October Is Also Dyslexia Awareness Month

October Is Also Dyslexia Awareness Month

By Darnell Vaughn

We all know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but did you know it is also National Dyslexia Awareness Month? We all know of people who have been diagnosed with both of these, one being a disease with specific treatment, the other being a learning difficulty, not being treated. This article is to educate the public about people suffering from “Dyslexia. (Yes, they too suffer.)

What is Dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a language-based learning disability. Dyslexia refers to a cluster of symptoms resulting in people having difficulties with specific language skills, particularly reading. Students with dyslexia often experience difficulty with both oral and written language skills, such as writing and pronunciation of words. Dyslexia affects individuals throughout their entire lives. It is referred to as a learning disability (but not addressed in our schools) because dyslexia can make it very difficult for a student to succeed without phonics-based reading instructions, that are unavailable in most public schools. In it’s most severe form a student with dyslexia may qualify for Special Education. (Most times the Special Education teacher is not trained, do not have phonics-based training to help these children). 

What Are Affects of Dyslexia?

The impact is different from person to  person and depends on severity of condition and the effectiveness of instruction or remediation. The core difficulty is with reading words and is related to difficult with processing and manipulating sounds. Some individuals manage to learn early reading and spelling tasks with instructions but later experience challenging problems when more complex language skills are introduced.

This usually happens around third grade. Dyslexia can also affect a person’s self-image.  Students with dyslexia often end up feeling less intelligent and less capable than they actually are. After experiencing a great deal of stress due to academic problems a student may become discouraged about continuing in school. Estimates are 75 to 80 percent of drop-outs are dyslexic, leading to our high percentage drop-out rate.

Are There Other Learning Disabilities Besides Dyslexia?

Dyscalculia-Math Disability.

Dysgraphia-impaired letter writing by hand: This can interfere with learning to spell words and speed writing of text. (Children may have impaired handwriting or spelling or both.)

ADD and ADHA: In various studies 50 percent of those diagnosed with learning or reading difficulties have also been diagnosed with ADD or ADHA. Although disabilities may occur, one is not the cause of the other.

How Common Are Language Based Learning Difficulties?

15 to 20 percent of the population has language-based learning disabilities. 70 to 80 percent of Special Education Students have deficiencies in reading, writing and spelling.

If you would like further statistics and facts about dyslexic contact me at vaughndarnell13@yahoo.com We can help these children through education and awareness!