Dyslexia is a fairly common learning disorder. It is characterized by difficulty reading because of  trouble in decoding how speech sounds relate to letters and words. Dyslexia affects the region of the brain that processes language.

Although people with dyslexia have normal IQ, and frequently have good vision, dyslexia can make school extra hard for kids, teenagers and adults. Those who struggle with this condition usually need extra tutoring and academic help in order to succeed. When given the proper support, however, in most cases dyslexic individuals have no problem doing great things in life. Just ask Leonardo Da Vinci, Albert Einstein, Richard Branson, Keira Knightley, and many other gifted individuals!

Symptoms of Dyslexia

Although there is no single test that can effectively pinpoint the presence of this disorder, a number of clues can indicate if someone has it. These symptoms include:

• Before school: learning to talk late, difficulty growing vocabulary, tendency to reverse sounds in words and say words correctly, problems remembering colors, numbers, or letters.
• Frequent difficulty in finding the right word.
• Inability to sound out a word in order to pronounce it.
• Reading significantly below the expected age level.
• Difficulty spelling.
• Needing an especially long time to do work that requires reading or writing.
• Disliking activities that require reading.
• Trouble understanding what has been seen or heard.
• Difficulty memorizing.
• Mispronouncing names or words.

Even though no known cure for dyslexia exists, there are ways to cope with it and lessen its effect. Primarily, managing dyslexia requires extra sacrifice and effort to accomplish the language tasks that other children and individuals complete with seeming ease. Ideally, diagnoses and the creation of a plan to treat your child’s dyslexia come sooner rather than later. The best intervention usually comes as a result of early assessment and treatment.

Vision Problems and Dyslexia

Also, note that vision problems can often mimic or complicate the diagnosis of dyslexia.  Often children who struggle with binocular vision problems or visual perceptual dysfunctions can have symptoms that people can mistake for dyslexia. Additionally, children who struggle to read or take longer than usual to do homework potentially may lack good eye tracking skills or because they are seeing words blur and double on the page when they read.

Another common symptom parents often confuse with dyslexia is that their child reverses letters or numbers.  While this is normal at younger ages, it can be a sign the child is struggling with visual perception. We have tests that can distinguish a normal amount of letters reversals from something that needs to be treated.  At Washington Vision Therapy Center, we treat vision problems that often cannot be treated with glasses or contact lenses alone. Many of these children have 20/20 vision and even pass an eye exam. The problem is not that they can’t see, it is that they lack the visual coordination necessary to do every day tasks.

At Washington Vision Therapy Center we help kids of many ages and with diverse difficulties and needs. If your child or someone you know wants help with the described struggles, please know that we will be happy to make an appointment with them and see what we can do!