Dyslexia
Treatment Overview
Treatment for dyslexia consists of using educational tools to enhance the ability to read: medications and counseling are not used to treat dyslexia. An important part of treatment is educating yourself about the condition. The earlier dyslexia is recognized and addressed, the greater the chance that your child will learn to read at his or her highest possible level.3 But keep in mind that reading will probably never be easy.
When a child 3 years and older has been diagnosed with dyslexia, United States federal law requires that your public school personnel develop an Individualized Education Program (IEP), an educational plan that is tailored to your child's needs. The first step in developing the IEP is talking with your child's school to create a treatment team made up of you, the teacher, and other school personnel, including school counselors and special education teachers.
Your child's personalized IEP will detail specific disabilities, appropriate teaching methods, and goals and objectives for the academic year. It is evaluated at least once a year, with changes made based on the child's progress. Parents have the right to appeal if they do not agree with their child's IEP.
According to a comprehensive U.S. government study on how children learn to read, a combination of educational methods is the most effective way to teach children to read. These methods include teaching phonics—making sure that the beginning reader understands how letters are linked to sounds (phonemes) to form words. Guided oral reading, in which the student reads aloud with guidance and feedback, is also important for developing reading fluency. The child must clearly understand the instructions being given, and the instructions must be repeatable or systematic in order to improve the child's reading abilities.4
Previously, it was thought that covering one eye helped children with dyslexia read better. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Ophthalmology found this type of treatment is ineffective because dyslexia is caused by altered brain function and not by altered visual function.5
It is important to know dyslexia is a lifelong condition. Even though early treatment during childhood can help, your child will likely always have to make an extra effort to read.
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| Author: | Amy Fackler, MA Debby Golonka, MPH | Last Updated: July 13, 2006 |
| Medical Review: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics Louis Pellegrino, MD - Developmental Pediatrics | |
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