Dyslexia Awareness

- Rtn. Mohanakannan P.

What is dyslexia?

The word 'dyslexia' is originally Greek and means 'difficulty with words'. Dyslexia or Learning Difficulty or LD is a congenital and developmental condition that causes neurological anomalies in the brain.

It includes a range of types of learning difficulties where a person of normal intelligence has persistent and significant problems with reading, writing, spelling and sometimes mathematics and musical notation.

In the past, dyslexia wasn't a recognised condition. Sadly, some children affected were labelled as lazy, stupid or lacking in concentration.

Dyslexia isn't a sign of low intelligence - people of all academic abilities have been dyslexic and they may not have difficulties in any other area.

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Definition of Dyslexia

The world federation of Neurology defines dyslexia as "a disorder manifested by difficulties in learning to read, despite conventional instruction, adequate intelligence and socio cultural opportunity."

Incidence

It is estimated that in India about 10% of the school going children are dyslexics. It is more prevalent among boys than among girls in the ratio of 4:1

What causes it?

Everyone's brain has a left side and a right side. The right side controls the creative and artistic skills. The left side controls logic and maths skills.

Many dyslexic people have a slightly larger right side of the brain which makes them very creative, musical, sporty and good at problem solving.

What are the symptoms?

Every person has different symptoms - there's a huge range - and this can make dyslexia difficult to define. It's usually diagnosed when a child's reading and writing development isn't keeping pace with their level of intelligence.

What difficulties does dyslexia cause?

Possible difficulties caused by dyslexia include:

• hesitant or slow reading and writing
• misreading, which makes understanding difficult
• putting letters and figures the wrong way round
• difficulty with sequences
• poor organisation or time management
• erratic spelling
• poor memory and concentration
• difficulty organising thoughts clearly
• poor self-image

Some people are more dyslexic than others. Many people find it hard to read quickly and hard to make sense of what they've read.

Words can look blurry, jumbled up or back to front. It can be difficuly to get dates in order and to keep organised. When trying to write it can be hard to sort out your thoughts and your spelling.

Are there famous people with dyslexia?

People with dyslexia often have rare talents.

They can have great ideas and be able to solve problems in new ways by being very creative. This is called 'lateral thinking'.

General Patton, Winston Churchill, Hans Christian Andersen, Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton.

Other famous people who have said they have dyslexia include:

1. Robbie Williams
2. Michael Barrymore
3. Noel Gallagher
4. Muhammad Ali
5. Tom Cruise
6. Anthea Turner
7. Guy Ritchie
8. Richard Branson
9. Steve Redgrave
10. Princess Beatrice

Tom Cruise has said about dyslexia: "My childhood was extremely lonely. I didn't have many friends. I was dyslexic and a lot of kids made fun of me. That experience made me tough inside."

Noel Gallagher also has it: "I have problems with words over six letters long. School days were the worst days of my life."

For an exhaustive list visit:
http://www.dyslexia.com/qafame.htm
http://www.dyslexia.tv/snapshots/index.htm

How can it change your life?

At school it can cause problems, as a lot of importance is placed on reading and writing.
If nobody realises that you have dyslexia it may seem that you are not very clever or just being lazy - this can make going to school very upsetting.

Who is this child?

• An intelligent child who fails at school.
• One who gives all answers orally but fails miserably in written exam.
• One who reads 'saw' as 'was'.
• One who has difficulty in differentiating the sounds of p & b, t & d.
• One who writes 91 as 61 or 14 as 41 or bat as dat.
• One who loses pace when he reads and sometimes even lines.
• One who performs well one day and badly the next day.
• One who draws well but has a very bad handwriting.
• One whose spellings are bizarre.
• One who hates or read or being read to.

Prevention and treatment

It's not possible to prevent dyslexia but early recognition can help.

It's not possible to prevent dyslexia but early recognition can help. With proper diagnosis and tailored educational methods, people with dyslexia can achieve their full academic potential and go on to enjoy very successful careers.

Diet and practical strategies (such as using spectacles with coloured lenses) can also help

Is there any help?

There is very little help available to the dyslexic children. They cannot be handled by doctor nor as are there any medicine available to cure dyslexia. Neurologist cannot help as there is no primary emotional causes. Only special educators can help these children by using specific assessment and teaching methods.

Each dyslexia exhibits different traits. The degree of dyslexia ranges from child to child. Hence an individual assessment and educational plan is required to help the child. Otherwise these highly intelligent children get isolated in the regular educational system and their contribution to the community is denied and also lead to development emotional stress within the child and over a period development into formal education.

Genetic factors

While there is no clear inheritance pattern (so it's unlikely to be a single gene disorder) many people can trace it through the family and the genetic predisposition is strong. Three common genes that were associated with dyslexia in most affected families were identified in 1998.

