What happens when dyslexia goes undectected?

Dyslexia can go undetected in childern in their early grades of school. The child can become frustrated by the difficulty in learning to read, and other problems can arise that disguise dyslexia. The child may start to show signs of depression and low self-esteem. Behavior problems at home as well as in school are frequently seen. The child may become unmotivated and develop a dislike for school. The child's success in school may be jeopardized if the problem remains untreated.

Video on Dyslexia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDUfVCo6ito

Famous Dyslexics

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_qGJ9svUbM

Female from age 19 to 24 with Dyslexia

I was in the fourth grade when my parents were told I should be tested for dyslexia. By this time I was failing math and struggling with English, which I was very upset about. Many people are surprised when I say I have dyslexia. It sometimes feels that to have dyslexia is to be labeled as stupid or just too lazy to learn like the other “normal” students. I can remember a teacher making me cry because I used my figures to do "simple" math problems. I jump ahead of myself while writing long paragraphs or a short sentence. I am constantly checking and re-checking my work even now at the age of 24. While in grade school I was told I was taking to long to do, once again, “simple” tasks. I always read at my appropriate reading level, but when asked to read aloud in class I became easily confused by words I knew that I KNEW! Instead of paying attention to what was being read in class I was trying to predict when I would have to read so I could jump ahead to prepare myself before I had to read it to the class. Before I taught myself what to look for I became very good at fooling those around me into thinking I didn’t have any problems in class. For the most part I have it under control, but occasionally my symptoms will pop-up unexpectedly. For parents with dyslexic children or teachers who have students with dyslexia the best piece of advice I can offer is patience. I know that at times it can be hard, but just remember as frustrating as it is for you, it is twice as frustrating for the child. Dyslexia is something that with time, practice, and patience can be overcome or at least controlled; I am proof of that. While in college I was on the Dean’s List multiple times, won several writing awards, and was a member of the National Honor Society. To reiterate, dyslexia does not mean stupid, lazy, or any other negative label people associate with a learning disability; it just means those children need a little extra time and need to be in an environment where they are encouraged to do their best and are not expected to live up to the expectations of the “smart, normal” students.

Types of Dyslexia

"Trauma dyslexia" usually occurs after some form of brain trauma or injury to the area of the brain that controls reading and writing. It is rarely seen in today's school-age population.

"Primary dyslexia" is a dysfunction of the left side of the brain (cerebral cortex) and does not change with age. Individuals with this type are rarely able to read above a fourth-grade level and may struggle with reading, spelling, and writing as adults. Primary dyslexia is passed in family lines through their genes. It is found more often in boys than in girls.

"Secondary" or "Developmental dyslexia" is felt to be caused by hormonal development during the early stages of fetal development. Developmental dyslexia diminishes as the child matures. It is also more common in boys.


Dyslexia may affect several different functions:

Visual dyslexia is characterized by number and letter reversals and the inability to write symbols in the correct sequence.

Auditory dyslexia involves difficulty with sounds of letters or groups of letters. The sounds are perceived as jumbled or not heard correctly.

"Dysgraphia" refers to the child's difficulty holding and controlling a pencil so that the correct markings can be made on the paper.

What is Dyslexia?

According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, dyslexia is a learning disability that can hinder a person's ability to read, write, spell, and sometimes speak. They have difficulty in learning to read despite traditional instruction, at least average intelligence, and an adequate opportunity to learn. It is caused by an impairment in the brain's ability to translate images received from the eyes or ears into understandable language. It's the most common learning disability in children and persists throughout life. The severity of dyslexia can vary from mild to severe. The sooner dyslexia is treated, the more favorable the outcome. However, it is never too late for people with dyslexia to learn to improve their language skills.

Tests

These are examples from tests that help to determine if you have Dyslexia.

test for 7 to 16 year olds
http://www.dyslexia-test.com/test.html

test for adults
http://www.dyslexia-test.com/adult-test.html