Overview of Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a type of learning disability that stems from the brain and nervous system. People with dyslexia have a more difficult time reading, spelling and sounding out words. Having dyslexia does not have anything to do with how intelligent someone is. It is merely a dysfunction of how the brain sees and interprets words and numbers. There are varying degrees of dyslexia, and everyone with the disorder does not exhibit the same symptoms in the same way. Parents with dyslexia are highly likely to have kids with this disability.
How Dyslexia Affects Learning
Approximately 15 to 20 percent of Americans have dyslexia. Some symptoms include reading slowly, difficulty reading, inept writing and spelling skills, and confusion of words that look alike. Having dyslexia makes it more difficult to translate words on a page into thoughts and ideas. Even though someone with dyslexia may be able to read the words on the page, understanding them is difficult. This reading comprehension is a critical component to learning. When words that are read are not understood, then the knowledge that results from what is being read is negatively affected. Learning happens through the accumulation and understanding of facts and information over time. Each new learned fact or idea is built on background information and understanding. If that foundational understanding is compromised, then so is the learning that is supposed to take place afterward.
In addition to affecting reading, writing, and spelling, dyslexia affects speaking and the understanding of speech. People with dyslexia have problems speaking even when their friends, family, and schoolmates speak well. Their learning is affected by the fact that they have difficulty conveying their thoughts and understanding what ideas others are trying to express to them. Learning is facilitated through the written and spoken word which makes it easy to understand how people with dyslexia have a hard time learning.
The Affect of Dyslexia on the Person
While having dyslexia makes it more difficult to learn through standard teaching methods, it is still possible to learn through adapted teaching methods. Having dyslexia does not necessarily affect one's desire and motivation to learn. Although over time, it can have a significant impact on a person. If no intervention takes place, people with dyslexia can develop a negative outlook on learning and can develop a negative self-image. They can feel ashamed and embarrassed to admit their disability because of the stigma associated with learning disabilities. If left unchecked, having dyslexia can negatively affect a student's learning experience by making learning more difficult and decreasing motivation and desire to participate in school.
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