By: Laurie Endicott Thomas

Laurie Endicott Thomas — Sat, 14 Sep 2013 20:27:01 +0000

The inability to read is an inability, or simple lack of skill. It should not be presumed to be the result of a disability unless there is some independent evidence that there is something wrong with the child's nervous system. Most of the "symptoms" of dyslexia are really just further evidence that the child has not been properly taught to read. The reversing of letters is a sign that the child does not know the alphabet well. Reversing words (e.g., confusing was and saw) is evidence of the fact that the child is analyzing words as shapes, rather than decoding words phonetically from left to right. Dyslexic children have "poor phonemic awareness" because they have never been given proper training in phonics. Remember that children who have learned to read are continually reinforcing their phonemic awareness every time they read. Children who cannot read phonetically do not get that kind of reinforcement.

When otherwise seemingly normal children fail to learn to read in school, the problem is usually due to the school's use of "sight words" instead of phonics to teach reading.
As I explained above, I have observed people who supposedly had "dyslexia" but magically learned to read when someone taught them phonics. Did their genes mutate as a result of the phonics lessons? Of course not. That's why I think it's silly to suggest that dyslexia is genetic. In the 1920s, Dr. Samuel Orton found that an epidemic of dyslexia had broken out in Iowa (epidemics are never genetic!). The problem was due to the use of sight words instead of phonics in the public schools. The more sight words a school expected children to memorize before giving them some instruction in phonics, the higher the rate of dyslexia in the school was.

Dyslexia is not a gift. It is the result of child abuse. The deliberate use of a teaching method that does not work is abusive. It's just as bad to mislabel a child as "disabled" as it is to call the child "lazy" or "stupid" when the real problem is bad schooling.

If you really want to help people who have been given a diagnosis of dyslexia, use phonics to teach them to read. http://www.donpotter.net/education_pages/blend_phonics.html

By: Jeff Parker

Jeff Parker — Fri, 06 Sep 2013 20:49:54 +0000

Yes, of course Dyslexia can be a learning disability. Your last comment in your article tells me that you most likely don't fully understand what dyslexia is, and how it can affect people. Tell me...are you dyslexic?

I am, and I run a clinic helping people, primarily minors, to overcome the challenges and use the "gift" that they have. They inherited it, as it is passed down from one, or both, of their parents.

I'm not saying that there's nothing wrong with our schools. Especiall in my state where dyslexia is not a recognized disability in the school system.

If a child has just one of the 7 permutations of dyslexia, and it is not diagnosed, they often will suffer from the onslaught of abuse - 'he's just lazy', 'he does'nt try hard enough', 'are you stupid?'

Many of these comments come from the school teachers themselves, who don't have knowledge of how dyslexia shows up in their classrooms.

So in a nutshell, yes, dyslexia can be a disability. Especially for those who are dyslexic and have to live with those who aren't.

Comments on: Is Dyslexia Really a Learning Disability?

By: Laurie Endicott Thomas

By: Jeff Parker