Is there a sign for dyslexia?

For the first few months of my life I had the little red-birthmark adorning the end of my nose.  While that birthmark did eventually fade away, a similar marker didn't replace it to conveniently announce: "Hey, this girl learns differently. She's dyslexic!"  Too bad my journey with dyslexia hasn't been as obvious as that front-and-center red-dot birthmark I once had!


Funny how that works.  


A while ago an exasperated mother contacted me regarding her daughter's struggles academically and behaviorally. 


One struggle centered on reading --though 'struggle' doesn't begin to define the territory we've just entered.  'Despise' more accurately covers how this child felt about reading! Every aspect of reading was horrendous for her to emotionally encounter. 


What did people who should have been there to support this young lady and her difficulties have to say? 


The school told mom that her daughter simply was not trying hard enough.  In fact, they had told mom this for several years.  This is a common myth about dyslexia.  We may seem to not be living up to our potential. 


A dear friend of the family and the girl's doctor were both adamant that mom should put the girl on medicine.  Mom didn't feel that medicating her daughter was the answer to the problem. 


The grandparents would not even talk about the situation because, frankly, it was too near and dear to the situation they'd already experienced with their own daughter.  


Finally, I was most struck by the comment a nurse offered.  The nurse said there was no possible way for this child to be dyslexic...she was too cute! 


Too cute?  She's cute so therefore she can't be dyslexic?  


If only dyslexia came in tandem with indicating birthmarks that broadcast:

 "HEY, I'm a dyslexic learner.  I learn in a way that might be different.  I AM NOT STUPID.  I learn differently than you might learn!" 

No such luck! We are not born with dyslexic-indicating-birthmarks. But, there are things that can indicate a dyslexic or dyslexic-like learning style when we are young. Some of these indicators include differences in developmental milestones, late to begin talking, difficulty in learning to rhyme, and an avoidance of reading. 


Here's a link to the Davis Young Learner Strategies, a solution to the dyslexic traits that may be found in young children.  


Contact OnPoint Learning if you'd like more information about the programs that provide tools to correct the learning difficulties associated with dyslexia. 


OnPoint Learning Center, LLC
3610 Buttonwood Dr. Suite 200
Columbia, Missouri 65201
573-819-6010
http://www.onpointlearning.org/
facebook