WHAT IS DYSLEXIA? Everybody seems to have a different definition for this problem…
If you consult five different education and health professionals, you might find you are given five different definitions. The International Dyslexia Association defines dyslexia as learning disability that is neurological in origin and is characterized by difficulties with language skills, particularly reading, but often spelling and writing as well. Dyslexia needs to be diagnosed via a comprehensive battery of tests that encompasses assessment of general intellectual ability as well as specific literacy skills such as reading, writing and spelling.
So if your child is diagnosed with dyslexia, what do you do? There is no magic or fast cure. The answer is lots of extra help with a focus on learning the basics of phonological awareness – the connections between letters and sounds in words. The WRAP (Writing Approach to Reading)/ Spalding approach seems to be very helpful for lots of children. Some schools offer this approach through their special education teachers but most families would need to access a private tutor. There are also some good software packages though, such as Jolly Phonics. And the Latrobe University Communication Clinic also offers a short course for kids with reading difficulties called Phonological Awareness for Literacy that is very reasonably priced.