Should I Get My Child Tested for Dyslexia?

If you’re the parent of a child who reads at a significantly lower level than his or her peers, it’s time to take action.

Dyslexia is a complex neurological condition that requires intervention, so if you think your child might be dyslexic, don’t wait!

Read on as a Highland, MI optometrist talks about dyslexia, signs to watch for, and one particular treatment approach that can help your child reach his or her full potential.

What Is Dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a brain disorder that makes it harder to read, write, and spell. It’s common in people who have trouble learning and paying attention.

Dyslexia isn’t an emotional or intellectual problem, it’s a neurological one. This means that dyslexia can affect your child’s ability to process information and understand language, even if they are highly intelligent. 

Signs of Dyslexia to Watch for

If you have a child who’s struggling with reading, it can be difficult to know whether or not they have dyslexia. There are no specific symptoms that indicate a diagnosis of dyslexia, and many children with the condition don’t show any signs until later in life.

However, there are some indications that your child might be struggling with this learning disability. Here are some signs to watch for:

• Your child has trouble sounding out words and making sense of what they’re reading, even when they’ve already mastered the basic skills of reading
• Your child has trouble remembering how to spell certain words or sounds them out incorrectly (they may not realize that this is happening)
• Your child is having trouble memorizing the order of letters and numbers, or if they can’t remember what these things look like
• Your child seems frustrated when trying to read aloud or write—they may get very upset when things don’t work out as planned
• Your child is having a hard time learning how to write their name and other letters, or if they can’t remember the right way to form these letter shapes

Treating Dyslexia With Vision Therapy

Dyslexia can be a difficult thing to deal with, especially for parents of dyslexic children. But the good news is that there are a lot of resources out there that can help you and your child get through it. One of these resources is vision therapy.

Vision therapy helps kids with dyslexia learn how to process visual information more efficiently. It also helps them develop their eye-tracking skills and improve their visual perception. In other words, it helps them see what they’re reading and take in the information more effectively.

It might seem like an odd treatment for dyslexia, but it’s actually been shown to be very effective at helping kids with dyslexia read better, retain information more easily, and even improve their math skills!

If you have more questions or wish to schedule a consultation, please don’t hesitate to call our Highland, MI optometry office today!