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RECOGNIZING DYSLEXIA -
DYSLEXIA SYMPTOMS
WHAT
IS DYSLEXIA?
Meeting
Andy When I tested his letter knowledge, he reversed b and d, p and q and c and f. The numbers 3 and 7 were also reversed. His formation of the letters r, n, and z was reversed, starting from the right to the left but the finished letter was correctly formed. Upon checking his ability to sequence letters, he could not say the alphabet but resorted to singing it and returning to"A" each time he lost his place. He inserted an "N" after "Y" and before"Z" in his alphabet song. When reading, he experienced most difficulty with two and three letter words such as on, in, at, and saw. He experienced difficulties sequencing letters when spelling even though all the letters ! were there. When trying to decode words and when speaking, Andy often reverses syllables even though he knows what he wants to read or say. He prefers to print with his notebook sideways on the desk and actually has difficulty with the transition to cursive writing. In math, he tends to add and subtract from the left column and from the bottom to the top. He needs constant repetition to retain his multiplication tables and sight vocabulary. His general knowledge is excellent and he can speak at length about a variety of topics. He is athletic, bright looking, and very artistic. Trouble
with spelling Examples
of misspelled words are: Difficulty copying
from the board He said that he looks at a word on the board and then looks down to write it. When he looks up again to write the next word, he can't find where he was in the note and spends time searching the whole board for it. He said it's easy to copy when there are just a few words on the board and when the teacher prints. It is easier for him when he is in a class with a black board and not a white board on which the teacher uses markers. A chalky, dusty board makes it hard to read because, "My eyes go different and I have to focus again." Andy said that it is really hard to copy when there are distractions in the classroom or when he has to copy while the teacher is explaining the lesson at the same time. Once in a while, he gets everything copied. Usually, he doesn't and the teacher makes him stay in at recess and noon until it's done. If it's still not finished, he has to work at it all day everytime there is free time. Flora E. Gillis Flora Gillis is a student on the Dyslexia Certificate course. LOWERED SELF-CONFIDENCE IN ONE GIRL Disliking school Every morning, Alice will think of all means to avoid going to school by feigning sickness. This battle has been going on ever since she started school two years ago. Her mother has to walk her to school everyday to ensure she goes into the classroom. Alice always sits at the back of the class, slouches on her chair and daydreams. Her book will be placed on the desk, unopened, as she felt confused looking at the letters “jumping around”. She is convinced that she is beyond hope as her teacher and classmates have subtly labeled her as “stupid”. She dreads English and will lower her head and slide further down her chair, hoping the teacher will not notice her. A couple of times, she was asked to read aloud. She froze in her seat, perspired profusely and stammered as she tried to make out the words. The whole class burst into laughter. The only activity she looks forward to is the music lesson as she feels good every time she gets to perform playing on the piano in front of the whole class. Her report In the Semester report to parents, Alice’s teacher commented: ”Alice doesn’t seem interested in the class. She yawns and always looks tired. She draws aimlessly on her textbook during the lesson and copies her classmates’ work instead of trying out the homework herself. The teachers spent extra time coaching her during recess and after school but there’s hardly any improvement.” “Her work appeared slip-shod and many teachers can hardly make out what she wrote despite giving her many writing exercises. She was indifferent to correction from the teachers and we couldn’t tell whether or not she understood the concepts. For her own good, we recommend the parents send her to some special school because we feel she is not ready for the pace of our school curriculum.” Melanie Chong Melanie Chong is a student on the Dyslexia Certificate course.
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