Understanding Dyslexia – Fiction vs. Fact
| Fiction | Fact |
| Dyslexia is a sign of lower intelligence or laziness | This assertion couldn’t be farther from the truth! Children with dyslexia have much the same levels of IQ as any other children, high or low. In fact, it has been noted that they tend to be out-of-the-box thinkers. They are far from lazy, but their frustration levels and sometimes difficult attitudes might be misconstrued as lazy. Children with dyslexia have to work much harder and are often more motivated than their peers without dyslexia. |
| Dyslexia can be “cured” or outgrown | Nope, not at all! Children who are given explicit, systematic, multimodal instruction will learn to read and develop reading skills that will help them be successful, but because dyslexia is neurological in nature, it cannot be cured or outgrown. |
| Dyslexia causes letters or words to appear backward or out of order | This is a huge bit of fiction! It is common for younger children up to second grade to reverse letters when writing or get words out of order when reading. This isn’t a definitive sign of dyslexia but should be considered as part of the bigger picture with other data to determine if a child has dyslexia |
| Dyslexia is caused by vision problems | Dyslexia is not a vision problem, it is centered in the portion of the brain that controls language. Children with dyslexia may also have vision problems, such as myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism, but these are conditions of the eye not related to dyslexia. |
| Students with dyslexia benefit from being held back a year | According to the U. S Department of Education, and the National Association of School Psychologists, there is no benefit to retain students with dyslexia. Instead, they need differentiated, research-based instruction. |
| Gifted children can’t be dyslexic | Albert Einstein and so many others are proof positive that this isn’t true. |
| The more dyslexic students practice the better they’ll read | Not Exactly! They need explicit, consistent, instruction in order to become better readers. |
It’s so important that we know the facts so that we can support and teach our students with dyslexia. Separating fact from fiction is the first step in creating a learning environment that is supportive and offers hope for these struggling learners. Remember, they didn’t choose this hand they were dealt it, their brains are just a little different and we have to accommodate that.
References
Dyslexia: Myths and Facts Retrieved October 14, 2021, from https://www.scholastic.com/
5 Most Common Myths About Dyslexia Debunked Retrieved October 14, 2021 from https://dyslexiaresource.org/5-most-common-myths-about-dyslexia-debunked/
FAQ’s about Vision and Dyslexia Retrieved October 18, 2021 from https://www.understood.org/articles/en/faqs-about-vision-and-dyslexia
Teia Hoover Baker is an educator, published author, and entrepreneur. She is an innovative, devoted educator whose career has been dedicated to coordinating programs that support struggling learners. Her passion is meeting students where they are and guiding them to excel. Her main focus is always what is best for children. Teia holds a Bachelor’s in Journalism and a Master’s of Education. In her spare time, she enjoys being Lovie to her growing grandchildren.
