Want to help a dyslexic child? Get them to feel they are not defective!
Estimates of the number of people with dyslexia range from ten to twenty percent of the community. Think of that for just a second. That large a slice of the population would have a significant impact on the politics of any country. We don’t label the people in a political block of that size as being diseased. Why do we treat dyslexics that way?
Why Dyslexia is Inaccurately Called a Disease
There are several reasons for depicting dyslexia as a disease. For a start, dyslexia remains hidden for a period just like many diseases. Second there are structural differences in the brains of dyslexics and non-dyslexics. Children with dyslexia don’t fit the cookie cutter educational system. So, that system labels them as being diseased. It’s easy to believe that schools are set up correctly, so the kids must be the problem.
That dyslexia is hard to identify doesn’t make it a disease. If a significant part of the population has a dyslexic brain structure, how can it be an illness? If an educational system is inflexible, does that mean we should treat dyslexic kids as if they are less than healthy?
The Pain Dyslexic Children Feel
Dyslexic kids recognize they differ from their peers and friends at an early age. Dyslexic children usually know something about them is unique before nearby adults detect a problem. Adults may recognize a difference when they uncover emotional stress in a boy or girl. When parents and teachers finally see the heartache dyslexic kids have, they want to ease the pain. The adults act just like when those kids are sick.
The reasons for treating dyslexia as a disease doesn’t matter to dyslexic kids. They just feel ashamed for being singled out because they find reading hard.
The Dyslexic Brain
Kids with dyslexia, and their parents and teachers, rarely know that that dyslexic and non-dyslexic brains have structural differences. The outer portion and other areas of the brain of a dyslexic are physically distinct. Short-term memory, decoding letters and words, and problem solutions are processed differently in the brain of someone with dyslexia.
The unique physical characteristics of dyslexic brains also often lead to a remarkable creativity, global thinking, and off-the-charts skills in difficult professions. These positives are typically underplayed or ignored. So dyslexic kids feel the shame and pain of reading difficulties without the benefit of knowing their advanced capabilities are a great gift. In fact, the dyslexic brain may very well be an important next step in the development of the human brain.
Dyslexic Shame Can Last into Adulthood
The intense shame of being dyslexic can paralyze a person and last throughout life. There are large numbers of adults who went to school before there were effective tests to detect dyslexia. These adults live their entire lives trying to hide their dyslexia or deal with feeling inferior to other people. Think of the negative human impact and energy wasted in putting up emotional shields to cover up dyslexia!
Ways to Help With Negative Dyslexic Emotions
Shame is a very real part of dyslexia. But it doesn’t have to be. We need to improve the emotional wellbeing of dyslexic people. This is especially true with dyslexic kids. We need to repeatedly emphasize that although they may be unique; they are not inferior to other children.
When they are ready, explain why they are different. But, the most important thing is to show them, over an extended period, that we think they are great kids despite reading difficulties. When extraordinary traits surface, highlight the special talents to the dyslexic child. This can counter the shame.
Helping dyslexic kids understand that they are healthy and good takes a lot of energy. But the benefits are tremendous.
Just ending their pain is a great reward for both parents, relative, and teachers.
Ending the shame also makes it easier to use non-traditional paths to learn to read. That will cause a child’s self-esteem to skyrocket.
Plus, think of the good that can come about when kids focus on their special dyslexic traits to solve difficult problems that non-dyslexics could not resolve. Einstein was dyslexic and look at the impact his special abilities have had on science. What might our dyslexic kids do to change the world?
Do everything you can to help a dyslexic feel good about themselves. They will feel better, you will feel great. And we will all enjoy the results of their extraordinary skills.
For the many positive aspects of dyslexia see: Dyslexics Are Amazing
