The common understanding of dyslexia is that it causes children to read backwards. Sometimes people might even think it means children can’t read. While some misconceptions about dyslexia may be based upon some amount of truth, many of it are also just misconceptions and myths.
For example, there is a misconception that children with dyslexia are not smart. The truth is that there is no relationship between intelligence, success and dyslexia. In fact, not only can dyslexic people be incredibly smart, but many have become incredibly successful. Examples include scientists like Albert Einstein, entertainers like John Lennon, authors like Anne Rice.
These misconceptions also may affect how people misidentify, or miss the signs of dyslexia.
Slow in reading books of their age level
A child that is having a difficult time reading shouldn’t automatically be seen as not being smart or advanced enough in their development. Neither should it be dismissed as the child just being uninterested. If the child is not reading to their age level, it is a good signal to take notice as it could be a sign of dyslexia.
Young children may be smart enough to get around any learning disabilities they may have by essentially ignoring the problem and powering through. They may even excel, but once they start entering secondary school, and the reading material and subject matters become more complex, it gets harder to ignore the problems. This is especially true with dyslexia as long, complex pages of text start to look arcane and illegible.
Messy handwriting
Children with dyslexia also commonly have dysgraphia. Children with dysgraphia have a difficult time writing properly. Their writing is inconsistent, messy, and may have problems spacing letters out properly on a page.
Difficulty keeping organised
Children with dyslexia also may have problems with keeping themselves organised. There is a process to organisation that dyslexic children may have issues with, and this can easily be dismissed as the child just being messy. Taken in conjunction with other signs, it could signal that the child may have dyslexia.
These are all learning issues, and when a child shows consistent signs these issues, it might be that the child has undiagnosed dyslexia or other learning disabilities that escaped notice. It is important to note that the child does not necessarily have a learning disorder just because they may have some issues with certain subjects in school. If the child is showing consistent issues with their learning, it’s always recommended to have the child professionally diagnosed to know the best method to help the child develop.
Find out how you can learn more about ADHD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, and other common learning disorders like Autism Spectrum Disorders.
College of Allied Educators offers our Diploma in Learning Disorders Management & Child Psychology programme to help you understand your child or the child in your care to more effectively help in their learning and development.
DIPLOMA IN LEARNING DISORDERS MANAGEMENT AND CHILD PSYCHOLOGY
Diploma in Learning Disorders Management & Child Psychology is a Skillsfuture course (claimable) designed specifically to train potential teachers, parents and caregivers to identify, detect and support children with special needs, such as Autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Dyspraxia, and Dyslexia.
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