My child has dyslexia, what can I do?
Dyslexia is a specific
learning difficulty and a lifelong condition which is present in approximately
5-10 % of the population (Al-Shidhani
& Arora, 2012). The DSM – V (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders) defines dyslexia as a neurodevelopmental disorder which affects one’s
use of academic skills such as reading and writing, and makes it more
challenging for a person to learn as quickly and efficiently as others
(American Psychiatric Association, 2013).
Signs of dyslexia may start appearing in the early developing years of the
child, especially once the child starts school. The requirements of academic
education will make these symptoms more evident as the student is required to
read, write and keep up with academic studies. Children with dyslexia may have
average or above average intelligence, however symptoms of dyslexia may start
to develop that impede with their learning (Al-Shidhani & Arora, 2012).
As a parent, learning that your child has been diagnosed with dyslexia might
come as a shock, and you might be thinking of what this means for the future of
your child. Symptoms of dyslexia are various, such as confusing letters in
words, being slow to read and write, writing letters backwards and having
spelling that is poor and messy. Dyslexic children find it hard to understand
written information, and they may struggle with organisation and planning and
as a result, be disorganized in their work (“Dyslexia”, 2019).
Usually, children with dyslexia show strengths in other areas, such as having
very good visualisation skills, problem solving skills, and excelling in
creativity (“9 Strengths of
Dyslexia – Nessy UK”, 2019).
So what can you do as a parent to support your dyslexic child? Here are a few
ways you can help your child cope with this learning difficulty:
1. Acceptance: Accepting the fact
that your child has been diagnosed with dyslexia is the first step in being
able to be fully supportive. As a parent, it is important to be as
well-informed about the condition as possible, and to seek help by speaking to
professionals.
2. Be aware of signs of emotional
distress: A dyslexic child may become
frustrated and angry when they see that they are struggling. They may also struggle with low self-esteem. Help
the child understand that they are able to succeed, even if it might not always
be in the same way as their friends. This is done by finding their strengths,
and using their strengths to help them learn.
3. Praise and support: When your child
succeeds, offer praise and acknowledge their success. This helps to boost their
self-esteem and their confidence, and helps them realise that they can succeed
in what they want to achieve and be supported throughout.
4. Do not compare: Do not compare a
dyslexic child to their non-dyslexic siblings or peers. Such criticism will
result in frustration and feelings of unworthiness.
5. Control your anger: Don’t get
angry if your child is being unorganised or forgetful. Instead, help them find
ways to become more organised.
6. Communicate with the teacher:
Keep the communication going with your child’s teacher at school. This will
help you monitor their academic improvement, and know which subjects or areas
are proving to be the most difficult. Together, you can also work on new
strategies that may help the child learn more efficiently.
References:
Al-Shidhani, T., & Arora, V. (2012). Understanding Dyslexia in Children Through Human Development Theories. Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, 12(3), 286-294. doi: 10.12816/0003141
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596
Dyslexia. (2019). Retrieved 24 October 2019, from https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dyslexia/
9 Strengths of Dyslexia – Nessy UK. (2019). Retrieved 24 October 2019, from https://www.nessy.com/uk/parents/dyslexia-information/9-strengths-dyslexia/
