«Don't write again»

Mrs Weber-Hunziker, after the first few years of school, most children can read
children can read fluently and write short texts. For some children, reading and writing remains a cramp. Why is that?

If a child has great difficulty learning to read and write, this could be due to dyslexia, a reading and spelling disorder. In common parlance, Dyslexia is also known as «dyslexia». Around two to four per cent of children are affected by dyslexia, boys about twice as often as girls.

How do you recognise a reading and spelling disorder?

As part of an LRS assessment, reading and writing skills are checked and an intelligence test is carried out. It must also be possible to rule out causes such as neurological disorders or inadequate support in the classroom.

What specific difficulties do you have with reading and writing?

Children with dyslexia often read imprecisely, omit word endings or only read the beginning of a word and guess the rest. They read slowly and «choppily» for a relatively long time. This costs the children so much effort that it can be difficult for them to grasp the meaning of the texts. When writing, the many spelling mistakes are particularly noticeable. Affected children sometimes write the same word in a text in four or five different spellings or mix up letters. There may also be transpositions and omissions of letters or words.

What should parents do if they suspect their child has dyslexia?

If dyslexia is suspected, parents should first talk to the teacher and the special needs teacher and then, if indicated, contact a speech therapist.

So there are no signs before the acquisition of reading and writing?

Yes, there can be. At kindergarten level, children with dyslexia often find it difficult to recognise rhymes or individual sounds in spoken words or to clap syllables. The children also often take longer to recall and pronounce the word for letters or pictures. However, this does not necessarily lead to the development of dyslexia.

What is the cause of dyslexia?

This question is often asked by parents. However, the cause of dyslexia is not so easy to pin down. Different factors work together. The genetic make-up plays an important role, but also how what is heard and seen is perceived and processed: For example, children with dyslexia are less able to memorise word images and therefore do not read words «automatically», but often have to decipher them letter by letter or syllable by syllable. Dyslexia can also occur together with other developmental problems such as dyscalculia, difficulties with motor coordination or a language development disorder. What is certain is that dyslexia is not related to low intelligence. Children with dyslexia are normal to very gifted.

How much does dyslexia affect school performance?

Because reading and writing play a role in practically every subject, dyslexia can affect almost all subjects. It can be very frustrating for children with dyslexia if they have to read a song lyric even in maths when doing «sentence calculations» or in music. This reduces their motivation to learn. These experiences can also have psychological and social effects. The children perceive themselves as different and ask themselves why others are better at certain things. Sometimes they also try to avoid certain situations, for example not wanting to go to a birthday party for fear of having to read something or being perceived as stupid.

What helps children in this situation?

In speech therapy, I discuss and practise various strategies with the children and young people. When writing, for example, it can be important to first concentrate on the content and only then to systematically check what has been written using rules. Knowing that spelling can be logically derived from rules is very relieving for someone with dyslexia. Reading and the perception of what is heard and seen can also be specifically trained. The therapy can also be used to boost self-confidence. Compensation for disadvantages also provides great relief.

«Affected children and young people are often disadvantaged in education due to their dyslexia.»

What is compensation for disadvantages?

Affected children and young people are often at a disadvantage in education due to their dyslexia. With a dyslexia certificate, they are therefore entitled to compensation for disadvantages throughout their education, from primary school to vocational school or grammar school and on to university. What this looks like depends on the school level and the needs of the person concerned. Teachers can, for example, assess spelling less strongly or not at all in examinations.

Can a child achieve everything they would have achieved without dyslexia thanks to therapy and compensation for disadvantages?

The success of therapy depends heavily on the motivation of the child or young person and the support of their parents. If speech therapy can take place successfully and the compensation for disadvantages is implemented, there is a good chance that the child will be able to go their own way within their personal capabilities.

Dyslexia therapy: How parents can support their child

• Seek regular dialogue with the teacher and the speech therapist.
• Claim compensation for disadvantages.
• Take the pressure off with homework: offer a quiet place to work and implement tips from the therapy (e.g. take turns reading, check texts with aids).
• Encourage enjoyment of reading and writing: Provide reading material that corresponds to the child's interests and level.
• Develop joint projects in which the children read and write «on the side», e.g. reading the timetable together before an excursion.
• Reduce pressure: Additional practice can be useful. However, this should be done in a playful way and without pressure to perform.
• Avoid stressful situations such as reading aloud in front of people.

About the author:

Johanna Oeschger is a literature and linguistics scholar, teaches German and English at upper secondary level and works as a media didactician at LerNetz.