Difficulties recognizing words or decoding letters well, as well as slow reading, are some of the symptoms of dyslexia. Learn more.
Dyslexia is a neurological disorder of genetic origin that affects 5 to 8% of children enrolled in primary and secondary education, characterized «by difficulties inaccurate word recognition, spelling and decoding problems that can trigger emotional disorders and school failure »says Llorenç Andreu, director of the UOC’s Master in Learning Difficulties and Language Disorders.
Andreu cautions that dyslexia is a disorder that goes beyond a specific language difficulty. “Different research shows a high correlation between children with reading problems and school failure, the figures vary between 55 and 80% depending on the criteria of the study and the country where they were made,” says the expert.
Some of the symptoms of dyslexia are:
1. Difficulty relating letters and sounds and decoding learned words.
2. Invert letters, numbers and words.
3. Poor reading comprehension.
4. Confusing words that phonetically resemble each other.
5. Increased activity and impulsivity.
6. Difficulty or delay in memorizing the numbers, the alphabet, the days of the week, the colors and the shapes.
This difficulty in reading can cause emotional disorders “such as low self-esteem, childhood depression, stress, anxiety and loss of motivation for school activities in a high percentage of children,” says the expert. In the social sphere, Andreu explains, «knowing how to read is basic competence in classrooms and in a literate society like ours, the domain of reading opens the doors to access to information and therefore, to full socialization. ». If you notice any symptoms in your little one, go immediately to a specialist so that they determine the appropriate treatment for your treasure.