Understanding Dyslexia
4th October 2024
Dyslexia is a common neurodevelopmental condition that primarily affects reading, writing, and spelling skills. In the UK, it is estimated that around 10% of the population has some form of dyslexia, with 4% experiencing severe difficulties (British Dyslexia Association, 2023).
Early Signs of Dyslexia
The early signs of dyslexia can vary from person to person, but certain indicators may become apparent as children start to develop literacy skills. According to the British Dyslexia Association (BDA), some common early signs include:
- Delays in speech development: Children may take longer to learn to speak, or they may struggle with pronouncing words and mixing up sounds.
- Difficulty recognising letters and sounds: A child with dyslexia may find it hard to match sounds with corresponding letters.
- Trouble remembering sequences: Difficulty with tasks such as learning the alphabet, days of the week, or following multi-step instructions.
- Phonological awareness: This refers to the ability to recognise and work with the sounds of spoken language, an essential foundation for reading.
These signs may become more apparent when a child starts school, but dyslexia can often go unnoticed if other learning challenges mask the symptoms.
Diagnosis
In the UK, diagnosing dyslexia typically involves a specialist assessment carried out by an experienced clinician, such as an educational psychologist or a dyslexia specialist practitioner. The process usually involves a series of standardised tests that evaluate reading, writing, memory, and phonological skills. The BDA emphasises that an early diagnosis is crucial, as it allows young people to receive appropriate support and accommodations for their learning.
Parents who suspect their child might have dyslexia can approach their school for an initial assessment. Under the Children and Families Act 2014, schools are required to identify and support pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), which includes dyslexia. If further support is needed, parents can seek an Educational Health Care Plan (EHCP), which provides legal backing for the young person’s learning needs.
Dyslexia in adults
Dyslexia in adults often remains undiagnosed due to the historical focus on childhood identification. However, dyslexia can continue to affect individuals throughout their lives, particularly in areas such as literacy, memory, and organisational skills. Many adults may have developed compensatory strategies, which can mask their difficulties, yet dyslexia can still present challenges in higher education and the workplace.
Dyslexia in adulthood can also impact self-esteem, particularly when difficulties with reading or writing are misconstrued as lack of intelligence or motivation (Snowling, 2019). Studies emphasise the importance of adult assessments and tailored interventions to support these individuals in both academic and professional contexts (Wagner et al., 2020).
Support Strategies
- Specialist Teaching: Dyslexia specialists can provide structured literacy interventions, such as phonics-based programs. These help improve decoding skills by breaking down words into their constituent sounds (Snowling, 2013).
- Assistive Technology: Tools like text-to-speech software, audiobooks, and speech recognition can help dyslexic people overcome barriers to reading and writing. Tools such as text-to-speech software, like Read&Write or Dragon can help process written information more efficiently and reduce the cognitive load involved in reading and writing
- Accommodations in the Classroom: Teachers can provide additional time for reading and writing tasks, use multi-sensory teaching methods, and present information in a variety of formats. Research has shown that such accommodations can reduce the pressure on students with dyslexia, improving both learning outcomes and self-esteem (Reid, 2016).
- Parental Support and Home Strategies: Parents can play an important role in supporting children with dyslexia by reading with them regularly, practising phonics exercises, and using educational games.
References
- British Dyslexia Association. (2023). What is Dyslexia? Retrieved from https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk
- Reid, G. (2016). Dyslexia: A Practitioner's Handbook. Wiley Blackwell.
- Snowling, M. J. (2013). Dyslexia: A Language Learning Impairment. Journal of British Psychological Society, 104(4), 847-860.
- Snowling, M. J. (2019). Dyslexia: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press.
- Wagner, R. K., et al. (2020). Dyslexia Prevalence: Insights from a Longitudinal Perspective. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 53(3), 159-172.