Dyslexia: From Struggle to Success

By kit sadgrove and Emilia Fensby

"Dyslexia: From Struggle to Success" is a comprehensive guide for parents seeking to empower their dyslexic child and help them thrive.

This enlightening book delves into the challenges faced by dyslexic children, providing valuable insights into their unique learning needs.

Drawing from the latest research and expert advice, it offers practical strategies and proven techniques to support your child's journey from struggle to success.

You'll discover how to create a nurturing home environment that celebrates your child's strengths and encourages their confidence. You'll gain a deeper understanding of dyslexia and its impact on reading, writing, and language skills.

And it will equip you with the knowledge to effectively advocate for your child's educational needs.

You'll explore a range of powerful tools and techniques to enhance your child's learning. From multisensory teaching methods and personalized interventions to fostering self-advocacy and building resilience, this book provides you with actionable steps to implement at home and collaborate with your child's school.

Written in an empathetic and accessible style, "Dyslexia: From Struggle to Success" addresses common concerns and provides guidance on navigating the educational system, collaborating with teachers, and accessing available resources.

Real-life stories of dyslexic individuals who have achieved remarkable success serve as a testament to the transformative power of support and understanding.

Whether your child is newly diagnosed or you're seeking to enhance existing support, this book will give you with the knowledge, tools, and inspiration to guide your dyslexic child towards a future filled with confidence and achievements.

With the help of "Dyslexia: From Struggle to Success", you'll empower your child to overcome challenges, embrace their unique strengths, and unlock their full potential

• Language: English
• Publisher: Blackford Books
• Release date: Nov 2, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223660217

Book preview

Dyslexia: From Struggle

to Success

How to support your dyslexic

child at home, and advocate

for them at school

––––––––

Emilia Fensby

Who is this book for?

Do you think your child might be dyslexic? Or have they had a diagnosis? If you answered Yes to either question, this book is for you.

Dyslexia: From Struggle to Success gives you a complete overview of the tools and methods used by parents to help their child succeed.

––––––––

What you’ll learn

■  The main indicators of dyslexia

■  How to help your child to read

■  Show your dyslexic child how to write and spell

■  Discover how to teach your child math and science

■  Physical aids that will support your child’s learning

■  How to use diet to help your child

■  Learn how to test your child’s knowledge

■  Tips for building your child’s study skills

■  Best ways to advocate for your child at school

■  What is an IEP? How do you get one for your child?

■  Important contacts at school. There are more than you might think. How to deal with them.

■  Is your school using MTSS? And if so, is it benefiting your child?

■  Treating dyslexia as a gift not a burden.

■  Supporting your adolescent child towards college and adulthood.

And so much more!

A word before we begin.

This book isn’t medical advice for any particular individual, nor is it a substitute for diagnosis or treatment by a professional.

Contents

1­­ Dyslexia: What it is and What it isn’t

Let’s get started. What exactly is dyslexia?

What are the key indicators of Dyslexia?

Who has dyslexia?

Specific Learning Difficulties

2. Causes. Methods of Support

Current research

What causes dyslexia?

Approaches to Help with Dyslexia

3. A Dyslexia Diagnosis - and its Effects

Identifying, Screening, Testing and Diagnosing

Getting your child screened

How to get an evaluation

Taking a diagnostic test

How you can deal with the diagnosis

4. Getting Support at School

Getting official school support

How to prepare for an IEP meeting

What accommodations should the school make?

Possible limitations

The IEP as it relates to your dyslexic child

Top teaching strategies

MTSS

Important contacts at school

5. How You Can Help

Reading

Writing and spelling

How a dyslexic child may write

Math

Learning at home

Changing your child’s diet

6. Helping your Dyslexic child to Read

Reading ages

How to choose suitable reading materials

Popular reading schemes

Teaching your child to read

Useful methods

Building self-confidence and study skills

How to test your child’s reading

Teaching reading using a multisensory approach

ICT resources

7. Helping your child to Write and Spell

Writing equipment

Teaching your dyslexic child to write

Teaching your child to spell

Spelling rules

Eight study skills for building self-confidence

How to test your child’s writing and spelling

8. Teaching Math

Techniques for teaching math

Multiplication and division

Study skills and building self confidence

How to test your child’s math ability

9. Helping with Science

Strengths of the dyslexic science student

Science problems your dyslexic child might face

How to help with science

10. Your Dyslexic Teenager

Your dyslexic child at high / secondary school

The undiagnosed teenager

Practical problems and how to deal with them

Adapting lesson plans

Text readers and additional support

Helping your dyslexic teenager at home

Manage study material

Handling emotional difficulties

Bullying

The transition from school to college

11. Dyslexia: Its Strengths and Rewards

Viewing dyslexia as a difference

Understanding dyslexia as a gift

Recognising the advantages of dyslexia

Turning negative traits to positive ones

Using dyslexic strengths

Maintaining a positive attitude

Teaching others about dyslexia’s good side

Your next steps

Need more information?

I’ve created an Advanced Dyslexia Program that covers a wide range of topics. It is particularly useful for anyone who wants to support other dyslexic young people.

In addition to all the content in this book, you also get:

Videos about dyslexia, including interviews with the mother of a dyslexic child.

Advice on helping adults with Dyslexia.

Discover how to work as a dyslexia advisor

Learn how to market your dyslexia practice and find clients.

