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Facilitator: Konstanca, Dyslexia Correction, Tasman Bay

WHAT IS DYSLEXIA?

"Dyslexia is a learning style. It is not a disease or an identifiable physical condition. Dyslexics commonly experience difficulty with reading, writing, spelling and/or mathematical symbols. They also show outstanding strengths in other areas."

SYMPTOMS OF DYSLEXIA

The listing below indicates some of the most common symptoms characterizing a dyslexic individual. One may have a number of these symptoms in any combination.

VISION:

• Reverses letters, numbers, or sequences.
• Spells incorrectly or inconsistently.
• Substitutes words when reading or writing.
• Omits words or lines when reading or writing.
• Omits punctuation and capital letters.
• Two, three, and four-letter words provide difficulty when reading.
• Letters and numbers appear to move, grow, shrink, or disappear.

BALANCE AND MOVEMENT:

• Experiences dizziness, nausea, or headaches when reading.
• Poor sense of direction: confuses left/right, difficulties with map reading.
• Inability to sit still.
• Handwriting difficulties.
• Balance and coordination problems.

TIME:

• Difficulties to learn Math Concepts.
• Sequencing difficulties.
• Loses train of thought easily.
• Excessive daydreaming.
• Difficulty in reading clocks, especially manual clocks.
• Difficulty being on time or keeping track of time.
• Hyperactivity (being overactive).
• Hypoactivity (being under-active).

HEARING:

• Appears not to listen or hear what is said.
• Mispronunciation of consonant blends and complex words.
• Struggles when putting thoughts into words.
• "False" sounds are perceived.
• Sounds are perceived as quieter, louder, closer or farther away than reality.

SELF-ESTEEM/SCHOOL BEHAVIORS:

• Feelings of low self-esteem and expresses feeling, "I am stupid."
• Easily frustrated with academic work.
• Uses avoidance techniques with school work.
• Tests too high to qualify for extra help at school, but does not succeed well at academic work.

All of these symptoms can be a result of disorientation which is at the root of most learning difficulties. Disorientation occurs in varying degrees from one person to the next and from moment to moment.