06/08/2023
Oops! He keeps mixing those letters up, and sometimes they come out as something else. He has Dyslexia. Dyslexia is a learning disorder that involves difficulty reading due to problems identifying speech sounds and learning how they relate to letters and words (decoding). The brains of people with the disorder process the visual information differently.
Handled early and properly, Dyslexia should not hold anyone back. Here’s a partial list of famous people who were formally diagnosed with it: Albert Einstein; Cher; Richard Branson; Henry Winkler; Tom Cruise; Charles Schwab; Steven Spielberg; Pablo Picasso; Steve Jobs; and Salma Hayek. Clearly, the barriers can be overcome.
It’s important to get help early. The earlier the condition is diagnosed, the better the outcome. At the very least, the condition needs to be addressed before it begins to chip away at the person’s self-esteem. Remember, from K through 3rd grades we learn to read. From 4th grade on, we read to learn … at least that’s what is supposed to happen. If the reading skill development is stalled, the information channel becomes blocked. At that point, the person begins to fall further and further behind. This tears at a person’s self-worth, as that person begins to believe they are dumb or stupid. The emotional damage can be swift and severe. Early intervention puts the brakes on the downslide.
This concept can basically be applied to all learning disabilities. They begin to erode the person’s self-esteem. He/she begins to develop a psychological condition called “learned helplessness.” Because they believe there isn’t anything they can do to avoid failure, they give up. They have “learned” that they are helpless to stop the failure. It’s very important to address any learning difficulties before learned helplessness set in.
If you for someone you know is struggling with learning, it’s best to seek out the professional help of a psychologist specializing in learning disabilities or an Educational Therapist.
So, the question should have been, “Do You Have Dyslexia?”
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