Dyslexia
Dyslexia inhibits the writing and reading ability of nearly 5% of all children and adults. There are many associated features or symptoms which teachers and parents can observe that provide clues to the diagnosis of dyslexia. These include the following: a puzzling gap between written language skills and intelligence; delayed and poor reading and spelling; bizarre spelling; left/right confusion and directional difficulties, sequencing difficulties and poor short-term memory skills (following instructions and repeating digits).
Here are 14 ways to recognise it:
- Do you find it difficult telling left from right?
- Do you dislike reading aloud?
- Is map reading or finding your way to a strange place confusing?
- Do you take longer than you should to read a page of a book?
- Do you find it difficult to remember the sense of what you have read?
- Do you dislike reading long books?
- Is your spelling poor?
- Is your writing difficult to read?
- Do you get confused of you have to speak in public?
- Do you mix up the numbers 95 and 59?
- Did you find it hard to learn your multiplication tables at school?
- Do you find it difficult to do sums in your head without using your fingers or paper?
- When using the telephone do you tend to get the number mixed up when you dial
- When you have to say a long word, do you sometimes find it difficult to get all the sounds in the right order.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
The American Psychiatric Association defines a person as having AD/HD if they meet eight or more of the following:
- When required to remain seated, a person has difficulty doing so
- Holding attention to a single task at hand or plat activity is difficult.
- Frequently will hop from one activity to the another, without completing the first.
- Doesn’t want to or can’t wait for his or her turn when involved in group activities
- Fidgets or squirms, or feels restless mentally.
- Easily loses things such as pencils, tools, papers, which may be necessary to complete school or other work.
- Talks impulsively and excessively.
- Interrupts others inappropriately, butting in when not invited.
- Others report that the person doesn’t seem to be listening when spoken to.
- Can’t play quietly without difficulty.
- Impulsive jumps into physically dangerous activities without weighing the consequences.
- Before a question is finished will often interrupt the questioner with an answer.
ADHD is a condition that some people experience which manifests itself through numerous symptoms which may include one or more of the following:
- hyperactivity
- impulsiveness
- distractibility
- lack of organisation
- forgetfulness
- procrastination
The current medical treatment is medication, using drugs such as Ritalin, which is a CNS stimulant, not without risk. Although for some it may seem to be the only treatment, there are those parents and professionals who question the advisability of putting a child on drugs.
Many children on the Autism Spectrum (ASD) gain significant improvement from dietary modification, environmental “clean-up” and targeted nutritional therapy. If this is an avenue that you have not explored, then – for the sake of your child – please do.
Sharon Erdrich is a trained MINDD practitioner, who can help guide the journey for you and your child.
Related Books:
Beating Dyslexia: A Natural Way – Alan Heath and John Ellis
Healing ADD: Using NLP and other methods to heal from growing up a Hunter in a Farmer’s world – Thom Hartmann
Rediscover the Joy of Learning: With Blackerby’s Academic Success Skills Tips– Dr.Don A Blackerby, PhD.
The Gift of Dyslexia: Why some of the brightest people can’t read and how they can learn -Ronald Davis
