What is Dyslexia? Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Dyslexia is a term derived from the Greek words "dys" and "lexia," meaning insufficient. Dyslexia is a type of learning difficulty that interferes with the brain's ability to process written language. Individuals with dyslexia experience problems with reading and related skills. When considering their biological age, measured intelligence level, and education, their reading abilities fall significantly below what is expected.

What is Dyslexia?

Specific learning disorders are divided into three main categories: dysgraphia, which is a writing disorder; dyscalculia, which involves difficulties in learning mathematics; and dyslexia, which is a reading difficulty. Dyslexia is a type of learning difficulty that creates challenges in language functions, especially reading. Individuals with dyslexia generally adapt normally to classroom experiences, but they struggle to recognize written letters, numbers, syllables, and words. These individuals often read in reverse and face writing difficulties due to their reading challenges.

The exact cause of dyslexia is still not fully understood. However, it is generally believed that the reason for dyslexia lies in the dysfunctions in the central nervous system's processing of writing skills.

Most people discover they have dyslexia during childhood, and it often continues as an ongoing issue throughout their lives. This form of dyslexia is also referred to as "developmental dyslexia." Individuals with dyslexia are aware of their condition, and school-aged children often develop shy and withdrawn behaviors due to shame associated with their difficulties. Therefore, it is crucial to identify dyslexia early and provide the child with appropriate education to address this condition.

What are the Symptoms of Dyslexia?

Despite having normal intelligence, individuals with dyslexia exhibit reading performance that is lower than expected. Common symptoms seen in dyslexic individuals include:

• Difficulty in breaking words into syllables
• Learning letters with more effort than usual
• Struggling to differentiate mirror-image letters, such as "d" and "b" or "p" and "q"
• Avoiding reading aloud in group settings
• Experiencing difficulties in pronouncing new words
• Struggling to progress from syllables to words, i.e., from parts to whole
• Becoming quickly bored with reading and avoiding reading-related assignments
• Mixing up the positions of vowels in words
• Inability to read fluently
• Frequently making sound and spelling errors while reading, reading very slowly
• Having trouble with direction finding and locating addresses

What Causes Dyslexia?

The exact causes of dyslexia are not fully known. However, some studies based on comparisons among cases have identified certain risk factors. Factors contributing to dyslexia include:

• Genetic factors: Some studies suggest that dyslexia is genetically inherited. The likelihood of developing dyslexia is about 50% for children who have at least one parent with the condition. Genetic disorders, such as Down syndrome, also increase the likelihood of dyslexia.
• Structural and developmental differences in the brain: Research indicates that individuals with dyslexia have differences in brain structure, function, and chemistry.
• Acquired disruptions in brain development and function: Infections that occur in the brain and its membranes, exposure to toxic chemicals, and similar factors during the fetal stage can disrupt brain development and increase the likelihood of dyslexia emerging later on.

When Does Dyslexia Manifest?

Since the most noticeable symptom of dyslexia is related to reading, the existence of this condition is often not detected in young children until they begin school. Changes such as some motor impairments in the child may indicate the presence of dyslexia.

Dyslexia frequently becomes apparent during elementary school, and the first person to notice this issue is usually the child's teacher. While the situation may vary depending on the severity of dyslexia, it is typically recognized from the moment the child starts reading.

How is Dyslexia Diagnosed?

Certain tests are utilized to diagnose dyslexia. The methods used in the diagnosis include:

• Phonological Processing Test (Comprehensive Test of Phonological Processing - CTOPP)
• Woodcock-Johnson III (WJ III) Achievement Test
• Woodcock-Johnson Reading Mastery Test
• Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test (KBIT-2)

What Symptoms Often Accompany Dyslexia?

Individuals with dyslexia may experience difficulties in reading alongside some non-reading symptoms. Common symptoms that may occur alongside dyslexia include:

• Memory problems
• Difficulty planning time
• Challenges with orientation
• Confusion between right and left
• Inability to perform multiple tasks simultaneously
• Concentration issues
• Motor impairments
• Noticeable weakness in the left hand and slower use of the right hand
• Difficulty expressing oneself comfortably
• Lack of understanding of the concept of perspective

Because dyslexic individuals often feel troubled and embarrassed about their situation, they may isolate themselves from others and society. They tend to exhibit aggressive and confrontational behaviors.

Dyslexia Treatment

Currently, there is no definitive treatment method for dyslexia. However, individuals with dyslexia can make progress through specialized training programs tailored to their needs. Particularly in cases of childhood dyslexia, appropriate learning can be achieved through psycho-pedagogical approaches and educational therapy. Other methods used in the treatment of dyslexia include:

Orton-Gillingham Method: Developed by Samuel Orton and Anna Gillingham, this method is applicable not only for individuals with dyslexia but also for those with writing difficulties. In this approach, efforts are made to create phonemic awareness in the individual, and each sound is analyzed separately. Subsequently, vowel and consonant letters are introduced to teach new words to individuals with dyslexia. After this initial teaching, new words are further reinforced, followed by syllable exercises. Finally, the writing phase is reached. In this method, activities like breaking words into sounds and forming words from letters are carried out simultaneously. One of the key points in this method is the effective evaluation of feedback received from individuals with dyslexia and the continuous repetition of relevant exercises.

Fernald Method: Discovered by Grace Maxwell Fernald, this method emphasizes visual, auditory, tactile, and kinesthetic senses. Unlike other dyslexia applications, words are taught as a whole. Children with advanced reading difficulties benefit significantly from this method. Although initially designed to improve reading skills, this approach also enhances success in other subjects of interest to the individuals.

Living with Dyslexia

There is no definitive cure for dyslexia. Therefore, individuals with dyslexia eventually have to find ways to cope with the condition themselves. As these individuals tend to feel shame and withdraw into themselves over time, it is crucial to approach them in an encouraging manner as much as possible. Families have an essential role in this regard. They should provide emotional support to their children as much as possible. Frequent school changes should be avoided for these individuals. Additionally, actively speaking languages other than the mother tongue in the family environment can lead to confusion and exacerbate the condition of individuals with dyslexia.

As dyslexic individuals grow older, they tend to reduce their reading problems, yet they still lag behind their peers in this regard. Individuals with dyslexia can start to improve their situation by planning their time effectively. Following that, it is vital to engage in consistent reading practices and make it a habit while identifying shortcomings. Dyslexic individuals who are aware of their deficiencies and determine the most suitable learning methods can easily overcome disadvantageous situations.

Dyslexia, characterized by functional changes in the brain's speech area, is not an insurmountable problem, and it is incorrect to isolate individuals with this condition from society. Adequate education and support are essential for both patients living with dyslexia and those around them. To prevent dyslexia from leading to psychological issues and to facilitate the integration of these individuals into society, support from specialized psychologists and psychiatrists can be significant.