What is Dyslexia and the Systematic Approach to Treatment

One of the most common learning disabilities that people face is dyslexia. Dyslexia is a disability that makes learning language skills difficult, most commonly seen with reading. Other skills those with dyslexia face are spelling, writing, and pronouncing words. It is not precisely clear where dyslexia comes from. What researchers do know is that in most cases it is genetics as it often runs in families. People who experienced a stroke or other brain injury can develop dyslexia too.

About 15% to 20% of the population have some symptom of dyslexia. While the diagnosis is scary, there are ways to help improve reading comprehension and language skills. Learning how to speed read, for one, is a highly recommended place to start. Check out some of the other steps to take towards beating out dyslexia.

Decrease distractions

Shut off the TV, lower the music’s volume, and sign off of social media accounts. Most people with dyslexia also have ADHD, which interferes with their attention span. Help keep their mind focused by making the environment where they are studying a distraction-free zone.

Preview text before reading

Before diving into a document, those with dyslexia should review it briefly to get an idea of what it is about. Read the chapter’s title, the first couple of sentences, and even the conclusion. If there are charts, photos, or graphs, those are all good to look over before beginning to read the chapter from start to finish. Having a better idea about what the text is about is a highly effective strategy for beating out dyslexia.

The link system

Another effective way to help treat those with dyslexia is to build a memory bank of words. This is especially beneficial for those who struggle with vocabulary. Go through words and associate everyday items with them. You can get creative with this exercise by making up stories surrounding words. Whatever it takes to build on memory is a good strategy for helping those with dyslexia.

Break it down

Some with dyslexia have short attention spans and tend to lose interest when reading for a long period of time. Rather than forcing it, break the text down into smaller pieces. This way, they will not get so frustrated or overwhelmed. Have them practice this each time as that is the only way for things to get better.

Skim and scan

Following along with the text with an object is a helpful exercise to practice. Have the dyslexic trace a pencil along what they are reading which works to teach the eyes to move quickly and stay focused. A common issue those with dyslexia run into is that they stop to re-read a sentence or word, losing track of what they were reading altogether. Help the person stay focused and reassure them of their overall knowledge of words and context. Every bit of encouragement counts!

Reading rate matters

A common misconception about dyslexia is to have the person read slower and sound out the words. The problem is that those with dyslexia are picture thinkers, and going at a slower pace gives a dyslexic’s mind time to focus on those photos. Their mind begins to forget or have a harder time understanding a piece of text. Reading at a more rapid rate gives no time for the mind to create photos to associate with words. Now the brain has a higher chance at improving its concentration and comprehension levels.

With time and practice, those with dyslexia can improve the rate at which they read, write, and comprehend. Learning the foundations of speed reading is the first step. Our speed reading courses are ideal for students and professionals struggling with the symptoms of dyslexia. Click to find out more about our Speed Reading Foundation Course.