DYSLEXIA - The World of Words

- Mbah Chiwendu Inioluwa

Dyslexia is a brain condition that affects how the brain processes language. Dyslexia makes it difficult for sufferers to read, spell, and write.

As an English student, I was going through one of our textbooks, RUDIMENTARY PHONETICS AND PHONOLOGY, then I came across a chapter titled Basic Speech Disorders of which dyslexia was one. At that very moment, I realized dyslexia didn't only have to do with difficulty with reading and writing but also in the effective identification of speech sounds and learning how to relate to words. 

Basically, dyslexia is not just about seeing letters or words backward, but it's the lack of phonemic awareness. That is the ability to manipulate phonemes,which are the smallest unit of sounds that make up words. (Uba 2016:18) opines that phonemes are less well developed among dyslexic individuals, which makes them order phonemes incorrectly or use epenthesis while reading. Epenthesis is the insertion or addition of one or more sounds to a word which is not part of the word’s original structure. This is done usually to satisfy phonological constraints.

My interest in the condition led me to watch movies and documentaries that had dyslexic characters in them. Films like ‘Like Stars on Earth’, which projected the young character Ishaan as dyslexic and because of his poor performance in school, his parents sent him to a boarding school.

Even in the other film, ‘Night School’, the character Teddy Walker is diagnosed with dyslexia and dyscalculia along with other processing issues (a whole lot of problems, right?) As funny as it might be, this is the reality of some people out there. In both of the movies, the problems were discovered by their teachers who helped them the best way they could.

Dyslexia isn't a disease, but a condition present from birth that affects approximately 10-17% of the population globally. In continents like Africa, where awareness is ridiculously low, the prevalence is comparable, but many cases go undiagnosed. Due to this, many suffer in silence without the needed help. 

CAUSES OF DYSLEXIA

Dyslexia is often hereditary and several other factors contribute to its development. Factors such as premature birth, prenatal exposure (exposure to strong drugs, nicotine, alcohol, or infections during pregnancy can sometimes affect the brain development of the fetus), and sometimes the variation in the brain regions responsible for reading and processing language.

Dyslexia does not look the same on all, while some outgrow it, others experience its challenges throughout their lives.

Research suggests that some individuals with this condition struggle with maths while the others primarily struggle with writing.

SYMPTOMS OF DYSLEXIA

The symptoms of dyslexia vary between age groups . In young children for example, they struggle with learning new words, forming new words (in cases of syntax), confusing similar sounding words, trouble remembering letters, colors, numbers, and learning nursery rhymes. While adults have difficulty reading aloud, slow and laborious reading and writing, trouble analyzing texts or summarizing stories, learning new languages and memorizing.

Early diagnosis is pertinent for effective intervention. Parents, caregivers and teachers should be observant and supportive of dyslexics. Intervention plans should also include phonics based reading programs, speech therapy, and the use of therapy to assist.

Dyslexia doesn't define a person’s overall abilities, neither does it limit them. Some individuals have proven that it is possible to be great and not limited with their conditions. Individuals like, Whoopi Goldberg, an acclaimed actress and television host, , LeDerick Horne, a poet and activist, Steven Spielberg who is a renowned filmmaker among others. 

There is no cure for dyslexia, but there is help. Specialized reading instructions and supports like accommodation can help improve skills.