(Debbi’s Corner) Understanding Dyslexia: A Guide for Parents

What is Dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a common learning difference that makes it hard to learn to read, spell, and write. It isn’t about how smart a child is - in fact, many children with dyslexia are very bright. It simply means that their brains process language differently. While it can make school challenging, with the right instruction and support, children with dyslexia can become confident readers and successful learners.

The International Dyslexia Association (IDA) defines dyslexia as, “a specific learning disability characterized by difficulties in word reading and/or spelling that involve accuracy, speed, or both and vary depending on the orthography. These difficulties occur along a continuum of severity and persist even with instruction that is effective for the individual’s peers. The causes of dyslexia are complex and involve combinations of genetic, neurobiological, and environmental influences that interact throughout development. Underlying difficulties with phonological and morphological processing are common but not universal, and early oral language weaknesses often foreshadow literacy challenges. Secondary consequences include reading comprehension problems and reduced reading and writing experience that can impede growth in language, knowledge, written expression, and overall academic achievement. Psychological well-being and employment opportunities may also be affected. Although identification and targeted instruction are important at any age, language and literacy support before and during the early years of education is particularly effective.”

New Jersey Special Education Law places dyslexia under the specific learning disability eligibility category. It is not a separate category of its own. While the main weaknesses we see are in basic reading skills and reading fluency, we often also see challenges in reading comprehension and written expression that can make learning at school harder. 

Common Signs to Look For

You might notice your child struggling with certain tasks, such as:

• Sounding out new words or “blending” sounds together

• Reading slowly or skipping small words

• Remembering how to spell common words

• Connecting the sounds we say to the letters on a page (this is often called “phonological processing”).

You Are Not Alone

Dyslexia is more widespread than you might think. About 13 -14% of school children in the US have a disability that qualifies them for special education, and about half of these are classified as having a learning disability. Most of the children with learning disabilities struggle with reading and language processing. Overall, about 1 in 5 people in the US have some symptoms of dyslexia. 

How is Dyslexia Managed?

With the right tools, students with dyslexia can learn to read and write well and can excel in school and beyond. Most benefit from:

• Multisensory teaching: Using sight, sound, and touch to help learn letters and words

• Accommodations like extra time on tests and assignments or using audiobooks so

  they can focus on learning information rather than just decoding words.

How is Dyslexia Diagnosed?

Before referring a child for a special education evaluation, a school may choose to track the student’s progress with a brief screening test to see whether the student is progressing at a “benchmark” level. If the screenings show that the student is below the benchmark level, the school may offer  the child intensive reading instruction. If this is still not enough, the school may offer an evaluation to see if the child qualifies for special education services. Some parents choose to wait for the school to offer testing while others decide to have their child tested privately. Either way, a full evaluation involves testing the student’s intellectual and academic achievement abilities, and includes testing in the skills that are closely linked to dyslexia. 

Who is Qualified to Diagnose Dyslexia?

According to the National Center for Learning Disabilities, “ Professionals with expertise in several fields are best qualified to make a diagnosis of dyslexia. The testing may be done by a single individual or by a team of specialists. A knowledge and background in psychology, reading, language and education are necessary. The tester must have a thorough working knowledge of how individuals learn to read and write and why some people have trouble learning to read. They must also understand how to administer and interpret evaluation data and how to plan appropriate reading interventions.”

Expert Support for Your Family

At Psychological and Educational Testing Specialists, Debbi and Dawn bring over 25 years of experience each in helping families navigate dyslexia and other learning disabilities. We provide kind, caring, and expert evaluations and can help you understand the specific teaching strategies and accommodations your child needs to truly thrive in the classroom. Contact us today.

References

International Dyslexia Association. "Dyslexia Basics." International Dyslexia Association, 2023, https://dyslexiaida.org/dyslexia-basics/.

National Center for Learning Disabilities. "Who Can Diagnose Dyslexia?" National Center for Learning Disabilities, 2023, https://www.ncld.org/.

International Dyslexia Association. "Dyslexia Assessment: What Is It and How Can It Help?" International Dyslexia Association, 2023, https://dyslexiaida.org/dyslexia-assessment-what-is-it-and-how-can-it-help/.

International Dyslexia Association. "Definition of Dyslexia." International Dyslexia Association, 2023, https://dyslexiaida.org/definition-of-dyslexia/.

New Jersey Department of Education. "New Jersey Dyslexia Handbook: A Guide for Families." New Jersey Department of Education, 2014, https://www.nj.gov/education/specialed/dyslexia/NJDyslexiaHandbook.pdf.