by S. Koontz

Created on: March 18, 2008

Dyslexia is a learning disability that is often misunderstood. I've often heard people say they must be dyslexic after mispronouncing a word or saying a set of numbers backwards, but these are not even symptoms of dyslexia. In this paper I will cover the basics of dyslexia, and what can be done to overcome this disability.

In my research I have come across two very helpful resources. The first is a book by Sally Shaywitz called "Overcoming Dyslexia". Dr. Shaywitz's book covers all of the basic information about dyslexia and includes several ways to overcome the disability. The second resource I found helpful is https://healthscout.com. This website gives a brief overview of how dyslexia effects children, and what can be done to help diagnosis them earlier.

Dyslexia is a learning disorder that impairs the ability to recognize and understand written words. There are several reading disabilities that are all labeled as dyslexic, but they are different combinations of reading problems. People who have been diagnosed as dyslexic are often very intelligent. Those labeled as dyslexic have problems finding the correct words when trying to communicate verbally, and tend to get stuck on very simple words when reading.

It is hard to diagnosis dyslexia before a child starts learning how to read. There are a few early signs that may indicate a child is dyslexic. Most children enjoy rhymes, but children with dyslexia can not determine if words rhyme together. It is also common for dyslexic children to still use baby talk when they are starting preschool. It becomes easier to diagnosis children with dyslexia once they start preschool. These kids will have a hard time learning the alphabet, and will get similar letters like b and d, or c and o confused. Even if a child is showing a few of these signs it does not mean they are dyslexic.

Once a child starts learning how to read they will show several signs that something is wrong. They will have problems realizing that two words can fit together to become a new word. They will also make errors when reading aloud by substituting a random word for a word they are not familiar with. They will also have problems with phonics, being unable to sound out words. These signs are often over looked as common errors when a child begins to read, but if a child is dyslexic these errors will not improve until they receive further help.
Many people do not find out they are dyslexic until they have kids of their own. Dyslexia is hereditary,

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