What is Dyslexia?
"Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurobiological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities. These difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction. Secondary consequences may include problems in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that can impede growth of vocabulary and background knowledge." (International Dyslexia Association)
What are the early signs and symptoms of a specific learning disorder, namely Dyslexia?
Family History and Early Development
If your child is struggling to read despite extra help, you should seek an evaluation for Dyslexia.
Evaluations for Dyslexia can be done by a Licensed Psychologist that practices neuropsychological testing, such as Dr. Kelsey Lisle. For example, Dr. Lisle will collect background information from parents and teachers and complete standardized testing in order to determine if a specific learning disorder in reading (Dyslexia) is present. Following the evaluation, Dr. Lisle will provide you with a diagnosis (when applicable), a treatment plan, and documentation that can be used to purse and Individualized Education Program (IEP) which is provided in the public school system. IEPs are the gateway for receiving special education services through your school district.
Why should you seek a neuropsychological assessment as opposed to a psycho-educational assessment through your local public school system?
Psycho-educational evaluations typically only evaluate cognitive functioning, academic achievement and some psycho-social development. A neuropsychological assessment is a much more comprehensive evaluation that looks at the whole picture of your child's functioning. It evaluates cognitive abilities (IQ), language development, gross/fine motor development and coordination, processing speed, memory, attention deficits, psychological factors and social-emotional development. Not only will a neuropsychological evaluation determine if Dyslexia is present, but it also assesses if learning disabilities are present in math and writing as well.
When can I have my kid tested for Dyslexia?
Markers of Dyslexia start showing up as early as kindergarten. By January or February of first grade, tests of early word reading, decoding, and spelling begin to be useful in providing information about what the student has learned and what gaps in knowledge exist.
Can my child be successful in life if they are Dyslexic? What are the outcomes later in life?
As a proud Dyslexic herself, Dr. Lisle is dedicated toward being a role model for struggling readers with learning differences. With the correct diagnosis through comprehensive testing for learning disabilities, as well as the appropriate treatment intervention, your child can absolutely lead a gratifying and successful life of literacy.
Take Home Message
If your child is struggling to read, despite exposure to reading and typical interventions at school, it is imperative that they be evaluated in order to receive the earliest intervention possible. The longer you wait to intervene, the worse the outcomes are in terms of their reading skills, as well as their self esteem and enjoyment in learning.
"Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurobiological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities. These difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction. Secondary consequences may include problems in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that can impede growth of vocabulary and background knowledge." (International Dyslexia Association)
What are the early signs and symptoms of a specific learning disorder, namely Dyslexia?
Family History and Early Development
- Reports of reading/spelling difficulties across generations in the family
- Normal prenatal and birth history
- Delays/difficulties acquiring speech/language
- Difficulty with rhyming, blending sounds, learning the alphabet, linking letters with sounds
- Difficulty learning rules for spelling–spell words the way they sound (e.g., lik for like); use the letter name to code a sound (lafunt for elephant)
- Difficulty remembering “little” words–the, of, said–that cannot be “sounded out”
- Listening comprehension is usually better than reading comprehension–may understand a story when read to him but struggles when reading the story independently.
- Reluctant readers
- Slow, word-by-word readers; great difficulty with words in lists, nonsense words and words not in their listening vocabulary
- Very poor spellers–miscode sounds, leave out sounds, add or leave out letters or whole syllables
- Non-fluent writers–slow, poor quality and quantity of the product
- When speaking, may have a tendency to mispronounce common words (floormat for format); difficulty using or comprehending more complex grammatical structures
- Listening comprehension is usually superior to performance on timed measures of reading comprehension (may be equivalent when reading comprehension measures are untimed)
- Weak vocabulary knowledge and use
If your child is struggling to read despite extra help, you should seek an evaluation for Dyslexia.
Evaluations for Dyslexia can be done by a Licensed Psychologist that practices neuropsychological testing, such as Dr. Kelsey Lisle. For example, Dr. Lisle will collect background information from parents and teachers and complete standardized testing in order to determine if a specific learning disorder in reading (Dyslexia) is present. Following the evaluation, Dr. Lisle will provide you with a diagnosis (when applicable), a treatment plan, and documentation that can be used to purse and Individualized Education Program (IEP) which is provided in the public school system. IEPs are the gateway for receiving special education services through your school district.
Why should you seek a neuropsychological assessment as opposed to a psycho-educational assessment through your local public school system?
Psycho-educational evaluations typically only evaluate cognitive functioning, academic achievement and some psycho-social development. A neuropsychological assessment is a much more comprehensive evaluation that looks at the whole picture of your child's functioning. It evaluates cognitive abilities (IQ), language development, gross/fine motor development and coordination, processing speed, memory, attention deficits, psychological factors and social-emotional development. Not only will a neuropsychological evaluation determine if Dyslexia is present, but it also assesses if learning disabilities are present in math and writing as well.
When can I have my kid tested for Dyslexia?
Markers of Dyslexia start showing up as early as kindergarten. By January or February of first grade, tests of early word reading, decoding, and spelling begin to be useful in providing information about what the student has learned and what gaps in knowledge exist.
Can my child be successful in life if they are Dyslexic? What are the outcomes later in life?
As a proud Dyslexic herself, Dr. Lisle is dedicated toward being a role model for struggling readers with learning differences. With the correct diagnosis through comprehensive testing for learning disabilities, as well as the appropriate treatment intervention, your child can absolutely lead a gratifying and successful life of literacy.
Take Home Message
If your child is struggling to read, despite exposure to reading and typical interventions at school, it is imperative that they be evaluated in order to receive the earliest intervention possible. The longer you wait to intervene, the worse the outcomes are in terms of their reading skills, as well as their self esteem and enjoyment in learning.