DEVELOPMENTAL

LANGUAGE DISORDER

Dyslexia

Is a developmental language disorder whose defining

characteristic is difficulty in phonological processing
(Catts & Kamhi, 1999).
This disorder, w/c is often generally transmitted, is
generally present at birth and persists throughout
the lifespan.
Phonological processing difficulties include problems
in storing, retrieving, and using phonological
awareness and speech production.
A prominent characteristic of the disorder in school
children is difficulties in learning to decode and spell
printed words.
It is concurred that dyslexia is a language based
disorder in w/c phonological processing difficulties
disrupt word decoding and other aspects of written
language.

World Federation of Neurology

>Dyslexia is a disorder manifested by difficulty in
learning to read despite conventional instruction,
adequate intelligence and socio-cultural opportunity. It
dependent upon fundamental cognitive disabilities w/c
are frequently constitutional origin.
>Dyslexics, persons with dyslexia, have a more
pronounced disability in visual modality.
>They have great problems in decoding words that they
readily understand and even enjoy hearing but they
cannot read the said words.
>Children with dyslexia generally have significant
phonological awareness.

> Characteristics of most dyslexics according to Orton

Dyslexia Society include the ff:

a. Delayed spoken language.

b. Errors in letter naming.
c. Difficulty in learning and remembering printed words.
d. Reversal or orientation of letters, or sequence of
letters in words when read or written.
e. g. was for saw; b for d;
e. Repeated spelling errors.
f. Cramped or illegible handwriting.
g. Difficulty finding the right word when speaking.
h. Slow rate of writing.
I . Reduced reading and writing.
j. Similar problems among relatives.

What causes of Dyslexia?

>Dr. Samuel Orton- an American neuropathologist
and psychiatrist, is known to have pioneered
studies about dyslexia. He had concluded, based
on his findings, that it is caused by an unusual
pattern of cerebral dominance and that the
difference is neurological than psychological.

>Dr. Albert M. Galaburda,- a neurologist in Harvard,

disordered structure in the outer layers of the
brain (Cortex) of males due to some improper
formation of certain areas of brain is cause of
dyslexia.

This finding was later on added to with other

causes such as:
a. Manifestations of cerebral asymmetry w/c
deviates from the expected norms.
b. The presence of distortions in the structures
of cortex affecting primarily the left
hemisphere w/c is area for language.
.

Psychologist Paula Talla (1995)- knew that

most children initially learn to read by
sounding words out loud.

Helping the Child with a Learning

Disability
Parents are the childs greatest resource and
most important advocate.
>Parents need only consider 3 general areas of
services:
1. Diagnostic service.
o

2.

Educational planning and treatment for the

child.

3.

Help for parents.

Diagnosis of a youngsters learning difference is

clearly the essential first step.
>parents should seek professional advice as soon they
have questions or concerns about a childs
development or his ability to learn.

Pediatrician or family physician may be the first

person to be made aware of childs problem outside
of school.

Psychological assessment also gives parents a

picture of youngsters current emotional and
intellectual functioning. A sensitive evaluation will
help parents and professionals become aware of
childs strengths for learning and his relative
weakness, as well as give them an understanding of
how he views his world and people and people in it.

>When family circumstances permit, it might be

wise to seek outside help if:
1.

A child requires a one-to-one relationship in

order to learn . This may not be possible in school
, and for some children, a group of two is still a
group, w/ built-in competition and distraction.

2.

School is taxing for a child. He may need juice,

cookies, and a decompression chamber in a
homey office rather than a classroom.

3.

A child needs more time to learn and more

reinforcement of skills than the school can
provide.

Psychotherapy is an approach frequently

recommended for children w/ learning
differences when they have major social
problems along w/ their learning difficulties, or
when emotional factors seem to interfere
significantly w/ their daily lives.

Two pronged treatment approach educational

and therapeutic can help a child improve more
quickly and more effectively than one form of
treatment alone.

Medication is sometimes recommended for

hyperactive youngsters w/ learning
difficulties .

THATS ALL
T HANKYOUWWWW
=)
BEED-2/A
Jezabil M. Balase