Dyslexia is more than just a reading disorder - it's a complex learning difference. Not only does dyslexia affect reading, but it also affects how the brain processes language and vision.
While these challenges often overlap, understanding their distinct roles helps us better support individuals with dyslexia.
The Visual-Language Connection in Dyslexia
Dyslexia involves difficulties in both how the brain processes visual information and how it handles language. Think of it as a two-part challenge:
Visual Processing: People with dyslexia may struggle with:
Visual attention - focusing on what is actually relevant among everything that the eyes are taking in.
Processing visual sequences - recognizing that s mile is different that smile.
Visual memory - remembering that you’ve already read the words “Sam ate a huge …” while reading the word “pizza.” - otherwise you may never know what happened with the pizza
Visual Tracking - keeping your eyes on the same line while you read a sentence. Otherwise you get bits and pieces that muddle all of the message.
Language Processing: Simultaneously, there are challenges with:
Phonological awareness - understanding the role of each sound in a words and how to change them.
Connecting written symbols to their corresponding sounds
Processing how a slight change in letters and significantly impact the sounds and the meaning of the word - think through, though, and thorough
Language Access - being able to rapidly correlate written words to objects, actions, and descriptions
So what can we do about it?
I’m so glad you asked!!
Now that we know we are looking at more than just some backwards letters, we can start to find the root cause of each person’s challenges.
By working on visual processing, language and thinking skills you can find each persons strengths and true weaknesses. While we build up skills that are weaker, I also make sure to focus on teaching people how to use their strengths.
What does that look like?
If you're good at remembering what someone said out loud - have someone tell you the important information so that you don't miss it. or have a computer program read it out loud so that you can hear it and double check what you read.
Each person strengths and weaknesses are going to be different so there's not one perfect strategy for everyon. However, with the right support, we can find the right accommodations, strategies, and ideas for harnessing your strengths.
In my practice I also include several types of technology based interventions to kickstart your progress.
Tomatis Method - to improve the neural connections in the language and the vision parts of your brain. Can also be used with your voice to further improve phonological awareness and language processing.
Interactive Metronome - to improve neurotiming which is needed for cognitive functions (attention, memory, and executive functioning which are critical for effective reading.
So what does all this mean?
Dyslexia is far more than seeing our writing a few letters backwards and contrary to popular belief we can do a lot to help those dealing with it.
By focusing on language and how our brain processes what we see we can truly change how people understand the written world.
Did any of this sound familiar? Or did you start thinking about someone you know that's struggling with dyslexia?
Give us a call or book a consultation to learn more about how we can help everyone access reading.
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