Specific Learning Disability: Dyslexia

Definition: Dyslexia is a specific reading disability that primarily interferes with a person’s ability to read, write, and spell. It is biological and affects the brain’s ability to transfer written images into language. Some characteristics include reversing numbers or letters, copying difficulties, memory deficits, disorganization of written work, lack of spatial relationships, difficulty with left and right, and lack of rhythm. There are three different types of dyslexia. The first, trauma dyslexia, is the least common type. It is caused by trauma or injury to the cerebral cortex, the portion of the brain that controls reading and writing. The second type is primary dyslexia. This is the most severe type and is a dysfunction of the cerebral cortex. It never changes and the individual is not likely to read above the fourth grade level. Primary dyslexia is passed down through family genes and is more common in boys. The last type, secondary dyslexia, is also more common in boys than girls. Unlike primary dyslexia, secondary dyslexia can usually go away with maturity. It is caused by hormonal development in early maturity. Children with dyslexia can have difficulty with different things. An individual with visual dyslexia has problems with reversing numbers and letters and writing sequences. They may also have problems with hearing words or letters. This is called auditory dyslexia. Also an individual with dyslexia can have difficulty with holding a pencil, called dysgraphia.

Implications: First of all, I would make sure that the particular student was correctly identified and tested. Then, the next step would be to make sure the student had an IEP. Because a student with dyslexia has no issues with intelligence, inclusion would be very important. It would be important for regular classroom teachers to make adjustments to teach a dyslexic student with peer students. Early treatment is vital to help a student adjust to dyslexia. For students that have trouble with auditory dyslexia, I would tape each lesson and have the student listen to as much as they needed. For students with visual dyslexia, I would have them work on writing letters over and over. A fun way to do this would be to use shaving cream on a table. That way, the student could use their fingers and I could help them. If they got a letter or word wrong, I could write it beside it and they could see the difference. I believe that reading to the child would help greatly, because they could see the words as I pronounce them. The most important way to teach a student with dyslexia is patience and creativity. I may not understand how the child sees letters or hears words, so I must listen to them and find new way to teach that lesson.

Specific Technology:
Tape Recorder: This could be used to tape each lesson for the student. They can listen to a lesson as many times as they need and I could help them understand what they are having trouble with.
Slingerland Method: This is a method of teaching that starts with the most basic form of reading and writing. It uses sight, sound, and feel to understand and comprehend letters and numbers and begins to build upon that.
Project READ: This is another method of teaching students to read using creativity. They use abstract concepts and turn them into concrete ideas.
Computer: A computer would be very useful to help students be able to write without having as many problems with reversing numbers or letters.
Spelling Software: This technology could help students work on spelling and reading by making it fun and easy.

Reference:

Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2007). Dyslexia. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved February 19, 2009 from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dyslexia/DS00224.

Mayo Clinic provided an in-depth overview of dyslexia. It gave details about the definition and symptoms of dyslexia. I used this site mostly for the ideas it gave about treatment of dyslexia.

Greene, V. E. (2006). Project Read. Language Circle. Retrieved from February 19, 2009 from http://www.projectread.com/about-us-con-17.html.

The website of Project Read was very helpful. It presented information about the teaching method, Project Read. It is used for at-risk students and describes how these students best learn.

Perlstein, D. (2009). Dyslexia. Medicine Net. Retrieved February 19, 2009 from http://www.medicinenet.com/dyslexia/article.htm.

This was a very informative website about dyslexia. Medicine Net gave details about what dyslexia is and provided information about the different types of dyslexia. There was information about treatments are out there and gave parents a place to find more about dyslexia.

Slingerland Institute For Literacy. (2009). Slingerland Method. Multisensory Learning Academy. Retrieved February 19, 2009 from http://www.mla.k12.or.us/
index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=51&Itemid=59.

The Multisensory Learning Academy is a public charter school that offers the Slingerland Method. It is a new method of teaching dyslexia students how to cope with their disability and learn to read and write.

Tennessee Center for the Study and Treatment of Dyslexia. (1993). What is Dyslexia? Center for Dyslexia. Retrieved February 19, 2009 from http://dyslexia.
mtsu.edu/about/whatisdyslexia.html.

This website presented different forms of the definition of dyslexia. It gives different symptoms of dyslexia and gives an in-depth look into what a child with dyslexia might see.