DyslexiaDyslexia

It's not easy having Dyslexia. Last It's not easy having Dyslexia. Last week I went to a toga party as a week I went to a toga party as a

goat. goat. -- -- UnknownUnknown

By Shahram Hassan By Shahram Hassan

What is Dyslexia?What is Dyslexia?

Dyslexia is originally a Greek word which Dyslexia is originally a Greek word which means “difficulty with words”means “difficulty with words”

Dr. Rob Hicks from BBC, defines Dyslexia as “a Dr. Rob Hicks from BBC, defines Dyslexia as “a congenital and developmental condition that congenital and developmental condition that causes neurological anomalies in the brain. It causes neurological anomalies in the brain. It includes a range of types of learning difficulties includes a range of types of learning difficulties where a person of normal intelligence has where a person of normal intelligence has persistent and significant problems with persistent and significant problems with reading, writing, spelling and sometimes reading, writing, spelling and sometimes mathematics and musical notation.”mathematics and musical notation.”

What is Dyslexia?What is Dyslexia?

The International Dyslexia Institute defines The International Dyslexia Institute defines Dyslexia as: Dyslexia as:

A specific learning disability that is A specific learning disability that is neurological in origin. It is characterized by neurological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate and / or fluent difficulties with accurate and / or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities. These difficulties decoding abilities. These difficulties typically result from a deficit in the typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is phonological component of language that is often unexpected in relation to other often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction. Secondary effective classroom instruction. Secondary consequences may include problems in consequences may include problems in reading comprehension and reduced reading reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that can impede growth of experience that can impede growth of vocabulary and background knowledge.vocabulary and background knowledge.

A more informal A more informal explanationexplanation

Imagine all your skills levels as a bar graph, everyone Imagine all your skills levels as a bar graph, everyone skills increase at a regular pace. But a dyslexic skills increase at a regular pace. But a dyslexic student reading and writing skill would increase at a student reading and writing skill would increase at a slower pace compared to other skills, and to other slower pace compared to other skills, and to other people reading and writing skills. So even though a people reading and writing skills. So even though a dyslexic student maybe be well accomplished in dyslexic student maybe be well accomplished in other fields, his/hers reading and writing skills other fields, his/hers reading and writing skills would probably be lower than everyone elsewould probably be lower than everyone else

Why is This important for Why is This important for Tutors?Tutors?

Dyslexic students would turn to peer Dyslexic students would turn to peer tutoring for help rather than from the tutoring for help rather than from the instructors, which would seem intimidating.instructors, which would seem intimidating.

Some people with dyslexia may have not Some people with dyslexia may have not been diagnosed with it and might be been diagnosed with it and might be unaware of their disability.unaware of their disability.

One in five children in the United States One in five children in the United States are dyslexic so chances are you might are dyslexic so chances are you might meet a dyslexic student.meet a dyslexic student.

Common Signs of Dyslexia for Common Signs of Dyslexia for College StudentsCollege Students

• May read very slowly with many May read very slowly with many inaccuracies.inaccuracies.

Continues to spell incorrectly, Continues to spell incorrectly, frequently spells the same word frequently spells the same word differently in a single piece of writing.differently in a single piece of writing.

• May avoid reading and writing tasks.May avoid reading and writing tasks.• May have trouble summarizing and May have trouble summarizing and

outlining.outlining.

Continued…Continued…

May have trouble answering open-May have trouble answering open-ended questions on tests.ended questions on tests.

May have difficulty learning a foreign May have difficulty learning a foreign language language

May have an inadequate vocabulary.May have an inadequate vocabulary. May confuse similar words such as May confuse similar words such as

“b” and “d” or “p” and “q”.“b” and “d” or “p” and “q”.

Common Signs of Dyslexia for Common Signs of Dyslexia for AdultsAdults

May hide reading problems May hide reading problems May spell poorly; relies on others to May spell poorly; relies on others to

correct spelling.correct spelling. Avoids writing; may not be able to write.Avoids writing; may not be able to write. Often very competent in oral language.Often very competent in oral language. Relies on memory; may have an Relies on memory; may have an

excellent memory. excellent memory.

Example Of Dyslexic WritingExample Of Dyslexic Writing

Other Characteristic of People Other Characteristic of People with Dyslexiawith Dyslexia

Innovative thinkingInnovative thinking Excellent troubleshootingExcellent troubleshooting Creativity Creativity Lateral ThinkingLateral Thinking Intuitive Problem SolvingIntuitive Problem Solving

Famous People Who Are Famous People Who Are DyslexicDyslexic

Facilities on De Anza for Facilities on De Anza for dyslexic studentsdyslexic students

The Educational Diagnostic Center is The Educational Diagnostic Center is geared to help students with learning geared to help students with learning disabilities, like dyslexia. disabilities, like dyslexia.

The EDC has specifically trained The EDC has specifically trained professionals, such as tutors, to help professionals, such as tutors, to help students with learning disabilitiesstudents with learning disabilities

Educational Diagnostic Center Educational Diagnostic Center (EDC)(EDC)

Located on the De Anza campus, Learning Located on the De Anza campus, Learning Center West Room 110.Center West Room 110.

Provides testing to determines different Provides testing to determines different disabilities.disabilities.

Specialized tutoring and Examination Specialized tutoring and Examination accommodation.accommodation.

Provides registration assistance.Provides registration assistance.

What if Your Tutee is What if Your Tutee is Dyslexic?Dyslexic?

If you feel that your tutee maybe If you feel that your tutee maybe dyslexic it would be best to talk to dyslexic it would be best to talk to their instructor and give reasons for their instructor and give reasons for your assumption, and see if the your assumption, and see if the instructor agrees with you. Then tell instructor agrees with you. Then tell the instructor about the EDC and they the instructor about the EDC and they may be able to diagnose what learning may be able to diagnose what learning disability your tutee may have. disability your tutee may have. Dyslexia is a very frustrating disability Dyslexia is a very frustrating disability especially if you don’t know you have especially if you don’t know you have it, so what ever you can do to help will it, so what ever you can do to help will be greatly appreciated. be greatly appreciated.

The EndThe End The British Broadcasting Corporation The British Broadcasting Corporation

www.bbc.co.ukwww.bbc.co.uk The International Dyslexia The International Dyslexia

association association www.interdys.orgwww.interdys.org British Dyslexia Association British Dyslexia Association

www.bdadyslexia.org.ukwww.bdadyslexia.org.uk Educational Diagnostic Center Educational Diagnostic Center

Website Website www.deanza.edu/specialed/edc/www.deanza.edu/specialed/edc/