Understand how to manage the money in your practice.

Sample dyslexia forms and agreements for clients, plus sample CVs.

The program also provides 30 days of online support, so you can get advice and have your questions answered.

To learn more, click here: Advanced Dyslexia Program. Click the QR code. Or use this link: https://inst.org/courses/advanced-dyslexia-program/

Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.

- Henry Ford (famously dyslexic)

1. Dyslexia: What it is and What it isn’t

––––––––

Overview

In this chapter, we cover the following topics:

■  What is dyslexia?

■  What are the key indicators of dyslexia

■  Research

■  Who has dyslexia?

■  Specific Learning Difficulties

Let’s get started. What exactly is dyslexia?

Most people have heard of dyslexia and probably think they have a good idea about what it means.

It is thought that 10% of the population show some signs of dyslexia; but despite this, there is no agreed definition for dyslexia. Here is one definition:

Dyslexia is a general term for disorders that involve difficulty in learning to read or interpret words, letters, and other symbols, but that don’t affect general intelligence.

Dyslexia isn’t just about literacy (reading and writing). It is often seen that way because when a child starts school and learns to read, the condition becomes more apparent.

What are the key indicators of Dyslexia?

People with dyslexia tend to have an average or above-average IQ. It is often the difference between their obvious intelligence and their ability to read and write that indicates dyslexia.

Here are some of the key indicators that your child may be dyslexic:

■  Difficulty with reading and spelling for their age and IQ

■  May be very eloquent verbally but can’t transfer the ideas to paper

■  Have difficulty remembering everyday names for objects and nursery rhymes (pre-school), the alphabet and times tables (school age) despite repeated learning

■  Leave letters out or put them in the wrong order. As they get older, they may get ‘tied up’ when reading longer words or words with similar spellings, e.g. ‘on’ and ‘no’.

■  Have difficulty following instructions and directions

■  A poor sense of direction

■  Are slower than other children to complete work

■  Poor concentration

■  Difficulty knowing left and right

■  Problems sequencing days of the week, months of the year, num­bers and patterns

■  Obvious good and bad days

■  Family history

■  May often surprise you that they are bright and alert in other ways.

These are common indicators. But a child may not display all of them, and they could display other indicators, which we discuss in more detail later.

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Research

Research has begun to show that a dyslexic brain is different from a non-dyslexic brain. Not damaged, just different. A growing number of researchers believe that although certain areas are difficult for them, being dyslexic gives an advantage in other areas.

Dyslexics can be very creative; they can see the bigger picture and visualize end results more easily. As a result, they may excel as artists, architects and even entrepreneurs. There are many famous dyslexics who have been very successful and even ground breaking in what they do. These include:

■  Albert Einstein

■  Agatha Christie

■  Richard Branson

■  James Dyson

■  Ben Elton

■  Tommy Hilfiger

■  Guy Richie

■  Benjamin Zephaniah

Some researchers have even gone as far as suggesting that dyslexic people are important in creating the right balance of talents throughout the population, and that this has given humans its evolutionary advantage.

Who has dyslexia?

It is believed that 10% of the population show some signs of dyslexia, with 4% being severely affected. It affects people of any economic status, race or level of intelligence.

And although it has been widely believed that it affects boys more than girls, recent evidence suggests that the spread may be more even.

This means three children in every classroom are likely to need ongoing support for dyslexia. A child with undiagnosed dyslexia can often feel frustrated and stupid. Behavioral problems may occur as a coping strategy for getting through school.

A diagnosis can often be a relief to the child or adult because it explains why they find things so difficult and confirms that they are not stupid, which they may have been feeling.

Specific Learning Difficulties

Dyslexia is one of a group of conditions called Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD). The difficulties experienced with each condition often overlap, and it is common for more than one to be present in an individual. The other conditions are:

■  Dyspraxia – Often considered clumsy, these people have difficulty with co-ordination and the organization of movement. Articulation (putting ideas into words) and pronunciation may also be affected. A dyspraxic student may suffer from sensory overload, which can make some social situations difficult.

■  Dyscalculia – This is difficulty with number concepts as well as telling the time, money and quantity. It is estimated that 40% - 50% of dyslexics have no difficulty with numbers.

■  Dysphasia or Specific Language Impairment (SLI) – is a difficulty with pronunciation which makes remembering phonic (learning a word by the sounds in it, for example ee – feet) sounds difficult.

■  Auditory Processing Disorder - This is difficulty understanding what has been said and expressing themselves clearly, often blaming the other person for not understanding. Children with APD have difficulty in perceiving high-frequency sounds such as 't', 'f' 's', 'k', 'p', 'th', 'sh'. They might get confused when faced with similar sounds: e.g. 'da' and 'ba'. They may also have poor speech comprehension, often asking 'What?' and inabilities to follow directions.

■  Attention deficit disorder (with or without hyperactivity) – this affects the ability to concentrate and pay attention. These children are often restless, unpredictable, display inappropriate behavior and are easily distracted.

■  Asperger’s syndrome and high-functioning autism can also co-occur with dyslexia. They can exhibit obsessions, poor social interactions, limited facial expressions, and unusual speech patterns. They might also engage in obsessive routines.

Case Study: Noah finds his place

Noah, a young boy from New York, found himself grappling with the unique challenges presented by dyslexia.

But despite his struggles with the conventional aspects of reading and writing, Noah had a knack for understanding how things