CHILDREN HERBS OF CHILDREN DYSLEXIA

Dyslexia (say: dis-lek-see-uh) is a learning problem some kids have with reading and writing. It can make words look jumbled. This makes it difficult for a kid to read and remember what was read.

So what's going on inside the person's brain? Well, it doesn't mean the person is dumb. In fact, some very smart people have had dyslexia. How smart? Well, some people say Albert Einstein was dyslexic.

The problem does occur in the brain, though. Sometimes the messages the brain is sending get jumbled up or confused. A kid who has dyslexia might get frustrated and find it hard to do schoolwork. But the good news is that dyslexia doesn't need to keep a kid down.

SIGN AND SYMPTOMS OF CHILDREN DYSLEXIA

Reading

• Makes poor reading progress
• Is hesitant and laboured in reading
• Misses out words when reading, or adds extra words
• Fails to recognize familiar words

Written Work

• Has a poor standard of written work compared with oral ability
• Produces messy work with many crossing-out and words tried several times:
• Is persistently confused by letters which look similar, particularly b/d , m/w
• Has poor handwriting, with many "reversals" and badly formed words
• Makes anagrams of words, eg "tired" for "tried"
• Produceds bizarre spelling

Numeracy

• Shows confused with number order
• Is confused by symbols
• Has difficulty remembering anything in a sequential order, eg tables

Time

• Has difficulty in learning to tell the time
• Shows poor time keeping and general awareness
• Has poor personal organization
• Has difficulty in remembering what day of the week it is, his birth date
• Difficult with concepts-yesterday, tomorrow.

Skills

• Has poor motor skills
• Has a limited understanding of non-verbal communication
• Is confused by the difference between left and right, up and down
• Has indeterminate hand preference
• Performs unevenly from day to day
• Problem with handling money-getting change

Behavior

• Employs work avoidance tactics
• Seems to "dream"
• Is easily distracted
• Is the class clown, or is disruptive or withdrawn (these are often cries for help)
• Is excessively tired, due to the amount of concentration and effort required.

If a child has a cluster of these difficullties together with some abilities, he/she may be dyslexic.