Testing for Dyslexia in Children in Schools
Most of the history of dyslexia has been compressed into the last 25 years. Before that the condition was practically unknown.
Dyslexics see things differently. Their eyes are the same as those of non-dyslexics, but their brains interpret the signals differently. Because of this they learn differently and need to be taught in the way they learn, not in the traditional mold.
In roughly the last fifteen years, dyslexia in children has routinely been screened for in elementary school. As part of their standard procedures, everyone went through preliminary screening. Those identifies as possibly dyslexic, plus all the teachers identified as having problems with reading, were put through full dyslexia tests which identified whether or not they were dyslexic, and, if so, what type and to what degree was the problem.
Before that, dyslexics were lumped in with the rest of the students and had to take their chances. Most were treated badly by the educational system, called lazy, slow learners, underachievers. They were made to feel ashamed of and embarrassed by their differences and learned to conceal them.
Millions of adult dyslexics today have never taken a dyslexia test. They still struggle with learning and reading difficulties that could be easily overcome if they were only known. A half-hour dyslexia test could make enormous improvements in their self-esteem and abilities.
There are a large number of different types of dyslexia to deal with. There is no standard definition, no real, workable way to sort them out into types and put them into nice, neat categories. Each one is different and needs to be evaluated and taught accordingly.
These differences lead to different symptoms of dyslexia in different dyslexic subjects. Some have trouble reading, especially in reading aloud. Others may have difficulty setting a schedule and keeping to it because of differences in the perception of the passage of time. Still others struggle to write down what someone tells them… All are different.
For more info on dyslexia and how it can be overcome, click on any of the above links.
Disclaimer: This posting is based on information freely available in the popular press and medical journals that deal with dyslexia. Nothing herein is intended to be or should be construed to be medical advice. For medical advice the reader should consult with his or her physician or other medical specialist.
By Samantha Rhodes
