Dyslexia is a learning disability that affects the ability to read, write, write and speak. Children with it are often intelligent and hardworking but have trouble making connections between the letters they see and the sounds they make. About 5 to 10 hardworking but have trouble making connections between the letters they see and the sounds they make. About 5 to 10 percent of Americans have some symptoms of dyslexia, such as slow reading, difficulty writing, or confusing words. Adults can also have these learning disabilities. Some people are diagnosed early in life. Others do not realize they have dyslexia until they are older. Children with dyslexia usually have normal vision and are as intelligent as their peers. But they have more problems at school because they need more time to study. It is difficult to write, write and speak due to text processing difficulties.

What causes dyslexia?

It is genetically related, so the disease often runs in families. If a parent, sibling, or other relative has dyslexia, they are more likely to have dyslexia. This condition is caused by differences in the parts of the brain that process language. In people with dyslexia, imaging scans have shown that areas of the brain that are supposed to be active when reading does not work properly. When children learn to read, they first identify the sound each letter makes. For example, 'B' sounds like 'buh'. 'M' makes the 'em' sound. Then you learn how to arrange those sounds to form words ('C-A-T' spells 'cat'). Finally, he has to figure out what the word means ('cat' is a meowing animal with fur).

Children with dyslexia have difficulty connecting letters with the sounds their brain makes and putting these sounds together into words. So to someone with dyslexia, the word 'cat' can be read as 'tack'. These interventions can make learning a slow and difficult process.

Dyslexia varies from person to person. Some people have milder forms that eventually learn to control. Others are harder to overcome. Although children cannot completely overcome dyslexia, they can still go to college and be successful.

Treatment of dyslexia

If your child has dyslexia, there are several treatments available to improve reading and writing skills. This program also helps children catch up with their schoolmates.

The younger children start treatment, the greater the chance of success. However, adults with dyslexia can continue to improve their skills with the right help.

Dyslexia treatment is individualized. Your child will work with one or more professionals to develop a program that meets his or her unique needs.

The dyslexia test

To connect your child to the right dyslexia program, your doctor or education professional will test your child's ability to read and write. An educational psychologist can perform tests to determine if a learning disability is related to problems such as depression or ADHD. With an accurate diagnosis, we can work with your child's doctors, teachers, and education professionals to develop a learning program.

Read the program

Children with dyslexia have difficulty matching letters to sounds and words to meanings. I need extra help learning to read and write. Your child can work with a learning expert to:

• Letters and sound words ('phonics')
• read quickly
• Understand more of what they read.
• more exactly

Many educational programs target children with dyslexia. their:

Orton Gillingham. A step-by-step method that teaches you to match letters and sounds and recognize letter sounds in words.

Multi-sensory learning teaches children to learn new skills using all their senses: touch, sight, hearing, smell, and movement. For example, your child learns to write by stroking sandpaper letters with his fingers.

Additional help

Ask your child's school about ways to help meet your child's unique learning needs. The law requires schools to develop a special curriculum known as an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) for children with learning disabilities such as dyslexia. The IEP describes your child's needs and how the school can help meet them. You and the school will update the annual plan based on your child's progress.

Additional supports for children with dyslexia may include:

Special education. Education or learning professionals may provide individual or group instruction in the classroom or a separate room in the school.

Accommodation. The IEP describes special services that will make schoolwork easier for your child. These may include audiobooks, extra time to complete tests, or text-to-speech technology (the ability to read words aloud from a computer or book). School is not the only place where your child can learn. It can also help develop reading and writing skills at home. If possible, read it with your child. Help them say the words they struggle with.

Learning strategies

The following tips can help both children and adults with dyslexia.

• Read in a quiet place without distractions.
• Listen to a book on a CD or computer and read along with the recording.
• Break training and other tasks into manageable chunks.
• Ask your teacher or manager for additional help when needed.
• Join a support group for children or adults with dyslexia.
• Get plenty of rest and eat healthily. As children grow, they learn to cope with dyslexia. A learning disability shouldn't stop you from doing well in school, going to college, or having a successful career later.