Navigating Dyslexia: A Mother’s Empowering Journey and Expert Insights
Navigating Dyslexia: A Mother’s Empowering Journey
Imagine seeing the phrase “everything will be fine” as “ВСН БУТНД ХООРОШ.” This is how some individuals with dyslexia perceive text. In honor of Dyslexia Awareness Month, Maria Stolyarova, a mother of a child with dyslexia, shares her journey and insights on this unique brain development and how children with dyslexia are supported in European countries.
The Gift of Dyslexia
“Congratulations, your child is a genius!” These were the welcoming words Maria heard at a European school when she mentioned her son Gleb’s dyslexia. “We love having such children and know how to work with them. They are all very smart. Don’t worry, your son will do great here.” For parents, these words are a tremendous support and a testament to the progressive approach to dyslexia in some educational systems.
Embracing the Journey
Although Gleb’s classes at the new school hadn’t started yet, Maria was confident that he would thrive despite his difficulties with writing, reading, and adapting to a foreign language, unfamiliar environment, and the stress of moving. If your child has dyslexia, remember that everything will be fine for both of you. The key is to take a deep breath, involve grandparents, teachers, and tutors, and view dyslexia not as a problem but as an amazing ability.
Understanding Dyslexia
Dyslexia is not a disease; it’s a different way of processing information. It cannot be cured but can be well managed with special techniques. While children with dyslexia may face more challenges in their early school years, they often achieve phenomenal results later on. Their greatest strengths lie in creativity and innovative thinking, often coming up with solutions that others might never consider. The primary task of parents and educators is to preserve and develop this incredible ability.
Support and Resources
Today, there are special programs for children who struggle with reading, writing, or calculation skills. In many countries, skilled neuropsychologists can determine the type of dyslexia and create an individual correction program. Each child with dyslexia has a unique “dyslexic code” shaped by genetic factors, pregnancy conditions, childbirth, and other influences.
Famous Individuals with Dyslexia
Dyslexia has been actively discussed only in recent years, but dyslexic individuals have always existed and have made significant contributions to society. Some of the most famous include:
- Albert Einstein
- Thomas Edison
- Hans Christian Andersen
- Leonardo da Vinci
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
- Pablo Picasso
- John F. Kennedy
- Tom Cruise
Thomas Edison’s biography includes a remarkable story about how his mother’s belief in him turned an “mentally deficient” student into one of the world’s greatest inventors.
Believing in Your Child
Do not let the system mistreat your highly capable child. If you suspect your child has dyslexia, find a qualified neuropsychologist, discuss this characteristic with the teacher, and do not allow anyone to label your child as “stupid,” “slow,” or “lazy.” Try to preserve your child’s psycho-emotional health and avoid reading everything on the internet, as misinformation can be harmful.
Signs of Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a broad term for various information processing characteristics, so its manifestations can vary greatly. Some common types include:
- Dyslexia: Difficulties in developing reading skills.
- Dysgraphia: Difficulties in mastering written language.
- Dyscalculia/Acalculia: Various degrees of impairment related to arithmetic operations.
- ADHD: Types of attention deficit syndromes (and hyperactivity) that cause impulsivity, consistent inattention, and varying degrees of hyperactivity.
When to Consult a Neuropsychologist
Dyslexia is often identified in elementary school, around the 3rd or 4th grade, when it becomes evident that a child struggles with reading, always writes with errors, or has difficulty with simple arithmetic. Consult a neuropsychologist if your child exhibits any of the following signs:
- Transposes, omits, or does not complete letters and syllables while reading and writing.
- Distorts words or adds extra letters and syllables.
- Writes many letters and numbers in mirror image.
- Cannot correctly repeat several numbers in a given order.
- Refuses to read aloud.
- Has difficulty memorizing letters, words, and concepts.
- Sees one thing but pronounces another (letters, words, numbers).
- Cannot determine the boundaries of words and sentences.
- Struggles to memorize poems or the multiplication table.
- Has difficulty distinguishing left from right.
- Cannot remember the order of the days of the week, months, confuses the names of the seasons, and has a poor understanding of time.
- Struggles to sit still, wait for their turn, or focus to avoid forgetting or losing things.
Conclusion
Children with dyslexia may not fit well into traditional school systems. They will always be outside the norms because few know how to handle and teach them effectively. It’s important to understand that the child is not at fault and that they will need to make tremendous efforts to master simple skills because their unique brain and non-standard thinking need to be decoded for the usual coordinate system. Often, individuals with dyslexia score the highest on IQ tests, indicating that their intelligence is perfectly fine.
For more information on dyslexia, consider the book “The Gift of Dyslexia” by Ronald Davis and visiting the International Dyslexia Association website.
