DYSLEXIA IN CHILDREN: HOW TO RECOGNIZE IT, SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT

Dyslexia affects 8-10% of school-age children, with a ratio of 3 to 1 for boys, and is characterized by learning difficulties in reading. If diagnosed early, however, it can be cured and not be a handicap.

Even among the international stars there is no shortage of illustrious names who have had to do with dyslexia. However, this has in no way affected their success or their popularity. Here are 10 celebrities you may not have known were dyslexic:

The significance and symptoms of dyslexia in children

Dyslexia is generally diagnosed around the age of seven, when the child begins the second grade, and should by now have overcome the normal problems of learning reading: it therefore presents itself as a difficulty in deciphering the words and understanding the text read.

The child will tend to visually confuse letters of similar spelling, such as m and n, b and d, or that have a similar sound, such as f and v. It will also reverse the letters in the syllables, clo for col, or the syllables in the words, carp for goat. It will also be able to omit some letters in the words or add others.

Since he cannot understand what he is reading, the dyslexic child may even refuse to read.
As adults, people with dyslexia often struggle to express themselves, formulate sentences and organize ideas. Reading is not smooth and requires a real effort on their part. Most dyslexic adults also have immediate verbal or visual memory impairment, or suffer from attention deficit.

Dyslexia in children: how to recognize it

There are some signs that should get our attention and make us think that our child may be suffering from dyslexia:

The child does not say a single word past the "year of" age.
Mix sounds into words.
He can't find words that rhyme beyond four years of age.
He struggles to tie his shoes beyond the age of five.
It has difficulty managing space, left and right, above and below.
It is difficult to learn the letters of the alphabet and repeat them without the help of a nursery rhyme.
Cannot hold a pencil correctly.
It is difficult to construct sentences.

Symptoms of dyslexia: can it be diagnosed at 5 or 6 years old?

The symptoms of dyslexia, as we have pointed out, emerge in school age, from 7 years onwards. However, it will be possible in some cases to diagnose it even earlier, between 5 and 7 years, paying close attention to the following signs (not necessarily indicative of dyslexia, but to be kept under control):

The child has difficulty speaking, with a considerable delay in the articulation of language.
Has difficulty composing sounds together to form a word.
Has difficulty listening.
Has difficulty recognizing rhymes.
It is hard to remember the contents.
Has difficulty distinguishing left and right.
He has difficulty moving to the rhythm of music and, in general, delays in motor skills.

Causes of dyslexia: is it hereditary?

There is not a single clearly identifiable cause but some recent studies, conducted by Anglo-Saxon researchers, show that the basic problem is a cognitive deficit: the brain struggles to identify the sounds that must be related to speech. Hence the difficulties in deciphering and memorizing words. This deficit would be due to the wrong development of certain areas of the brain.

It could also be a genetic problem since 70% of dyslexics have a family history. It is therefore a disease with a good hereditary percentage.

Finally, dyslexia can also be linked to some relational disorders and a poor socio-cultural context, although this last possibility still raises various doubts since dyslexia also affects children of the highest social and cultural class.

The cure for dyslexia in children

The earlier dyslexia is identified in children, the easier it will be to cure it permanently. It requires constant commitment from parents and faculty. It is important to value the child, placing particular emphasis on all his progress, without comparing him to others, so that he can find self-confidence.

To treat dyslexia, a real teamwork between the school, the psychologist and the family is necessary. The treatment path must begin with some tests to refine the diagnosis and report any auditory, neurological, visual or family disorders. Then the child must be followed by an orthophonist for language re-education and, sometimes, by one psychiatrist.

At school, in collaboration with the teachers, a different organization of lesson hours may be required and, in some cases, a specific school path.

Dyslexia in children: tax breaks

Minors diagnosed with dyslexia are entitled to the attendance allowance, a monthly allowance paid by the INPS during the school year. To request it, just contact a doctor, request the issue of the certificate and submit the application electronically.

Dyslexics, although not considered civil invalids and therefore not being able to benefit from tax concessions, can request deductions for medical expenses.

Parents of dyslexic children can also request flexible working hours.

For more useful information on dyslexia, you can visit the Niguarda Hospital website.

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