Reading Skills in Children with Dyslexia

Dyslexia does not imply that a child suffering from it cannot be happy and successful. There is a long list of renowned personalities who had dyslexia. This list includes Albert Einstein, Winston Churchill, Picasso, Steven Spielberg and Walt Disney. Dyslexia is not a developmental disorder or a problem with visual perception. It is primarily associated with ‘troubled-reading’. Specialists and educators occasionally refer to it as a “reading disorder”. But it can accessibly affect writing, spelling and even speaking skills of a child.

Grappling hard with reading and several other issues can lead to frustration and low morale in a child. The stress of competing with other children might demotivate them. There are a number of special needs schools catering special programs, tools and techniques that can help dyslexic children deal with their academic as well as daily life.

Enhancement of Reading Skills

Students with dyslexia experience difficulties with 'reading comprehension'. It is hard for them to read, comprehend and retain what they've read. They need to develop various skills based on:

• Sounds of Letters

Each letter of the alphabet is connected with a specific sound(s). Scholars call these sounds 'phonics'. Recognizing and retaining these sounds can make children pronounce words effortlessly.

• Decoding

The process of pronouncing words is known as “decoding”. Decoding words individually gives rise to the meaning of the entire sentence.

• Identifying Words

Being able to read a familiar word at a glance without sounding it aloud is called “word recognition”. An average reader can identify a word after sounding it out a dozen times or so. But a dyslexic child may need to see it up to 40 before they are able to identify it. Recognizing words by sight determines the reading speed of a person.

• A Fluent Reading

Reading fluently can help enhance word recognition and pronounce unfamiliar words without hindrance. Smooth reading abilities are essential for good reading comprehension.

• Interpreting the Meaning

Reading not only involves pronunciation of words but interpreting and recalling them too. Dyslexic children struggle with the fluency of reading which interrupts the inflow of information. It's harder for them to apprehend and relate the information acquired to the already existing one.

There are various special needs schools which have employed specific teachers and therapists that are trained in teaching methods and techniques which can help children with dyslexia succeed.