The positive side of DYSLEXIA

What is Dyslexia?

Dyslexia (dis-lek-see-uh) is a learning problem some children have. Dyslexia makes it tough to read and spell. The problem is inside the brain, but it doesn't mean the person is dumb. Plenty of smart and talented people struggle with dyslexia.

But dyslexia doesn't have to keep a child down. With some help and a lot of hard work, a child who has dyslexia can learn to read and spell.

There is a long process to reading; learning sounds, blending the sounds to form words, controlling eye movements across the page, building images and ideas, comparing new ideas with what is already known, storing the ideas in memory, etc

It's no surprise, then, that trying to read and dealing with dyslexia makes a child's brain really tired really fast.

A child with dyslexia will read slowly and might make a lot of mistakes. Sometimes he/she will mix up letters in a word or blend wrongly. Most children with dyslexia can learn to read with the right kind of teaching.

Dyslexia occurs in children with normal vision and intelligence. Sometimes, dyslexia goes undiagnosed for years and isn't recognized until adulthood.

What to watch out for:

• Late talking

• Learning new words slowly

• Difficulty rhyming

• Reading at a level below the expected level for his/her age

• Problems processing and understanding what he or she hears

• Difficulty comprehending rapid instruction

• Problem remembering the sequence of things

• Difficulty spelling

• Problem learning a foreign language

When Dyslexia is not diagnosed and treated, it continues into adulthood.

This condition becomes apparent as a child begins learning to read.

What causes it?

Dyslexia has been linked to certain genes that control how the brain develops. It appears to be an inherited condition, running in the families.

However, most children with dyslexia can succeed in school with tutoring or a specialized education program. Emotional support also plays an important role.

Children with dyslexia might get frustrated, angry or sad because reading and spelling are so hard.

Why is Dyslexia a gift?

Dyslexic people are highly creative, intuitive, and excel at three dimensional solving hands-on learning. The true gift of dyslexia is the gift of MASTERY. When learning methods that fit their style are used, they excel in academics and read and write efficiently.

When more attention is paid to these advantages and they are nurtured, they can be used to boost the dyslexics self confidence.

The strengths of dyslexic differ, by knowing them we can nurture them to bring out the best in them.

• Perception: the ability to alter and create perceptions

• Highly aware of their environment

• Highly curious

• Great intuition and insightful

• Creativity

• Easy adoption of change

• See patterns, connections and similarities very easy

• Can be very driven, ambitious and persistent

• Capable of seeing things differently than others

• Love for complexity

• Not following the crowd

• The ability of visual, spatial and lateral thinking

Famous people with this learning disability (this proves that nurturing the dyslexic capabilities contributes to their own potential and happiness):

• Albert Einstein

• Thomas Edison

• Richard Branson

• Winston Churchill

• John Kennedy

• John Lennon

• Anthony Hopkins

• Agatha Christie

• Walt Disney

Let us help our children overcome struggles and not make them feel like they are nobodies.

If you have a dyslexic child, get the movie “Like stars on earth”, all the above will become clearer. This goes for both parents and teachers.