Do You Think You Have a Child With Dyslexia? What to do Next

Emma, a 42-year old mother living in the Bay Area of California, suspected that her 2nd-grade son might have dyslexia. While most of his peers were fluently reading in 1st grade, she noticed that her son constantly had trouble reading, writing, and overall processing stories and solving problems. Come to think of it, she suspected this as early as preschool when he struggled with recognizing rhymes and had difficulty remembering or naming letters, numbers, and colors. Having a child with dyslexia can be a daunting struggle to overcome.

She knew something didn’t feel right but was overwhelmed about what to do next. Parenting was challenging enough on its own, and the prospect of her son suffering from dyslexia or another learning disorder felt devastating.

The Prevalence of Dyslexia

Emma’s son’s Brain Story is quite common, as dyslexia affects an estimated 15-20% of the entire US population. Nearly 70% to 80% of reading-based learning disorders are thought to be caused by dyslexia.

People with dyslexia are not less intelligent. Dyslexia affects the language centers of the brain, resulting in difficulties with processing language, reading, and writing. Dyslexia can also cause problems with grammar, reading comprehension, and verbal expression. Additionally, about a third of children diagnosed with dyslexia also struggle with some form of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Having a Child with Dyslexia – Go With Your Gut

You know your child best. If you suspect your child may have dyslexia, here are some helpful tips and actionable next steps you can take to find out the root of the problem and get him/her the appropriate help:

1. Educate yourself, and your child, too.

If you’ve suspected your child may be dyslexic, you’ve probably started doing research about warning signs, treatments, and outcomes. If not, start by learning as much as you can about dyslexia and other potential learning disabilities. Education is power, and once you are informed, you’ll have a clearer understanding of the next steps, how best you can support your child, and what resources are available.

You will likely have a lot of questions about dyslexia in kids. Conduct thorough online research, talk to experts and seek the advice of other parents who have a child with dyslexia. The more knowledgeable you are, the easier it will be to ease your child’s fears and guide them throughout this process.

Keeping your child informed about their disorder is imperative to their growth, too. Knowing that their disorder is manageable, and that their education and social struggles aren’t their fault, can make a world of difference when it comes to moving forward and getting on top of their diagnosis.

2. Early intervention.

If you suspect dyslexia, it’s never too early to act! This disorder will not correct itself, and the kindergartner who can’t quite learn her letters becomes the first grader who has trouble matching sounds to letters. Come fifth grade, this same student has consistently managed to get by with subpar reading, writing, and language skills.

This cycle will continue on unless someone intervenes. Early intervention can and will change the trajectory of your child’s life and relationship with learning, and open doors to services and help that can make a huge difference later on.

Dr. Sally Shaywitz,  Professor in Learning Development at Yale University and Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity states, “The human brain is resilient, but there is no question that early intervention and treatment bring about more positive change at a faster pace than an intervention provided to an older child. The sooner a diagnosis is made, the quicker your child can get help, and the more likely you are to prevent secondary blows to her self-esteem.”

Some signs of dyslexia are evident in preschool-age children; however; screening for dyslexia can be conducted as early and reliably by kindergarten or first grade. Experts recommend waiting until children are around six years old when they have received formal reading instruction.

According to the Mayo Clinic, children with dyslexia who get extra help in kindergarten or first grade often improve their reading skills enough to succeed in grade school and high school, while those who wait until later grades may lag behind academically and never be able to catch up.

Bottom line, trust your intuition and act now.

3. Work closely with your child’s school.

If you suspect that your child may have dyslexia, there’s a chance his/her teacher suspects so as well. If the teacher has yet to communicate any concerns to you, set up a meeting right away and talk about having your child evaluated by the school. In the United States, schools have a legal obligation to create an action plan to help children diagnosed with dyslexia and other learning problems.

Depending on the situation, some parents opt to have their children evaluated privately, but typically once the child is tested, either by the school or privately, your child’s support team will develop a plan called an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). This is a structured, written plan that outlines your child’s needs and how the school will help him or her succeed. Included in the IEP may be accommodations such as getting extra time on tests, or the chance to take tests outside the classroom in a quieter space.

Learn how that process works, and what your role is, and stay in close communication with your child’s teachers to ensure their needs are being met.

4. Be your child’s biggest advocate.

There’s a chance you may need to push to get the services your child needs. You are your child’s best advocate, fully aware of their strengths and challenges, so don’t stop pushing for accommodations and resources that will help your child succeed. This includes being informed, asking questions, keeping organized, tapping into all resources available, and knowing your child’s rights.

Here is a video from Understood.org about advocating for your child with a learning disability:

5. Keep learning fun.

With a lot of practice, routine, and creativity, learning can still be enjoyable.

Dr. Cruger, director of the Learning and Development Center at the Child Mind Institute, says that an important part of supporting kids with dyslexia is finding ways to decrease their discomfort about reading and to make learning to read enjoyable, not humiliating. That means minimizing the amount of criticism and making reading time about encouragement and fun.

Here are a few tips to keep your child engaged with reading:

• Listen to audiobooks and have your child read along with them
• Have your child read both quietly and out loud to you
• Read out loud to your child
• Re-read his/her favorite books
• Talk about the stories you read together and ask questions like, “What do you think happens next?”
• In addition to traditional school books, branch out into graphic novels and comic books too
• Makeup songs, poems, and even dances to help remember things.
• Play word games
• If your child is younger, use nursery rhymes and play silly rhyming games
• Designate “Family Reading Time” each day where each member of the family reads something enjoyable — this sets a good example, supports your child and shows that reading is important to you too

You can also talk to your child’s learning team about other ways you can create and embrace fun learning strategies at home.

6. Be patient and supportive.

Most children with dyslexia will likely endure trials and tribulations at school that may affect their self-esteem. If your child is struggling, he/she will look to you for strength, comfort, love, and the confirmation that no matter what, they can rely on unconditional support from their parents.

Your child will feed off your energy, so it’s highly advantageous to model feelings of positivity and encouragement despite their dyslexia. Celebrate the small victories, focus on our child’s strengths, and constantly remind them that dyslexia is not their fault, is nothing to be ashamed of, and that you will work through any challenges together.

As the constant support system in your child’s life, remember that you set the tone, and it’s your responsibility to embrace a positive attitude.

7. Focus on the bright side.

Here is a video of Damon John, entrepreneur, and star of the reality show, Shark Tank talking about the positives of dyslexia:

This video from Understood.org speaks to a successful businessman’s journey with dyslexia.

Kudos to you for having the awareness that your child is struggling and may, in fact, suffer from dyslexia. It is with your commitment, support, and love that you can take the next steps to determine how your child’s needs can be met.
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