BLOG

ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, has gotten a lot of attention recently. When children fall behind or are struggling in class, ADHD is often the first thought. But, according to Drs. Brock and Fernette Eide, authors of The Mislabeled Child, a potential attention deficit hyperactivity disorder may be covering up the real issue—dyslexia. Thought to occur in as many as one in 10 people, dyslexia is a commonly misdiagnosed issue.

Children struggling from dyslexia are often considered to be slow, sloppy, or inattentive, which, according to the Eides, is a major misrepresentation. “Dyslexics are overrepresented in creative and inventive fields like art and architecture, or computers and engineering,” says Fernette Eide. “As young people, their gifts and talents may be overlooked because society only sees their weakest link.”

While dyslexia is a common learning disability, parents and teachers may not be aware of some of its telling signs. Because of this, the Eides feel its even more important for parents to watch out for signs so they can get their child the proper evaluation and help he or she needs.

Here are some red flags, according to the authors:

-Slow and strained reading, especially when reading aloud

-Difficulty understanding or appreciating rhymes

-May skip small words, such as “a”, “an” or “the” while reading

-Dislikes or avoids reading aloud

-Performs better with oral tests

-Better listening comprehension than reading comprehension

-Mixes up order of letters

-Reverses letters or has unusual spelling errors

-Makes wild guesses with new words

-Careless errors in reading test instructions or in math problems

If your child is struggling, the important part is to address the situation right away to figure out the underlying problem. Whether it’s ADHD, dyslexia, another learning disability, or simply being behind in class material, the sooner the diagnosis, the sooner you can get your child the help he or she needs.

Source: Wood, Danielle. “Not ADHD? Think Dyslexia.” www.education.com.