What is Dyslexia?
Dyslexia is a neurological difference that can have a significant impact during education, in the workplace and in everyday life.
Many dyslexic people experience difficulty in processing information that they see and hear, which can affect learning and the acquisition of literacy skills, although memory and organisational skills can also be affected.
Dyslexia occurs independently of intelligence and can co-occur with other specific learning difficulties. It usually runs in families and is a life-long condition. As each person is unique, with differing profiles of strengths and weaknesses, everyone’s experience of dyslexia is different.
It is important to remember that there are positives to thinking differently with many dyslexic people show strengths in areas such as reasoning and in visual and creative fields.
Signs of Dyslexia
Common signs to look out for are:
Slow speed of working when reading or writing
Difficulty in blending letters together
Missing out words, failing to recognise familiar words and adding extra words when reading
Hesitant reading or reading that lacks expression
Poor comprehension when reading
Difficulty identifying the most important information from a passage
Confusing the order of letters in reading / writing
Confusing similar letters e.g. b / d, p / q, p / q, m / w, n / u
Struggling to remember sequences e.g. the alphabet, times tables
Word finding difficulties
Struggling to transfer ideas / thoughts down onto paper
Weak or inconsistent spelling, often spelling the same word several different ways
A poor standard of written work compared to oral ability
Handwriting difficulties with letter reversals and / or poorly formed letters
Appearing to have poor concentration
Difficulty remembering instructions
A lack of confidence and low self-esteem.
“The assessment process was straightforward and followed up by a very detailed report. Heather made the time to talk us through it and we were left with a clear understanding of our child's needs and next steps. Heather is easy to talk to and a true professional. She understands the concerns of parents and how to help children to achieve their full potential. Heather makes all of her sessions hands on and engaging and my daughter has grown dramatically in confidence and ability. We couldn’t be happier.”
PARENT OF A YEAR 7 STUDENT