Identifying Dyslexia in children

Dyslexia presents so many issues for children, both inside and outside of school. Thankfully, there are lots of supports available, as well as awareness around how to manage this as a family.

So many of us parents fret over the development of our children. It’s a natural yet stressful part of raising a little one. Reading is a fundamental skill that parents are told to focus on, as it feeds into so many more growth milestones. Lots of children find reading tricky in the beginning but if you sense that your young reader is struggling more than is usual, it might be the case that they have dyslexia.

Dyslexia impacts a child’s abilities in a few different ways, the foremost of which is their ability to read. It also presents challenges around making and understanding sounds. Therefore, their comprehension of language can suffer. It’s important to note that dyslexia is not a sign that a little one is less intelligent. It’s more like a translation issue where things get tangled up moving from the internal (their mind) to the external (reading or speaking). Undiagnosed and unsupported, a child with dyslexia will begin to fall behind their classmates before long. So, let’s take a closer look at this condition and what ways you can help.

Indications of dyslexia

Dyslexia is often misunderstood in society – at best the understanding of it is quite narrow. Sometimes it’s reduced to the idea that children with dyslexia “can’t spell” but there is so much more to it than that. 

Literacy

When it comes to reading and writing, there are many different ways that dyslexia can affect your little one. Spelling is one area where dyslexic children come up against obstacles. Similarly, they may have difficulty keeping letters or numbers in the correct order in their mind. In school, this can make taking notes or copying down something from the teacher a very tough task.

Speech

Dyslexia also shows up in speech in some children. When learning to speak, they may find it harder to pronounce words, leave shorter words out of sentences or generally lag behind their peers when it comes to fluency. In school, their teachers may notice that they avoid or refuse opportunities to read out loud in front of the class.

Comprehension

A broader impact from dyslexia on certain aspects of general comprehension is quite common. This can include difficulty with following directions, learning the rules of a game, telling the time and differentiating left from right. As with much of the stigma around dyslexia, this area is a contributor to the idea that dyslexic people are less intelligent – something that is completely untrue.

How else can dyslexia affect my child?

Children with undiagnosed dyslexia often experience bouts or sustained periods of lowered self-esteem. This arises from a feeling that they can’t quite express themselves, and are frequently misunderstood by the people in their life. Little ones in this position may be regularly criticised by teachers for not trying hard enough or not being able to make sense of a particular topic in school. Being treated in this way can lead to a lot of internalised (and misplaced!) shame.

Seeking diagnosis

Getting an assessment for your child is the first port of call if you have any question marks around whether or not your child has dyslexia. These assessments usually examine your child’s ability over a range of metrics, and will highlight if there is a disparity between their performance in school and their underlying ability. Aside from the results of the assessment, you will be provided with tools to support your little one at home, as well as avenues to seek accommodations for them at school. These could include extra time during exams, quiet rooms to take exams in, as well as other exemptions and allowances that will help to level the playing field for your child.

Should you wish to get an assessment for your child, you can either reach out to your family doctor or your child’s school, both of whom should be able to attend to your needs and answer any questions you may have.

Supporting from home

If your child has dyslexia, there are ways you can help them on a daily basis. Firstly, providing some emotional support is a great place to start. Acknowledging that certain tasks are far more challenging for them than for others will help them to feel validated. Your little one may feel frustrated and stressed out having to work extra hard to keep up with class. Showing them that you recognise their efforts, championing them and helping them to relax in the evening are great ways to provide support.

Similarly, try to encourage your child to follow their passions. You might have always hoped that they would become an avid reader but perhaps they’re more into music, sport or drama. Whatever it is, make sure that they know you will be cheering them on, no matter what their hobbies are. Lifting your little learner up in this way, holding them when they’re feeling down, and advocating for them to receive the supports they’re entitled to will make this journey much more manageable for them.

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