Dyslexia and How to Help Kids- What do Jennifer Aniston, Whoopi Goldberg, Muhammad Ali, Albert Einstein, Cher, Pablo Picasso, Winston Churchill, Tom Cruise, Walt Disney, George Washington, and Jim Carrey all have in common? 

If you said they had dyslexia, you’re correct.

And they aren’t alone. Stats say that one out of five people struggles with dyslexia, making it one of the most commonly diagnosed learning disabilities. 

According to the Mayo Clinic definition, dyslexia is a learning disorder that involves difficulty reading due to problems identifying speech sounds and learning how they relate to letters and words (decoding). 

Statistics show that over 65 percent of students in the U.S. are below basic reading level by the time they reach the fourth grade. Many of these children struggle with dyslexia (both diagnosed and undiagnosed.) 

October is National Dyslexia Awareness Month and a time to understand and better support those who struggle with reading. 

What is Dyslexia? Understanding Dyslexia Basics

Let’s first start with what dyslexia isn’t. Dyslexia is not:

• Related to Intelligence 
• Connected to vision
• A hearing issue

Dyslexia doesn’t go away once kids learn to read, it isn’t caused by not reading enough, and it can’t be overcome by “trying harder.” 

It isn’t just a first-world problem, either. Children and adults all over the world are diagnosed with dyslexia every year. 

It is a brain-based disorder caused at least in part by fundamental differences in brain regions linked with reading and language (manipulation of sounds.) It’s important to note that dyslexia does not reflect an overall defect in language but a weakness within the phonologic part of the brain. 

Students who are dyslexic are usually bright, excel in areas other than reading, and are talented in art, music, sports, or design. They have high IQs but might not test well academically.  

Other facts about dyslexia:

• There are multiple types of dyslexia including, (phonological dyslexia, surface dyslexia, rapid naming deficit, and double deficit dyslexia)
• Dyslexia exists on a continuum (different levels of difficulty exist)
• It can be inherited and tends to run in families
• With interventions and specialized instruction, students with dyslexia can and do learn to read

Signs of Dyslexia

Contrary to popular belief, the main sign of dyslexia isn’t reading and writing letters backward. In fact, seeing letters backward is actually a myth! Experts explain the “b-d” letter reversal experienced by many is actually caused by deficits in interpreting left and right.

Still, there are some “tale-tale” signs of dyslexia that can help with diagnosis. 

The primary characteristics of dyslexia can include:

• Issues with reading unknown words
• Slow reading (poor fluency)
• Poor spelling and handwriting
• Reads with little comprehension

Other signs and symptoms of dyslexia:

• Early or late developmental stages
• Difficulty learning nursery rhymes
• Confused by letters, numbers, or sequences
• Seem to have a vision problem, but none exists
• Zoning out or issues with concentration 
• Difficulty vocalizing what they are thinking 
• Trouble taking notes or writing things down
• Good at math and problem-solving

Albert Einstein is a classic example of how these symptoms can present. Although he was a Nobel Prize-winning physicist, he struggled with language from birth. In fact, his speech was so delayed that he didn’t even speak with accurate fluency until he was six. 

Some lesser-known signs of dyslexia: 

• Complains about headaches or stomach issues when reading
• Trouble with writing/motor skills 
• Seems clumsy and uncoordinated in some ways
• Sometimes ambidextrous or confuse left from right
• Sensitive to light, sound, temperature, or texture
• Enhanced creativity
• Disorganization or an obsession with orderliness
• Low self-esteem

Enhanced creativity was present for both Pablo Picasso and Walt Disney. Picasso never learned to read on level, but he used this disorder to his advantage. His paintings were often influenced by his dyslexia, seen in the flipping of certain aspects. Walt Disney dropped out of high school but went on to create an animation empire. 

How to Help Kids with Dyslexia

The first way to help as a parent or teacher is to seek a diagnosis. Unfortunately, there is no single test that can diagnose dyslexia. Diagnosis is most often based on development records, educational issues as well as medical history. 

Once a diagnosis is made. Support can begin. This looks different for every child but can include:

• Let them know they are not alone (share stories of successful people who struggled with dyslexia or let them watch season 3, episode 7 of Karma’s World.) 
• Reading together with lots of encouragement and praise
• Finding at-home strategies that work for your child
• Asking for accommodations to be made at school (extra time on tests, recorded lectures, giving verbal rather than written answers.) 
• Giving emotional support and encouraging their hard work
• Encouraging activities they are good at (sports, music, etc.)
• Helping them learn to combat negative self-talk early on

Early diagnosis is so important as it can help children avoid life-long issues experienced by those like actress Jennifer Aniston who wasn’t diagnosed until later in life. 

Aniston says that the revelation that she had dyslexia was life-changing for her. Until then, “I thought I wasn’t smart. I just couldn’t retain anything,” said Aniston. “Now I had this great discovery. I felt like all of my childhood trauma-dies, tragedies, and dramas were explained.” 

Movement-Based Interventions for Dyslexia

One of the most commonly overlooked ways to help kids with dyslexia is by using physical therapy or using movement-based play as an intervention. Because it is a reading disorder, it wouldn’t seem that these two things were connected. 

After all, your child isn’t going to become a better reader by tossing a ball back and forth, right? Correct. But research has shown that physical exercises and movement-based interventions for dyslexia help those with Dyslexia in some unique ways. 

How? Well, it’s certainly not a cure for a brain-based issue. However, it can help with the following:

• Strengthening of gross motor skills
• Strengthening of fine motor skills
• Building confidence and self-esteem
• Reduction in inattentive symptoms

Implementing movement-based activities doesn’t have to be difficult. You can start simply by introducing yoga for kids, getting them involved in team sports, or playing a game of hopscotch.