Dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is usually present Starting from the first day of school, While dyslexia may often not be recognized until the fourth or fifth grade, When the transition is made from learning to read to reading to learn. Therefore, parents and teachers must know the difference between attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and the learning disorders that accompany it and how to get the necessary help for early intervention.
Is there a link between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and dyslexia?
About 50% to 60% of individuals diagnosed with ADHD also have a learning disorder, the most common of which is dyslexia.
Dyslexia is known as: It is a language-based learning disorder that affects reading. 8% to 17% of the population has dyslexia, Dyslexia is largely misunderstood by everyone.
Contrary to popular belief among everyone, Dyslexia does not mean reading letters or words backwards. Therefore, people diagnosed with dyslexia may have difficulty with phonological awareness. It is recognizing and dividing letter sounds. Difficulty in segmenting words. One diagnosed with dyslexia named Ryan used to read the word “doctor” as “doctor” instead of “doctor.”
People diagnosed with dyslexia can have difficulty recalling simple words. Example, Not remembering “the thing with which we eat meat” and not being able to think about
“Fork”, It is also common to replace words incorrectly.
also, Difficulty naming letters, colors, and pictures, Learning the alphabet is considered more difficult for children diagnosed with dyslexia. These challenges often coexist with high verbal abilities. It is expected that a good speaker will be skilled at reading but this is not the case with dyslexia. Where other challenges can include, Difficulty with spelling, writing, learning new languages, and any other information that may depend on memory, such as, phone numbers.
Genetic factors play a major role in the spread of dyslexia. The prevalence of dyslexia among siblings diagnosed with dyslexia is 50%. So dyslexia is a neurological condition, Some differences were discovered in the brains of children diagnosed with dyslexia.
Does dyslexia affect distraction?
Symptoms of ADHD may be exacerbated by dyslexia and vice versa. Both ADHD and dyslexia share many symptoms, such as:
- Difficulty in processing information quickly.
- Long-term memory deficit.
- Difficulty in naming speed.
- Defects in motor skills.
The mother of a person diagnosed with dyslexia said: “We did not even suspect that my daughter was diagnosed with dyslexia. Therefore, we assumed that reading was difficult due to symptoms of ADHD, We now realize that dyslexia is exacerbated by ADHD.
The differences and similarities between ADHD and dyslexia include the following two conditions:
1- Students diagnosed with dyslexia who are not diagnosed with ADHD will show problems with focus and attention, Especially with reading requirements but not generally in other situations, Unlike individuals diagnosed with ADHD, Attention is low in any environment or task that is not stimulating for the student. As they are both highly susceptible to low self-esteem.
2- Individuals diagnosed with dyslexia are better at auditory processing than those diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Effective interventions for dyslexia
- It is essential that an individual diagnosed with ADHD or dyslexia be evaluated. Because the longer an individual’s diagnosis of dyslexia goes unnoticed, the worse its impact on the development of reading and self-esteem.
- Professionals in the field should be consulted to help the individual receive the appropriate intervention. Schools are not always equipped to teach students diagnosed with dyslexia; Therefore, parents should verify that interventions are effective and applicable to individuals diagnosed with dyslexia rather than to individuals without a diagnosis of dyslexia.
- Treatment for ADHD can help improve overall focus and improve long-term memory. But it will not cure dyslexia.
- Some parents may fear diagnosing their child as “dyslexic” out of fear that they do not want their child to feel different. But children diagnosed with dyslexia do feel differently in different daily life situations.
- IPP must be developed, Instead of developing an IEP, which is the individual educational plan used in the school, IPP stands for (Individual Ignorance Protection Plan), So when individuals are diagnosed with dyslexia, Parents should explain to their children that most people will think he is not smart and may be unkind about it and come up with appropriate responses to those situations.
Reference:
Dyslexia and ADHD: The Learning Disabilities Connected to ADD (additudemag.com)
