey Orton and Anna Gillingham, is widely regarded as the most effective way for treating dyslexia. It relies on the following steps in the process:

Personalised:

Realising that students have varying requirements is the first step towards effective teaching.

Multisensory:

Multisensory processing involves the utilisation of one's hearing, eyes, and hands all at once (touch). A dyslexic student may be instructed to simultaneously view the letter A, utter its name and sound, and form the letter in the air. There is speculation that incorporating many senses into the learning process can improve both retention and recall. The use of several senses is not limited to language arts.

Structured, Systematic, Sequential, and Cumulative: 

The elements and norms of the language are introduced in an order that makes sense linguistically. To build a strong groundwork for the future, students revisit elementary language skills.

To learn to read and write, you must first learn to read and write individual sounds (phonemes), and then you must learn to combine phonemes to create syllables and words. The consonants, vowels, digraph blends, and vowel sounds of a language are introduced sequentially. Learners don't go on to more complex structural components like syllable kinds, roots, prefixes, and suffixes until much later.

Cognitive: 

Language structure is studied in detail, including the various underlying assumptions and norms.

Flexible:  

Teachers check that their students aren't just copying answers from a book. When a rule's ambiguity becomes apparent, it's taught again from scratch.

Personal and Direct: 

Developing a trusting relationship between instructor and student by providing frequent feedback and praising accomplishments that builds competence and self-assurance.

Educational Techniques

Learning disabilities, such as dyslexia, can be remedied through a variety of instructional strategies, but the earlier diagnosis and treatment can begin, the better. Teachers can tailor their lesson plans to your child's individual needs with the help of psychological testing.

The ability to read can be honed through the use of auditory, visual, and tactile strategies. A child's ability to retain knowledge increases when it is presented to him or her in a variety of formats (for instance, the youngster can listen to a recorded lesson while simultaneously following the outline of the letters and the words being said).

The goals of treatment are to aid your child in:

• Acquire an ear for and comfort with the individual phonemes that compose words (phonemes)
• Realise that these sounds and words are represented by letters and letter combinations (phonics)
• Read with understanding and knowledge
• By practising out loud, you can improve your reading fluency, pronunciation, and vocabulary (fluency)
• Compile a list of words that you know are known and understood by others.

Many kids who struggle with dyslexia benefit from working with a reading tutor. Tutoring sessions for a child with a severe reading impairment may need to be more frequently scheduled, and the child's improvement may be slower. 

Individual education plan

Schools must accommodate students with dyslexia in order to meet their legal requirements. Set up a meeting with your child's teacher to prepare a written plan that details your child's needs and how the school will assist him or her in achieving those needs. That's what we mean by "IEP," or "Individualised Learning Plan" (IEP).

Early treatment

If a child with dyslexia receives supplemental reading instruction in preschool or first grade, they often make sufficient progress in reading to be successful in later grades and in high school.

Later-helping children may have a harder time acquiring the reading skills necessary for success. There's a good chance they'll fall behind in school and never catch up. It's possible that a child with severe dyslexia will never find reading simple, but with help, he or she can acquire better reading abilities and discover ways to boost academic achievement and overall happiness.

What parents can do

As a parent, you have a significant impact on your child's development and future success. Get started by doing the following:

• Take care of the issue right away. Consult your child's physician if you have concerns about dyslexia. Success rates can be raised with early intervention.
• Have your child listen to you read. If possible, start while the baby is only a few months old. If you want to bond with your kid while also teaching them, try listening to books together. You can then read them to the child if he or she is ready after hearing the story first. 
• Engage the school your kid attends. Discuss your child's academic needs with the classroom teacher. When it comes to fighting for your kid, nobody can do it better than you can.
• The use of reading time should be promoted. Regular reading practise is the best way for a youngster to develop strong reading skills. Pitch in and get your kid to read.
• Demonstrate the value of reading by doing so yourself. Setting an example by reading alongside your child daily sends a positive message and shows your support. Demonstrate to your kid that reading is fun.