Dyslexia

Introduction

Physical handicaps might also lead to slackness at school. A child with a hearing or visual impairment  needs attention. Dyslexic children have problem learning to read and write, particularly in learning to spell correctly and to express thoughts on paper. They may have trouble in differentiating between left and right, in learning to tell the time or tie shoe laces, or in following instructions, or  they may even confuse spoken sounds. Any hearing defect must be ruled out in these children.

A child having dyslexia may  be wrongly diagnosed , as being mentally retarded. That is not correct and today these children can have normal schooling and do not show backwardness in other subjects. In fact they may be highly gifted in other fields, such as business, the science and creative art. Albert Einstein, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Alva  Edison and Hans Christian Anderson were all said to be dyslexic.

Early diagnosis is important in these children so that remedial measures can be taken during the critical periods for acquiring language skills.

Once the diagnosis is established a specialist teacher prepares an individualized programme for the child with the help of a parents, teachers, friends and member of the family to provide learning strategies  for the dyslexic child.

The Maharashtra Dyslexia Association

303 Jharna, Dr Ambedkar Road

Mumbai 400052

The Madras Dyslexia Association,

10/1 Sambasivam Street, T Nagar,

Chennai 600017

The Educare Centre,

M-2 Hauz Khas

New Delhi 110016