 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
||
 |
 |
 |
Synthetic Phonics and Dyslexia
The most reputable definition of dyslexia is that of the British Psychological Society:
'Dyslexia is present when fluent and accurate word identification (reading) and/or spelling does not develop, or does so very incompletely.' In other words, you realise your child has a problem because he can't read, and the explanation is that he can't read.
Martin Turner of the Dyslexia Institute believes that dyslexia has three identifiable causes.
-
Genetics - 'There are nine genes known to contribute to the condition, and more to come.'
-
The tricky and wilful nature of the hybrid English language itself.
-
Teaching methods - 'No one has any problem in accepting that good instruction may prevent dyslexia,' Turner says.
Dyslexia, then, in Turner's view, is a preventable condition -- a condition, looking at it the other way around, that is actually brought on by less-effective teaching methods. The central problem of dyslexia, i.e. learning to read, can be solved -- and more importantly, prevented -- with the right method and tools.
Jonathan Solity of Warwick University states, "There is no reason why, with appropriate teaching, the children we now call dyslexic shouldn't learn to read as well as anyone else. It is most likely to be the way they are taught that is causing problems."
Additional Resource:
Dyslexia
Checklist
