Friday, December 18, 2009

When Words Appear Backwards



A dook si harb ot reab wheu you avea learmimg bisadlity.

This is what those with dyslexia might see when they attempt to read a normal sentence.

Known as the "invisible handicap" or "word blindness," dyslexia is a learning disorder that affects a person's ability to read letters or words.

Reading can become almost impossible because letters and words may appear backward, sideways or seem to float off the edge of a page. The letters most often confused are b, d, p and q. For example, dog may be seen as bog.

Dyslexics also have difficulty recognizing and remembering printed shapes. This often causes writing that is cramped and difficult to read.

Dyslexia occurs in boys three times as often as in girls and research reveals that it runs in families. Unnoticed at birth because there are no visible physical imperfections, dyslexia can affect as many as 10 percent of school-age children. What causes it is unknown and there seems to be no cure.

Dyslexia has nothing to do with intelligence--most who suffer from it are above average in intelligence. The frustration occurs with the dyslexic's inability to transfer thoughts correctly to paper.

Parents and teachers not understanding the problem may accuse dyslexics of not trying hard enough or being lazy. Many dyslexics in the past have been classified as slow or retarded.

What effect can this disability have on you as a teen? There is a good chance that someone you know is dyslexic.

If so, you can help by reading assignments aloud and helping correct his or her spelling mistakes. Most important of all, accept the person.

Dyslexia is not a disease, but a difference.

- By Lu Anne Girard Warren


Taken from Youth 90 magazine

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