Does your child have a learning difficulty like dyslexia?

It is clearly a well-known fact that a cognitive and or learning disability is often not easily identifiable and is taken less seriously by society at the larger level and in the immediate circle of the children considered in comparison to a Physical disability.

Considering to know, if your child has a Learning disability like Dyslexia, we must know what exactly Dyslexia is. Keep a keen eye to know it through this article, ‘Does your child have a learning difficulty like dyslexia?’

What is Dyslexia?

It is a specific learning disability is one of type from a family of neurological conditions. It is impairment in:

1. Ability to process sound

2. Make connections between written letters and sounds.

3. Decoding words (and thus reading sentences)

Dyslexia is one of several distinct learning disabilities. It is a specific language-based disorder characterized by difficulties in single-word decoding, usually reflecting insufficient phonological processing abilities. Dyslexia is manifested by variable difficulty with different forms of language, often including, in addition to problems in reading, a problem with acquiring proficiency in writing and spelling. Simply stated, dyslexia is a type of reading disorder in which the student fails to recognize and comprehend written words. Dyslexia is a severe impairment in the ability to read, despite normal intelligence, normal opportunities to read, and an adequate home environment.

According to Dyslexia Action (2017), the figure is more likely to be around 16% of the population, or 11.5 million people. Globally, Dyslexia International (2017) suggests that between 5-10% of the population experience dyslexia, which equates to around 700 million people worldwide. Specifically talking in INDIA, currently, about 10% or 30 million children are estimated to have a learning disability (2012).

The fact is, in our understanding, a child with Dyslexia (a neurological condition –impairment) is likely to influence dyscalculia and dysgraphia and affect a child’s learning at school. The central protagonist in Tare zameen par who suffers from dyslexia (Like starts on earth- A Bollywood movie), has a negative outlook on life and feels detached and isolated.

The same is the case with the boy in the serial Aadha Pura telecasted on DD National, who is in a tiff with the parent mainly the father, and feels suffocated due to the tension in school related to his inability to score, read or write. Hence, other than knowing the symptoms, the other thing essential for parents and teachers is to:

Be prompt and not delay in the identification-

Dyslexia is an Invisible Handicap, a disability that can’t be seen but really impacts the person’s ability to read and form associations with written symbols and construct meaning. The talk on how important it is to identify the issue in the early years and intervene should be part of schools' social programs.

The important role of the facilitators-

As the child is in school, it’s the facilitator who should help and supports the child with dyslexia, he/she plays important role in convincing the parents and the general public to understand that the child has special needs which need to be met in order to help them develop and live to the fullest. For this, it is essential that in preschools and primary classes itself, the teachers are cognizant of such things and further spread awareness.

Supportive role in child’s development

Parents need to play a supportive role in their child’s development and in overcoming the barriers faced by their children with disabilities. They are the first teachers at home and can teach all the required daily living and other skills to their children. They can also provide relevant information to school teachers for planning appropriate interventions for children with disabilities. The parents can act as advisors, decision-makers, and advocates for their children. They can form pressure groups so that their children can enjoy basic rights and develop up to her/his potential.