
There are many myths about Dyslexia that have survived the test of time, based on outdated research or knowledge of the disorder. Here are 5 of the more common myths I hear, and a bit of information to set the record straight:
Myth 1: Reading and writing letters backwards ("flipping") is a sign of Dyslexia.
This is one of the strongest myths about Dyslexia. I am often contacted by parents who are worried that their child may have Dyslexia because they flip b/d or p/q. While some kids with Dyslexia may flip letters when reading or writing, it is not necessarily a sign that your child has Dyslexia. In fact, many young neurotypical children flip letters, and these errors typically resolve around the age of 7. Ongoing issues with letter flipping can signal weaknesses in visual processing, attention, or memory. If your child continues to engage in "flipping" after age 7, and these errors impact their achievement in reading or writing, an evaluation may be warranted to figure out the underlying cause.
Myth 2: Dyslexia is associated with intelligence.
Dyslexia occurs across all levels of intellectual functioning. Sometimes it can be harder to identify Dyslexia in kids with high IQs, because they are able to use their intellectual resources to mask their difficulties. A strong vocabulary and use of context can help these bright students "fill in the blanks," and answer comprehension questions correctly. Still, they often avoid reading, complain that reading is effortful, or take longer to complete reading assignments than expected. An evaluation is needed to determine the level of their fundamental reading skills, relative to their peers and their own intellectual capacity.
Myth 3: Dyslexia is caused by lack of education, poor effort by the child, or a parent not reading enough to their children.
Dyslexia is a neurodevelopmental disorder, and not due to lack of exposure or effort. While lack of education can cause delays in reading, a clinician will rule out any instructional issues prior to diagnosing Dyslexia. Questioning a child's efforts can lead to feeling of discouragement, low self-confidence, and reading avoidance. Their brains just work differently! Research has demonstrated that Dyslexic brains activate differently when attempting to read. Fortunately, the brain is a muscle with high plasticity; with the correct intervention, children have made amazing gains. Still, Dyslexia is a life-long condition, and many children need appropriate accommodations and strategies to help reduce the impact of reading weaknesses on their academic performance.
Myth 4: Dyslexia stems from vision issues.
Dyslexia is, at its very core, an issue with phonological processing. Children with dyslexia struggle to rhyme, segment, and blend phonological information presented auditory (no eyes needed!), which impedes their ability to fluently sound out new words (decoding). So why are there Ophthalmologists (eye doctors) who assess for reading issues? Some children may have visual processing difficulties that may make reading more difficult...but these challenges are NOT a part of Dyslexia.
Myth 5: You cannot test for Dyslexia until a child is in elementary school.
Many risk factors for Dyslexia are present before instructional age, including family genetics (e.g., a parent or sibling with Dyslexia) and early language skills (e.g., "late talkers"). By preschool, a child with Dyslexia may struggle to name letters or numbers and rhyme. If your child is presenting with multiple risk factors, you may consider an evaluation to determine if they are falling behind in pre-reading skills. Early intervention with a multi-sensory, phonologically-based reading program can help bolster their early reading skills, and give them more confidence as they progress into early elementary school.
You can find more information about our reading assessments on our website. If you have additional questions about whether an evaluation is appropriate for your child, contact us at info@drgreenfield.com.
For more information about Dyslexia, check out:
For free tools to help your struggling reader, check out this page
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