Learning disability is a problem in school skills, regardless of any organic cause. This is not the result of mental retardation, emotional defect, or cultural factors.
What is Dyslexia (Learning Difficulty)?
Dyslexia; it is the learning difference that mainly affects skills such as reading and writing. Although the definition of learning disability covers a wider group, it is often used synonymously with dyslexia. Dyslexia is a condition that affects the information processing processes in the brain in general, as well as affecting reading and writing skills.
That's why people with dyslexia may have trouble understanding and interpreting what they hear and see, and remembering. People with learning disabilities may also have problems in organizing their work and managing their time.
What are the Types of Learning Disabilities?
Types of dyslexia are divided into three main groups:
- Dysnemkinesia: It is the type that affects muscle skills. For example, the patient cannot learn how to write the letter, and can write the letter "d" instead of the letter "b".
- Dysphonia: Affects auditory skills. The person has difficulty in understanding and saying unfamiliar words.
- Dysedia: Visual skills are affected. It causes problems such as not being able to recognize the written word.
What are the Symptoms of Dyslexia?
Symptoms of learning disabilities may differ depending on age. The diagnosis of dyslexia is usually made in children starting school. Although there are symptoms that may suggest learning difficulties in children in the pre-school period, they may not attract attention. your teacher; When the student sees that he has problems in learning, writing and reading, the situation is realized and a doctor is consulted.
Symptoms common in preschool ages:
- Late start to speak
- Difficulty in learning new words
- Confusing words with similar words while saying words, inability to form properly
- Forgetting the names of colors and numbers
- Can be counted as having difficulty saying rhymes that rhyme.
- Not being able to read properly as expected for her age
- Difficulty in understanding and perceiving what she heard
- Not being able to find the appropriate answer when answering the question, inability to express properly
- Inability to remember the sequence and order while doing a task
- Confusing both the appearance and pronunciation of similar letters and words
- Difficulty in reading unfamiliar words
- Having difficulty in spelling
- Spending more time than necessary on assignments involving writing and reading
- Behaviors such as avoiding tasks that require reading can be observed.
Dyslexia causes symptoms similar to children in adults.
Features of dyslexia, which is common in adults:
- Difficulty in reading silently and aloud
- Difficulty in reading and writing, doing it slowly
- Difficulty in spelling
- Avoiding situations that require reading
- Having problems saying names and words
- Not understanding sentences containing metaphorical or figurative words
- Spending a lot of time doing a task that requires reading and writing
- Having trouble summarizing a story
- Having difficulty learning a foreign language
- Difficulty memorizing
- Inability to manage the time properly
- Many negative situations can be listed, such as difficulty in solving math problems.
Causes Dyslexia?
Learning difficulties The reasons have not yet been fully elucidated. However, it is known that there are some neurological differences in people with dyslexia. In addition, it has been discovered that some parts of the left lobe, where the speech center is located in the brain, may be different in these individuals.
The genes thought to cause these differences in the brain have been identified. This is 'Is dyslexia genetic?' brought the question to mind. The fact that people with learning disabilities are gathered in a cluster in some families and the genes that cause structural differences in the brain indicate that dyslexia has a genetic basis.
What are the Risk Factors for Learning Disability?
- The presence of a person or individuals with dyslexia in the family
- Premature birth or low birth weight Being born with a child's birth certificate
- Negative effects on the baby's brain development in the mother's womb as a result of nicotine, alcohol, drug use during pregnancy or an infection during pregnancy
- Individual differences in the part of the brain that allows reading to increase the risk for dyslexia.
How Is Dyslexia Diagnosed?
There is no single diagnostic tool like dyslexia test. In order to diagnose learning disability, the patient should be examined in detail.
One of the most important data for diagnosis is taking the patient's medical, developmental and cognitive history. The patient himself or a relative; It is expected that the patient will answer various questions such as when he/she starts to speak, whether he/she often mixes words while saying, and his/her reading and writing status compared to his/her peers when he/she starts school. The answers to these questions will be a guide for the doctor.
General neurological examination is also used to evaluate the patient's condition.
The diagnosis is confirmed by performing various tests that measure the patient's cognitive status according to age. Tests that can be called learning disability tests can be done, in which skills such as reading and writing are evaluated. Psychological evaluation may also be requested to investigate whether there is an accompanying mood disorder.
How Is Dyslexia Treated for Learning Disorder?
There is no cure for dyslexia completely. However, a remarkable success can be achieved with early diagnosis and supportive treatments. A high rate of success can be achieved, especially with treatment programs started at a young age.
Using specialized teaching techniques in children with learning disabilities affects the education of patients with dyslexia positively. It may be helpful for the teacher to take steps to embody the hearing process. For example, while the child listens to a text orally, following the text by touching the paper on which the text is written with embossed letters makes it easier to learn. Word formation a When speaking, it is necessary to start with small words and move on to more complex words as you progress.
Dyslexia exercises can also be used in the treatment, such as giving practice by repeatedly reading the words that are difficult to read.
Children with dyslexia; It should be supported by practices such as monitoring whether he understands what he reads, and encouraging him to ask about the parts he does not understand.
Initiation of treatment for learning disabilities at an early age is a very important parameter for treatment success. Children who are treated early and treated without interruption can reach the same academic level as their peers. However, children who are delayed in starting their treatment and who do not follow the treatment carefully may face serious problems academically.
What Should Families Do in Case of Learning Disability?
When you notice the features that coincide with dyslexia symptoms in your child, you can see a specialist. You should consult a doctor and get help regarding the issue.
In case your child is diagnosed with dyslexia, in accordance with his/her age; If the child is small, activities that encourage reading such as reading fairy tales aloud and reading time for children who can read and write can be applied.
Being in constant communication with the teacher about your child with learning difficulties contributes positively to the whole process. With the interest and attention of both the teacher and the parent, the probability of progress in the child increases.
It is very important to explain that dyslexia is not a failure, but a condition that can be overcome with proper study and practice. The child's self-confidence should not be broken. Encouraging speeches should be given to the child and he/she should be enthusiastic about subjects such as reading and learning.
The child's study environment should be quiet, calm and free from distractions as much as possible.
With all these practices, the negative effects of learning difficulties in the child are tried to be reduced.
What Adults with Dyslexia Should Do?
Adults should also divide their daily responsibilities and chores into small parts in addition to those of children. Before starting the day, it will be useful to plan the work to be done by creating a schedule
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