According to an article by WebMd on the 22nd of March, 2021, Dyslexia is a learning disorder that affects your ability to read, spell, write, and speak.
Dyslexia tends to run in families and appears to be linked to certain genes that affect how the brain processes reading and language, as well as risk factors in the environment which can be quite difficult to recognize especially at an early age. So I’d be sharing with you four signs/symptoms to know you’re Dyslexic for both adults and children.
1. Learning to speak: A child with dyslexia may take longer to learn how to speak. They may also mispronounce words, find rhyming challenging, and appear not to distinguish between different word sounds. You will also tend to notice signs if they can be easily distracted by sounds and have difficulty putting thoughts into words; even speaking in halting phrases; leaving sentences incomplete; stuttering under stress; mispronouncing long words.
2. Learning to read and write: This difficulty can present as early as in preschool which can grow into adulthood if not noticed on time. A child may find it difficult to match letters to sounds, and they may have trouble recognizing the sounds in words. And for writing on paper, a person or a child with dyslexia may reverse numbers and letters without realizing it. For example, they may learn to spell a word and completely forget the next day. They also find trouble with writing or copying; holding a pencil or a pen can be a bit unusual and difficult. Complains of dizziness, headaches or stomach aches while reading and being confused by letters, numbers, words, or verbal explanations.
3. Coordination and Concentration: A person with dyslexia may be less coordinated than their peers. For example, catching a ball may be difficult, and they may confuse left and right. Also,People with dyslexia often find it hard to concentrate. This may be because, after a few minutes of struggling to read or write, they feel mentally exhausted. A child may not be able to remember content, even if it involves a favorite video or storybook.
4. Processing sounds and sets of data: If a word has more than two syllables, processing the sounds can become much more challenging for a person with dyslexia. For example, in the word “unfortunately,” a person with dyslexia may be able to process the sounds “un” and “ly,” but not those in between. People with dyslexia may take longer to learn the letters of the alphabet and how to pronounce them. They may also have trouble remembering the days of the week, months of the year, colors, and some arithmetic tables.
What you should do as a parent or caregivers if you suspect a child has the signs and symptoms of dyslexia is first to consult your pediatrician if you are concerned about your child’s development. Additionally, there are foundations like DYSLEXIA FOUNDATION IN NIGERIA that dedicates their time to help children even adults with dyslexia. Also, meeting with your child’s teachers is an important step toward getting more answers and have more knowledge of dyslexia.
