| It is estimated that around 10% of the UK population | | | | accurately to how their brains are wired to operate. |
| suffer from dyslexia, with varying degrees of | | | | It is a common complaint from dyslexic children that |
| severity. The main problems associated with | | | | words seem to ‘dance around’ on the page |
| dyslexia are difficulties with short term memory, | | | | as they try to read, and a simple and effective |
| organisation and sequencing, particularly with regard | | | | solution often involves the use of an overlay. These |
| to linguistic and numerical concepts. Although it is a | | | | transparent coloured sheets reduce the harsh black |
| life-long disease and there is no cure available, it is | | | | white contrast of words on paper, and can help |
| important to remember that there is help on hand | | | | many children to focus better. |
| from many trained professionals. It is important that | | | | Other methods for treating dyslexic children include: |
| children with dyslexia are reassured and given | | | | reading to them on a regular basis; encouraging them |
| continual emotional support, as it easy to slip into the | | | | to see reading as an enjoyable activity; practising the |
| trap of blaming learning difficulties on stupidity if they | | | | technique of silent reading and discussing books that |
| are not properly diagnosed and understood. | | | | have been read. However, it is also important for |
| There are various methods for treating children with | | | | specialists to carry out extensive research into the |
| dyslexia, and these can be combined and adapted | | | | condition in general, in order that parents and |
| into comprehensive systems of support that are | | | | teachers can stay abreast of up to the minute |
| appropriate for individual requirements. Initially, many | | | | scientific and psychological awareness of learning |
| professionals believe that the most important aspect | | | | difficulties. One aspect of particular importance is |
| of this condition is the need to provide effective | | | | the awareness of the role played by the cerebellum |
| emotional support for sufferers. This can be found | | | | in dyslexia, as the development of the cerebellum has |
| through registered dyslexia support groups, who | | | | been proven to have links with improved learning |
| operate nationwide, and offer counselling, advice and | | | | skills. |
| guidance of all kinds to set your mind at rest. | | | | All things considered, the more attention that is |
| In terms of practical help, there is a strong belief that | | | | concentrated on researching dyslexia as a condition |
| many children benefit from computer based learning if | | | | and the methods that show an improvement in both |
| they suffer from dyslexia. Word processing | | | | the confidence and ability of children who suffer, the |
| programmes can help to highlight spelling and | | | | more likely it becomes that one day no one will have |
| grammatical errors, while the fact that they are | | | | to suffer in silence, and every one will be able to |
| learning using a visual tool corresponds more | | | | access effective professional treatment. |