(See “Critical Reading” in Chapter 1)

1

For decades, dyslexics have been one of the most misunderstood groups in our society. Misconceptions and misdiagnoses abound, as when dyslexics are mislabeled stupid, retarded, or lazy and placed among the mentally deficient. Many dyslexics have been placed in special education programs along with the slow learners. Later, after appropriate remediation, these same students have gone on to become educators, lawyers, and doctors. It is therefore of great importance that we be aware of the sensitive nature of dealing with these prize products of our society, our dyslexic students. We must be diligent in our efforts to help them in their struggle for success.

2

Such misdiagnoses are due to the lack of understanding of dyslexia and conditions such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), childhood depressive disorder (CDD), central auditory processing deficit (CAPD), and many others that share some similarities with common symptoms of dyslexia. I will now list, in brief, some of the differences in behaviors that characterize ADHD and dyslexia in children, particularly children in the elementary school classroom.

3

A young person with ADHD cannot easily sit still, certainly a problem in the classroom. He or she often leaves his assigned seat, running around and attempting to climb on shelves, desks, and the like. When told firmly to remain in his seat, the child will try to obey but will squirm and fidget almost constantly, clearly in a state of agitation. He acts as if he is driven by a motor.

4

A child with ADHD often talks excessively and is unable to wait to be called on: Instead, he blurts out answers and responses. He seems to just butt into games and conversations, not observing social norms that require a give-and-take among group members. Such behavior often alienates other children and frustrates teachers and others who try to maintain control. Other children may shun the child with ADHD. This ostracism, in turn, results in further negative effects, such as low self-esteem and greater isolation.

5

In contrast, a young person with dyslexia can sit still but has trouble organizing objects, belongings, and letters. She may mix up sounds, saying, for example, “plain” for “plan” or “seal” for “soul.” She may have a stutter, furthering the frustration and embarrassment she already feels.

6

A dyslexic child typically reads poorly, confusing the order of letters, for example, in words such as “saw” and “was.” Also, she may confuse words that have similar shapes or start and end with the same letters, as in “form” and “from” or the words cited in the last paragraph. While a dyslexic’s reading is labored, his handwriting and spelling are usually worse. All of these symptoms of dyslexia, while quite different, often result in the same ostracism and loss of self-esteem. These problems then cause other behavior problems that are similar to those shown in children with ADHD and a number of other conditions. This explains why certain conditions are often confused. In addition, many children indeed have more than one condition. For example, over 40 percent of children with dyslexia have ADHD as well.

7

Unfortunately, because of budgeting restrictions, dyslexics are sometimes placed among the wrong group for remediation. In order for any intervention to succeed, it must be tailored specifically for the dyslexic. There are many improved techniques now being used successfully in reading remediation that are based on the Orton-Gillingham method. Many of these can be obtained on videocassettes and CDs. Arlene Sonday and the Scottish Rite Hospital have such programs on the market, and many other good ones can be located on the Internet (for example, interdys.org/, dys.org/, kidshealth.org/, and ninds.nih.gov/disorders/dyslexia, among many others).

8

There are many successful dyslexics in our society, some contemporary and others in the past. Albert Einstein, Benjamin Franklin, and General George Patton are a few who have made history. Athletes Bruce Jenner and Nolan Ryan and entertainers Whoopi Goldberg and Cher are among our contemporaries. Identifying with the successful dyslexic offers some hope to parents and children alike. The book Succeeding with LD is a collection of stories of successful dyslexics. The book was authored by Jill Lauren and published by Free Spirit Publishers. Each of these stories could make a book by itself but is short enough for the dyslexic to enjoy reading.