quick clicks

special kids today articles

special kids today q&a

community & groups

research baby names

prepare a birth plan

content channels

ip channel rss feeds

read birth stories

read parenting stories

recommended books

e-newsletters

safety recalls

ip diaries

ip store

mom of the month

dad of the month

editor's letter

letters to the editor

Dealing with Dyslexia

Diagnosing the Disorder

By Sue Poremba

"Silent reading doesn't help kids with reading comprehension," he says. "Kids need to learn how to self-correct themselves." By reading together, parents can help the child learn these skills.

As Frank's experience shows, a college education – even one in a reading intensive program like psychology – is possible for the dyslexic young adult. However, colleges do not automatically recognize the student's high school IEP.

To get the most out of a college education, Levin gives these suggestions:

• Students should be aware of the services that are available at their college (a good place to start is the school's psychology department or disabilities office).
• Develop good time management skills.
• Take advantage of the technology that is out there, such as voice recognition software.

"The student should be tested around sophomore year of high school to make sure they have something current in their files," Levin says. This can be especially useful when the student is looking for assistance in college classes.

Dyslexia doesn't go away and can't be cured, but it is possible to learn coping skills. Throughout the school years, parents can remind their children that life won't always require them to read and write with a time limit.

Frank also says that it doesn't pay to be embarrassed or shy about admitting you are dyslexic. "Don't pretend you are just like everybody else," he says. "Speak up for what you need.

Frank concludes in his book, "Dyslexia is not easy to live with, but neither is it an insurmountable disability."

Want to see more?

• Check out our Article Library.
• Making the Grade: What Parents Should Know About Psychological Testing
• Dyslexia: Different, Not Dumb
• The Four D's of Dyslexia: Defining, Deciphering, Diagnosis and Dealing
• Talk about it!