A parent's guide to dyslexia

Despite dyslexia being more widely understood today than it was in the classrooms of the past, many children are still going undiagnosed, meaning they miss out on the crucial help and support they need.

Around 4 per cent of the population are thought to be severely affected by dyslexia, with a further 6 per cent having mild to moderate symptoms.

Put simply, dyslexia is a condition where the brain has difficulty interpreting information, which can present as difficulties with reading, writing and sequencing. While the majority of people are born with it, it can occasionally be caused by a trauma such as meningitis.

The important thing to remember is that dyslexia can affect people in different ways. Some dyslexics are good readers, while others are great at maths. It can also affect other areas such as short-term memory, organisational skills, time management and finding your way around geographically.

'Every child is different,' says Katrina Cochrane, southern regional manager at UK charity Dyslexia Action.

'Some children with dyslexia get to university without it ever being detected. But once there, they find the workload and different skills required for study hard to cope with.'

But spotting the signs early can make a world of difference.

'All the research shows that early diagnosis and support can help compensate children who are dyslexic, meaning they're not affected to such an extent,' adds Katrina Cochrane.


Read more of this article here: A parent's guide to dyslexia