IDENTIFYING DYSLEXIA IN CHILDREN

  What is dyslexia?

 Dyslexia is a kind of learning difficulty in which the reading is below par for the age, education and intelligence of the child leading to poor academic performance.

Word recognition is poor, slow and inaccurate with poor comprehension.

Approximately 5% of children suffer from dyslexia, boys four times than girls.

Risk factors for dyslexia

      1.      Fetal alcohol syndrome

      2.      Cerebral palsy

      3.      Epilepsy

      4.      Malnutrition

      5.      Brain lesions

      6.      IUGR

      7.      Complicated pregnancy

      8.      Preterm infants

      9.      Family history

Symptoms to identify dyslexia

      1.      Poor spelling are obvious and abundant in the text of the child

      2.      Omissions, addition, and distorted words appear in the reading performance of the child.

      3.      Speed of reading is slow with minimal comprehension.

      4.      Right left confusion is present.

      5.      Starts reading from middle or end of sentence.

      6.      Transpose letters/ write letters as mirror image in written text.

      7.      Child is usually good in math poor in subject involving languages.

      8.      Phonetic errors are ample

      9.      Poor handwriting. It can be almost incomprehensible.

Treatment of dyslexia

There is no definitive cure for dyslexia. A special strategy has to be followed so that these children don’t lag behind other children.

1.      Identifying dyslexia early. On suspicion the parents should take children to psychiatrist who can identify the problem.

2.      Psychologists may apply dyslexia battery.

3.      Once a child has been identified with dyslexia a special education called individual education program me may be helpful. Reading instruction program me and word study will also be helpful

4.      Certification of dyslexia will help in getting privileges for dyslexic children.

Early identification of dyslexia and management will save child and parents will unnecessary harassment, frustration and failure. Ultimately the child will be able to achieve more than what he/she would have done if left unguided.

Wishing you a healthy and long life

Dr Hitesh Sharma

MBBS, MD (Psychiatry)

For asking a query or phone/video consultation with me visit-  https://www.icliniq.com/hitesh