Bryan Rollins
My husband struggled mightily with dyslexia in school and still isn’t too fond of reading. Is it possible to discover if one of our young children is following in his footsteps?
Curious
There is some evidence that children of parents who are dyslexic are more likely to also be dyslexic. Since you know that dyslexia runs in your husband’s family, you do need to watch for early warning signs.
Dyslexia can be identified as early as pre-K. And the earlier it is identified, the greater the likelihood of your child’s success in school. Please remember that having some of the signs of dyslexia does not mean your children will be dyslexic. However, if you think they might, get help as early as you can from people (doctors, psychologists, teachers, childcare providers) who know your child. You also need to become as familiar as you can with dyslexia. Visit the websites of the International Dyslexia Association, the National Center for Learning Disabilities, and the Learning Disabilities Association of America. You might also want to read Overcoming Dyslexia by Sally Shaywitz. She lays out what parents can do to help their children year by year, grade by grade, and step by step.
Here are some things to look for: When did your child start talking? Most children will begin to say words by their first birthday. By the time they are 2, they should be using phrases. Four-year-olds should be able to repeat nursery rhymes. And by the time your child is ready for kindergarten, he or she should be able to tell if two words such as “fair” and “hair” rhyme.
Once your children were speaking, how did they pronounce words? By 5 or 6, most children will not have any problems saying words correctly. On the other hand, children who are still leaving off beginning sounds, such as saying “potamus” for “hippopotamus,” are showing a possible early sign of dyslexia.
Parents should send questions and comments todearteacher@dearteacher.com or to the Dear Teacher website.
Compass Syndicate Corporation, 2018
Distributed by King Features Syndicate