Dyslexia is a serious learning disorder that affects a person’s ability to read, spell, write, and speak. According to Dr. Laurencia Tettey, Medifem Multi-specialist Hospital and Fertility Centre, although dyslexia is rare in Ghana, on average however, one in 10 people have the condition. She said children and adults who have dyslexia have the difficulty of connecting the letters they see to make the appropriate and meaningful sounds. “People can be diagnosed with dyslexia early in life, but in some cases it’s realized until they get older. So, for someone with dyslexia, the word ‘cat’ might read as ‘tac.’ It is due to these mix-ups, which make reading a slow and difficult process,” she said.
Cause of dyslexia:
Dyslexia is unique to everyone. Whereas some people tend to have a mild form of the condition which they eventually learn how to manage, others have a little more difficulty coping with it. The cause of dyslexia can be linked to the following factors: a family history of dyslexia or other learning disabilities; preterm birth or low birth weight; intake of or exposure during pregnancy to nicotine, drugs, alcohol or infection that may alter brain development in the fetus; and individual differences in the parts of the brain that enable reading, among others.
The severity of dyslexia varies depending on the accompanying signs and symptoms. Dyslexia becomes apparent when someone, in this case a child, tends to show certain behavioural or psychological signs such as in the following: late talking; difficulty thinking and understanding; trouble spelling; learning new words slowly; difficulty memorizing; trouble forming words correctly, such as reversing sounds in words or confusing words that sound alike; problems remembering or naming letters, numbers and colours; difficulty learning nursery rhymes or playing rhyming games; headache, among others.
Diagnosing dyslexia:
Dr. Tettey explained that there's no one test that can diagnose dyslexia. She noted that doctors consider a number of factors during the diagnosis stage. They consider for instance a person’s family medical history – to know about any conditions that run in the family, including whether any family member have a learning disability. Diagnosis is also possible through the use of questionnaires. As the child or family member provide answers to the questions, doctors or reading expert are able to identify the child’s reading and language abilities. Another way of diagnosis is by conducting a neurological test – this test pertains to brain, vision, and hearing in order to determine whether another disorder, for instance, anxiety or depression, may be causing or adding to your child's poor reading ability.
Is dyslexia Treatable:
There is currently no cure for dyslexia. Treatment however is aimed at providing a better way of dealing with the disorder in one’s daily life. According to Dr. Tettey, “the treatment approach is multifaceted. Paeditricians, parents, teachers and other caregivers are all involved.” It is important for all these support groups to identify the signs and symptoms as early as possible in order to provide a collective multi-sensual structure to manage the condition.
Some treatment approach may entail the following: Psychological Testing – this is a teaching programme for the child when in school. The test usually involves tapping into the child's senses, including touch, vision, and hearing. The second is through Guidance and Support – to build the child's self-esteem and personal ambition by reminding them that even though reading and writing may be a problem, millions of people with dyslexia worldwide have thrived and become successful and productive citizens.
“People with dyslexia can live normal, productive lives. Always remember that when you involve them, they learn,” Dr. Laurencia Tettey said.
Source:
Interview with Dr. Laurencia Tettey, Medifem Multi-specialist Hospital and Fertility Centre
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/186787.php
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