Slow, Choppy Reader? It Could Be Dyslexia.

Author:Heidi Stoffel,founder of Aspire Academy, Decoding Dyslexia Iowa & Literacy Lifeline.

Dyslexia is trouble with reading, writing and spelling, despite good instruction and normal intelligence. It is the most common reason children will not read at grade-level, yet it is the most ignored by our school system. Dyslexia is the most under-diagnosed ailment of childhood, and schools do not address it. It is the most common reason a child will struggle with reading, and it impacts a child’s entire educational career.

It is VITAL that teachers and parents are attentive to their child’s reading ability during their educational career. Parents and teachers are on the front lines of a child’s reading development, and they are the best ones to see the early signs. Children with dyslexia need an intensive, systematic phonics-based reading program, and they need to receive 120-180 minutes of this type of reading program per week for approximately 2-3 years to attain grade-level reading.

Concerned?
Dyslexia Symptom Checklist – Click Here

Dyslexia is a hidden impairment. Dyslexia is difficulty with processing the sounds of language and assigning the sounds of language to letters. It happens across all IQ levels, and it confuses the child, the parents and teachers. However, it has tell-tale symptoms, and the educational treatment is explicit, systematic phonics instruction.

Children who struggle with reading are more likely to develop depression, anxiety and behavioral outbursts. They avoid reading, writing and homework. Parents and teachers often think the child is not trying because of poor handwriting, absent punctuation and capitalization, and the child’s struggle to master what appear to be simple reading and spelling concepts despite lots of repetition. In addition, the child is often very bright in other areas, so the trouble with reading, writing and spelling does not mesh with the child’s other skills. The child also feels upset, and they will begin to say and feel they are stupid.

Myths about Dyslexia

• If your child struggles with reading, writing and spelling:
  • Take Aspire’s free dyslexia symptom checklist
  • Search our web site for important facts
  • Give us a call to discuss your concerns.
• In Iowa, your child will need specific tutoring for their dyslexia because Iowa schools do not provide the programs needed for children with dyslexia. Helping your child now with targeted, systematic phonics will ensure they can achieve their dreams, go onto higher education and thrive.

#SayDyslexia and save a life!

My name is Heidi Stoffel, and I have a son with moderate dyslexia. It took me years of research to discover how to help him, and because information was so hard to find, I became a dyslexia warrior, helping to create Decoding Dyslexia Iowa and two dyslexia learning centers that deliver systematic phonics tutoring. Information in this article includes statistics from the American Academy of Pediatrics and Overcoming Dyslexia by Dr. Sally Shaywitz of Harvard University.