Frisco schools tackling the most common learning disorder
It is said that Dyslexia impacts as many as 20% of Americans and can lead to life-long disadvantages if left undiagnosed and treated. Early assessment and intervention are key. And Frisco is taking this to heart.
Frisco makes national news for dyslexia accreditation
NBC News reported today that Frisco Independent School District is the first public school system in the nation to earn international accreditation to train certified dyslexia teachers, or Certified Academic Language Therapists (CALTs).
Why is this important? Mayo Clinic says that signs of dyslexia can be very difficult to recognize before children reach school. And, often a child’s teacher may be the first to notice the problem. Having certified therapists available in the Frisco School District enables early detection – and intervention—for Frisco school children.
And now, through the international accreditation program, certified Frisco therapists will now be able to train other teachers to be certified dyslexia teachers.
What is dyslexia?
Dyslexia is a learning disorder that affects areas of the brain that process language. People with dyslexia have difficulty reading because they have trouble matching letters to sounds or decoding words. Kids with dyslexia have trouble with reading, spelling, writing and often with math.
Dyslexia is often mislabeled as an intelligence or visual issue, but this isn’t the case. Children with dyslexia have normal intelligence and usually have normal vision. Dyslexia is a lifelong condition, but with early assessment and intervention, children can learn approaches and strategies for reading that help them reach their potential.
Complications caused by Dyslexia
- Trouble learning- because reading is a foundational skill for most other school subjects, children with dyslexia are at a disadvantage in school and may fall behind
- Social problem- left untreated, dyslexia can also lead to low confidence, anxiety or aggression, behavior problems, and withdrawal from friends and family
- Long-term challenges- children with diminished reading or comprehension skills are at a disadvantage as they grow older, many times causing long-term educational, social and economic consequences
Fast facts:
- Dyslexia impacts more than 3 million people per year
- Treatment can help, but the condition can’t be cured
- Early assessment and intervention results in the best outcome
- Dyslexia tends to run in families
- Risk factors may include premature birth, low birth weight or exposure to harmful chemicals during pregnancy
- Children with dyslexia have an increased risk of having attention-deficit/hyperactivity (ADHD), and vice versa
Are there symptoms of dyslexia?
As mentioned above, early assessment and intervention of dyslexia can help children live up to their potential. Signs of dyslexia can appear different among individuals – and at different ages. Here are examples of the most common dyslexia symptoms:
General
- Appears intelligent and articulate but unable to read, write, or spell at grade level
- Sometimes labeled as lazy, careless, or not trying hard enough
- Has high intelligence but does not test well
- Difficulty sustaining attention
- May have lower self- esteem or covers up the weakness by diverting attention to other skills
- Talented in art, sports, music, design or other areas- learn best through hands-on experience
Vision, Reading, and Spelling
- Complains of dizziness, headaches or stomach aches while reading
- Reads and rereads with little comprehension
- Reading or writing shows repetitions, additions, transpositions, omissions, substitutions, and reversals in letters, numbers and/or words
- Seems confused by letters, numbers, words, and sequences
- May complain of difficulty with vision, yet eye exams don’t reveal a problem
- Spells phonetically and inconsistently
Hearing and Speech
- Easily distracted by sounds, hears things not apparent to others
- Has difficulty putting thoughts into words, speaks in incomplete sentences or stutters under stress
- Transposes phrases, words, and syllables when speaking
Writing and Motor Skills
- Unusual pencil grip, has trouble writing or copying
- Seems clumsy and uncoordinated, may have trouble with motor skills
- Prone to motion-sickness
- Can be ambidextrous, often confuses left from right or over from under
Math and Time Management
- Has difficulty telling or managing time, and learning sequenced information
- Counts on fingers or uses other tricks, know answers but can’t do it on paper
- Has difficulty dealing with money
- Can do arithmetic but fails word problems, difficulty with higher math
Memory and Cognition
- Excellent long-term memory for experiences, locations, and faces
- Thinks primarily with images and feeling, not sounds or words
- Poor memory for sequences, facts, and information that has not been experienced
Behavior, Health, Development, and Personality
- Can be disorderly or compulsively orderly
- Late developmental stages such as crawling, talking, walking, tying shoes
- Sleep differences – can be either an extremely light or extremely deep sleeper
- Strong sense of justice, emotionally sensitive, strives for perfection
- Time pressure and emotional stress result in increased mistakes or symptoms
Think your child may be suffering from dyslexia?
The only way to know for sure is to have your child evaluated. This can be done at your school, through your physician, or a private evaluation clinic that specializes in dyslexia and other learning disorders. For Frisco school-aged children with dyslexia, access to special programs and certified therapists can be just the right solution to help your child succeed.
For more information on dyslexia, check out these resources:
About the Judi Wright Team
Judi Wright/The Judi Wright Team is a real estate group specializing in the suburbs of Frisco, Plano, and surrounding areas. Named the “Best Realtor in Dallas,” by D Magazine twelve times and a Five Star Realtor with Texas Monthly. Judi is also a Company-Wide Top performer with Ebby Halliday and the #2 Top Group for Ebby Halliday Frisco.
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