With a Dyslexia is a condition under which the affected patients have difficulty reading and understanding of information read have. As a result, dyslexia is primarily a reading disorder. On the other hand, the sick people have no visual or hearing impairment. In some cases, dyslexia coexists with dyslexia.

What is dyslexia?

Generally speaking, the ability to read is impaired in the context of dyslexia. It is estimated that dyslexia affects about 5 to 15 percent of people. In terms of its severity and severity, however, dyslexia can differ considerably in individual cases. In many cases, dyslexia first appears within the first few years of school. The cause of dyslexia is often found in genetic components.

In some patients, however, the disease develops as a result of a stroke or traumatic brain injury. Dyslexia must be distinguished from alexia, in which the patient is unable to read at all. Due to the dyslexia, the affected people read relatively slowly or mix up the letters of words in their order.

Causes

According to Gradphysics, dyslexia has various causes, so that the disease shows similar symptoms in individual cases, but can be traced back to different factors. Observations indicate that the dyslexia has a family history. Because of this, there are suspicions that the disease is passed on to offspring in a hereditary manner.

Research has identified mutations on the sixth chromosome that are apparently involved in the genesis of the disease. In principle, a distinction must be made between congenital and acquired dyslexia with regard to the causes of the disease. People with congenital dyslexia show less activity in some areas of the brain than healthy people.

Patients have difficulty putting letters together into a word in the correct order. In the majority of cases, this form of dyslexia is diagnosed in elementary school age, as the impaired reading ability is clearly noticeable here for the first time. The situation is different with acquired dyslexia, which occurs with a far greater frequency than the congenital form.

In this case, damage has occurred in certain areas of the brain as a result of a stroke or other factors. The areas that play an important role in reading ability are also damaged. Often times, acquired dyslexia occurs with a speech disorder and other impairments. In most cases, it is not only the parts of the brain that are responsible for reading that are injured as a result of the damaging effects.

Symptoms, ailments & signs

The symptoms and symptoms of dyslexia are relatively clear and, in many cases, relatively easy to diagnose. The affected patients suffer from difficulties in reading, which manifests itself, for example, in the reversal of the order of the letters. In addition, people suffering from dyslexia find it difficult to understand the words they have read and to grasp the meaning of texts.

Diagnosis

Dyslexia, whether acquired or congenital, must always be diagnosed by a suitable doctor. Self-diagnosis is not advisable, but suspicion of the presence of the disease is a valid reason to consult a doctor immediately. A rapid diagnosis of dyslexia is recommended, especially in children.

Because the disease can lead to anxiety or mental disorders if the child does not meet the requirements of school for too long. The pediatrician is often the first point of contact for parents or guardians if dyslexia is suspected. At the beginning of the diagnosis, the doctor takes an anamnesis, asking above all the child, but also the adult companions.

During this patient interview, the focus is on the individual signs of dyslexia, the development of the child and his or her learning behavior. In addition, a family history is necessary, as the dyslexia occurs more often in families. If other family members are already suffering from the disease, the suspicion of dyslexia is reinforced.

Finally, several tests are used to help make the diagnosis of dyslexia. For example, an electroencephalogram is made by placing electrodes on the patient’s skin. In this way, a measurement of the brain waves is possible. In addition, changes in the structure of the brain or disorders of its function can be detected using this examination method.

In addition, the patients undergo an intelligence test to rule out a low IQ. A dyslexia test is used to check reading ability. The patient reads out a text and then reproduces its content in their own words. A diagnosis is thus possible together with the other examination results.

Complications

Dyslexia is the inability of people to read, understand or write down words or related sentences and texts. This can be attributed to a lack of writing and reading training or even impairments and injuries to the brain. Researchers even suspect a genetic predisposition to dyslexia.

In this country, dyslexia is by definition more serious than what is summarized under dyslexia or poor reading and writing skills. However, there is a smooth transition between these phenomena. In English-speaking countries, however, dyslexia and dyslexia are grouped under the same umbrella term dyslexia.

Reading and writing are always cognitively and physiologically dependent. Therefore, a neurologist or speech therapist cannot accurately determine that either only reading or only writing is impaired. A neurologist or neurological clinic is responsible for a more precise diagnosis.

But German teachers could also provide informative tips in advance. If dyslexia is a result of brain disease or head injuries, a neurological diagnosis should be made by a specialist. This is the basis for further treatment. The aim should be to create the best possible reading and writing skills.