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Resources:

Concessions available for Dyslexics in India

http://mdachennai.org/concessions.html

Dyslexia Help Centers in Chennai, TN, India:

Madras Dyslexia Assoxiation
11, Sambasivam Street
T. Nagar, Chennai 600017
Phone: 28157908, 28156697
Email: mdachennai@touchtelindia.net mda.ananya@gmail.com
www.mdachennai.org

Sankalp
Plot No: 1567, 6th Avenue (Next to Vijaya Maruthi)
Anna Nagar (West), Chennai 600040. India.
Tel: 26203131

SARASWATHI KENDRA LEARNING CENTRE FOR CHILDREN
THE GROVE, 1 ELDAMS ROAD,
CHENNAI 600 018, INDIA
Email: sklc@cprfoundation.org
http://cprfoundation.org/otherpages/05-sklcmain.htm

Alpha To Omega Learning Centre
58, New Avadi Road, Kilpauk, Chennai 600010.
Phone : 00-91-44-26443090, 00-91-44-26476257
Email: atolc@eth.net
http://www.alphatoomega.org

Mrs.Madhumathi Achuthan,
Director,
ESK Learning Centre,
Old no: 30, New no:13,
Subramaniam Street,
Chennai- 600 018.
Ph: 42108568 / 98845 25393
Email: achumadhu@hotmail.com

Vidya Sagar
1 Ranjit Road, Kotturpuram
Chennai-85
Tel: 2354784/ 2354980

Ms.Bhuvana Vasudevan
Email: vasubhuvan91@yahoo.co.in

Prof. Dr. Jayanthini, MD
Consultant Psychiatrist
Best Hospital, 9, Vellala Street
Kodambakkam, Chennai 600 024
Tel: 24832777

Growel Skills
Improvment Centre for Handwriting difficulties
K112/3, Bougainvilla
15th street
Anna Nagar East
Chennai 600102
Tel: +91-9840818051
Email: growelskills@gmail.com

Links:

www.mdachennai.org
www.dyslexia.com
www.interdys.org
www.davisdyslexia.com
www.dyslexia-usa.com
www.dyslexia-teacher.com/t10a.html
www.bda-dyslexia.org.uk
www.dyslexia.uk.com
www.dyslexia-parent.com
www.dyslexiacentre.co.uk
www.alphatoomega.org
www.dyslexia.ca
www.nalandainstitute.org/aspfiles/mahdysl.asp
www.ldresources.com
www.ldonline.org
http://cprfoundation.org
http://dyslexiaaction.org.uk

Online Discussion Groups

http://groups.google.com/group/alt.support.dyslexia?lnk=sg
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DyslexiaSupport
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dyslexiasupport2
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HSDyslexicKids
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dyslexiaclub
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/parents_of_dyslexia
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dyslexia
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ldsupport2
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.support.attn-deficit?lnk=sg

Dyslexia course

http://www.dyslexia-teacher.com/certificate.html
http://www.dyslexia-parent.com/course.html
http://www.howtolearn.com/dyslexia.html
Madras Dyslexia Association Conducts Regular Training Program

Books on Dyslexia

The following books are available online at:
www.landmarkonthenet.com and
www.amazon.com

Dyslexia
by sanders pete
ISBN : 0761309152

TO READ OR NOT TO READ: ANSWERS TO ALL YOUR
QUESTIONS ABOUT DYSLEXIA
by hurford daphne m

Dyslexia: From Theory to Intervention
by hoien torleiv
ISBN : 0792363094

Scientific Watergate Dyslexia: How and Why Countless Millions Are Deprived of Breakthrough Medical Treatment
by levinson harold n

Biblical Dyslexia
by wilhelm charles j
ISBN : 159467261X

The Official Parent's Sourcebook on Dyslexia:
A Revised and Updated Directory for the Internet Age
by icon health publications
ISBN : 0597830304

Dyslexia in Practice: A Guide for Teachers
by turner martin
ISBN : 0306462524

Developmental and Acquired Dyslexia,
Neuropsychological and Neurolinguistic Perspectives
by leong che kan
ISBN : 0792331664

Dyslexia: A Complete Guide for Parents
by reid gavin
ISBN : 0470863129

Overcoming Dyslexia: A New and Complete Science-Based
Program for Reading Problems at Any Level
by shaywitz sally e
ISBN : 0679781595

Dyslexia - A Medical Dictionary, Bibliography, and Annotated
Research Guide to Internet References
by icon health publications
ISBN : 0597838976

The International Book of Dyslexia: A Guide to Practice and Resources
by smythe ian
ISBN : 0471496464

Dyslexia: Advances in Theory and Practice
by lundberg ingvar ph d
ISBN : 0792358376

DVD on Dyslexia

Dyslexia - What Teachers Need To Know
Speaking On Dyslexia
Inside Dyslexia (Individual and Home Use)
Inside Dyslexia (Institutional / College / Government Use)

Dyslexia Software

http://www.dyslexia-parent.com/software.html

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