Orton Gillingham Multisensory Tools: What is Dyslexia?

Posted by Brainspring on 19th Sep 2019

Brainspring Master Instructor Tammi speaks about the ins and outs of dyslexia. See the video below, and enjoy!

Helpful Hints: What is Dyslexia?

Reading is a complex series of events, how does anyone really learn how to read?

First, we have to connect letters and sounds, then we take those sounds and form them into a word, lastly taking the word and assigning meaning to it. We have to repeat this with every word in a sentence and then assign a greater overall meaning to that sentence.

What Dyslexia is Not …

*Dyslexia is not a vision problem.

*Dyslexia is not curable, and one does not outgrow dyslexia, however, with appropriate intervention, a dyslexic can become a proficient reader.

*Dyslexia is not a lack of intelligence, creativity, hard work, or determination.

What Dyslexia is …

*Dyslexia is a brain-based condition in which the dyslexic brain functions differently than the non-dyslexic brain.

*Dyslexia is a life-long condition that impacts reading, spelling, and writing.

*Dyslexia is fairly common, affecting up to 20% of the population in the United States.

*Dyslexia also tends to run in the family.

What are the Symptoms of Dyslexia?

*Dyslexia is so much more than letter reversals. Object naming, word retrieval, word attack, sight word recognition, spelling, and reading fluency can all be challenging for individuals with dyslexia.

*Dyslexics also have difficulty with mispronouncing words, dates, times and directions (left/right, north/south), and learning a foreign language.

*Early symptoms include trouble with rhyming, difficulty isolating syllables, associating letters with their sounds, identifying and manipulating sounds within words.

*Dyslexia is diagnosed based on frequency and severity of the issues listed above.

*Early intervention is important, but it’s never too late.

What Can You Do to Help the Dyslexic Student?

*Adjust your teaching methods to meet the needs of the dyslexic learner.

*An accredited Orton-Gillingham based program is encouraged, as it is designed with the dyslexic reader in mind.

Written by Tammi Brandon, M.Ed., CDP

Tammi Brandon is a Master Instructor and Education Consultant with Brainspring Educator Academy.