Parenting a Child with Dyslexia

Scott, M. E., Scherman, A., & Phillips, H. (1992). Helping individuals with dyslexia succeed in adulthood: Emerging keys for effective parenting, education, and development of positive self concept. Journal of Instructional Psychology, 19, 197-204.

This article gives the details of a study of successful adult dyslexics. It asked them why they were successful when most disabled people do not succeed in school or in employment. The article focused on why these subjects were able to lead productive lives. What influenced their ability to cope with their frustrations in learning; what strategies they are able to use to overcome their difficulties. Dyslexia is defined for this article to be a type of learning disability that makes it difficult for the individual to understand written and spoken words or numbers (Scott, Scherman, & Phillips, 1992, p. 197). Individuals with dyslexia often have difficulties in understanding information in social situations as well. This can affect their relationships with friends and family members (Scott, Scherman, & Phillips, 1992, p. 197-8).

Students with dyslexia are often in the bottom quarter of their class at graduation and are not always eligible for admission into colleges and universities (Scott, Scherman, & Phillips, 1992, p. 198). This failure to succeed in school and in relationships, even though individuals with dyslexia have normal or above normal intelligence, can cau

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Poor reading can be the result of dyslexia, but it can also be the result of poor teaching. The debate between brain-biology and environment will continue. A study to test the affect of biology verses environment, at the University of Albany, found with tutoring most children are able to become proficient readers reading at or above grade level within two years (Tashman, 1995, p. 15). These findings that children can be taught to read with tutoring give hope to dyslexics that with remediation their problems can be overcome. It may not be as easy as Tashman's study implies. In another study which tested adult dyslexics, major primary skill deficits were discovered. Primary skills are skills which are learned at an early age and are used in every day living. Examples in the cognitive area of knowledge are reading skills such as letter and number recognition, how to sound out a word, writing skills like word and letter order, grammar, and arithmetic skills like how to do addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Motor skills are skills which have physical movement. These skills can also lag behind in individuals with dyslexia. Examples of this type of primary skill are swinging, roller skating (balance), video ga
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Approximate Word count = 1740
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page)

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