If dyslexia is not treated or treated in a timely manner, it can lead to social exclusion or professional disadvantages. In addition to speech therapists, clinical linguists are also responsible for the treatment and therapy of dyslexia, who test, train and improve reading and writing skills.

When should you go to the doctor?

A doctor should be consulted as soon as there is noticeable difficulty reading or recognizing the letters. If there are problems with understanding the text or deciphering the meaning of individual read words, it is advisable to have these signs clarified by a doctor. If letters cannot be put in the correct order while reading, it is advisable to consult a doctor and seek help. Children who are well behind their peers in their learning development of reading should be examined more closely by a doctor.

The sooner the symptoms are clarified, the earlier individual and targeted therapies can be developed and applied. People who have already built up fears or are showing changes in personality are well advised to contact a doctor or therapist as soon as possible. If there are already emotional and mental problems, there is a need for action. Medical assistance is required in the event of social withdrawal, irritability, or aggressive behavior.

Inner restlessness, concentration problems or attention disorders should also be examined and medically clarified. If people lose the ability to read in their lifetime, there is cause for concern. Medically, the phenomenon is considered unusual and is often associated with a disease that should be treated.

Treatment & Therapy

Early diagnosis and treatment of dyslexia are of great benefit to the individual patient, especially in children. The aim is to educate teachers and classmates about the disease so that the child patient faces less social pressure. It is always important to show the sick person understanding and to encourage their motivation to learn. In this way, further mental illnesses or social exclusion of the child can be successfully avoided in many cases.

Outlook & forecast

The prognosis of dyslexia depends very much on its cause. While the English term “dyslexia” can be used for reading / spelling disorders in childhood, the German term dyslexia mostly refers to the appearance as a result of irreversible damage to the brain and other neurological tissue.

Since these injuries and damage can usually no longer return to the previous healthy state once they have suffered damage, acquired dyslexia no longer resolves either. If the underlying disease that triggers it progresses, as can be the case with a brain tumor, then dyslexia can also worsen or become a permanent condition if it has only occurred in phases and temporarily.

However, in the case of accidents or brain injuries that occurred a long time ago, reading should be practiced regularly despite acquired dyslexia. Consistent practice can partially improve certain previously existing skills, so that those affected can at least partially learn to read again. The likelihood of learning to read depends on the cause and severity of the brain damage that initially led to dyslexia. The supervising neurologist can make an accurate prognosis because it depends on the individual patient’s history and previous physical development after the damage to the brain.

Prevention

According to the current state of knowledge, prevention of dyslexia is hardly practicable.

Aftercare

Follow-up care options are severely limited in dyslexia. A comprehensive diagnosis and subsequent treatment must first be carried out in order to limit and treat the symptoms of dyslexia. However, a very early diagnosis in childhood is necessary so that the person affected does not experience symptoms or other complications in adulthood.

The earlier the treatment is started, the better the further course of the disease will usually be. The life expectancy of the patient is not negatively affected by the dyslexia. First and foremost, the parents and relatives of the affected child must also obtain comprehensive information about the disease in order to act correctly and to treat it correctly in their own home.

The parents must motivate the child to learn and properly reward successes. The symptoms of dyslexia can only be relieved permanently through comprehensive and intensive therapy. The classmates should also be informed about the illness so that there is no bullying or teasing. The loving and intensive support of your own family and friends can also alleviate the symptoms.

You can do that yourself

Dyslexia requires different measures on the part of those affected and those around them, which depend on the exact form of the reading impairment. In addition, positive development can be worked better with and in children than in adults or people with acquired dyslexia.

For people who have developed dyslexia over time from inadequate writing and reading training, exercises at home (with someone who can clarify progress and mistakes) can work to achieve near-average reading comprehension. This should be seen in addition to speech therapy measures.

A hurdle can be overcome for children with reading and writing problems, as dyslexia loses its impact on school grades. By removing reading and writing as a factor, children can be relieved of pressure. However, the dyslexia should still be treated. This can be supported by games that promote understanding of the term. Everything that combines images, terms and play comes into consideration here.

Psychological suffering that can arise in children from the feeling of being supposedly stupid can be alleviated with relaxation techniques (autogenic training) or by finding activities in which the child is good.

Adults with dyslexia should always know that there are many people in their situation. Local self-help groups can be found in many cities.