... it is nice to be a dyslectic

...you just have to know what is happening to you.

-What is DYSLEXIA?

Dyslexia is very misleading because it doesn't appear in everyday verbal communication, since dyslectics don't have speech problems and they usually have excellent logic and intelligence. Only when we know its existence, we can treat it promptly and properly. In contrast, i g n o r a n c e worsening their specific learning difficulty that appears in reading, spelling, written speech and particularly in the transfer of their thinking in writing.

-What are the early symptoms?

Because dyslexia is mainly hereditary, it exists from birth. Thus, it can be identified from pre-school age. Possible symptoms to watch out in pre-school age and in early primary classes are: Inheritance, difficulties in synchronisation-coordination of activities (Jumping rope, head-shots in football) & keeping rate-rhythmic movements (pace, dancing, timing). Moreover, they present sequence problems, such as slower learning of automatic execution of sequential movements-actions (dressing, tying shoelaces).

Dyslexia usually coexists with the neurological, hereditary problem of divided attention, hyperactivity and impulsivity [= Impatience]. Children with divided attention are often unable to concentrate for a certain period of time, they are impatient, disorganised, lively, rebellious, restless, they can not wait for their turn and they don't finish what they start, they are irritable, intensely emotional, they are people of last minute and they don't have the sense of time. Divided attention usually appears with learning problems, but can rarely exist without them.

-What scientific specialty is the appropriate to make the diagnosis?

Specialised psychologists or special educators make the diagnosis of dyslexia, usually as members of groups of specialists. Without psychologists the diagnosis cannot be achieved because the IQ test is necessary in order to exclude the mental retardation as a cause of learning problems. Only qualified psychologists can give the IQ tests. Stress, lack of confidence as well as divided attention and impulsivity that characterise children with learning difficulties considerably reduce their performance on IQ tests, which, in the hands of inexperienced or non-specifics are dangerous. The most dangerous and tragic mistake is that of being diagnosed, because of ignorance, as mentally retarded an intelligent but shy dyslectic child!

-Why psychological problems?

School failure but also negative treatment and rejection because of ignorance by parents and teachers with derogatory comparisons and negative adjectives (lazy, indifferent, irresponsible) cause serious secondary psychological problems, which are crashing the confidence and the self-respect of our children. The early diagnosis of dyslexia or, better, the prognosis during the pre-school age has as a result its early treatment in order to decrease the consequent psychological problems.