Dyslexia is a learning disorder related to language, characterized by difficulty in reading, writing and spelling simple words. The word dyslexia literally means "deviation or difficulty in reading and recognizing words".
It is a unexpected failure in learning, at an age when those skills should already be automated.
As the child has difficulty understanding writing, it tends to decrease his or her reading experience, which may prevent the development of vocabulary and general knowledge
Dyslexia is most common in boys and reaches 10 to 15% of the world population. Almost half of the cases diagnosed in the most critical age group, between 10 and 12 years old, are of a severe degree, 40% are of a moderate degree and about 20% of the cases are mild.
It is important to note that dyslexia has no connection with sensory or psychic disturbances, nor with the level of intelligence of individuals.
Contrary to many people's dyslexia is not associated with a low intellectual level. In fact, a dyslexic may exhibit above-average patterns for its age in other areas.
What are the causes of dyslexia?
Dyslexia originates neurobiological. Dyslexic individuals seem to have difficulty using the areas of the brain responsible for word analysis and reading automation.
How to identify dyslexia?
Children with dyslexia may present the following signs:
At preschool age:
- Dispersal;
- Poor development of attention and motor coordination;
- Delay in the development of speech and language;
- Difficulty learning songs and rhymes;
- Difficulty in jigsaw puzzles;
- Little interest in books.
- In school age:
- Difficulty acquiring and automating reading and writing;
- Poor knowledge of rhyme (same sound at the end of words) and alliteration (same sound at the beginning of words);
- Lack of attention and dispersion;
- Difficulty in copying books or pictures;
- Difficulty writing, drawing and painting (fine motor coordination) and practicing exercises or dancing (thick motor coordination);
- Lots of clutter;
- Constant delays in the delivery of school work;
- Loss of your belongings;
- Confusion to identify left and right;
- Difficulty in using maps, dictionaries;
- Poor vocabulary, with short sentences and immature or long and vague;
- Difficulty in choosing appropriate words to communicate, both oral and written.
Despite the dyslexia has no cure, dyslexic people can find ways to perform their tasks successfully, but it is important that dyslexia be diagnosed as early as possible.
O diagnosis is done through analysis of the history and symptoms through that can be made by the pediatrician that accompanies the child. However, in more complex cases, it is necessary the participation of professionals in the areas of neuropediatrics, speech therapy and psychopedagogy.
