|
October 18, 2000
|
| Smart Kids, Feeling Stupid |
|
People are often diagnosed as dyslexic when, despite normal to high intelligence, they have difficulty learning to read. Letters or words can get reversed in their minds, making such tasks problematic. Dyslexics typically reverse letters such as b and d, and words such as "saw" and "was". Numbers can also get confusing, especially numbers such as 6 and 9. "When Hannah was in nursery school, she refused to deal with anything having to do with numbers," says Karen Kozek, of her now 13-year-old dyslexic daughter. "At one time, she declared that 'Numbers are not my friends.'" The most significant problem for dyslexics is their difficulty with breaking the letters of written words into distinct sounds, called phonemes. Phonics—sounding out a word into pronounceable clusters—is one of the primary ways that children learn to read. Because a dyslexic has a hard time sounding out words, it makes learning to read very difficult. Dyslexics have trouble discerning differences in sound, such as the difference between "pin" and "pen."
In the past, many people mistook the inability of dyslexics to read and spell as laziness that could be conquered with the proper discipline and attitude. "My frustration level was high as I watched my child struggle with tasks that I felt she could do if she would just try," remembers Kozek. "Unlike a child who has an obvious physical disability, a child with dyslexia 'looks normal.'" |
|
Albert Einstein and Thomas Edison struggled with reading and spelling. Still, they were some of the most pivotal thinkers of our time; their discoveries and insights profoundly shaped our world. What makes the minds of dyslexics different?
"For a very long time, Hannah just didn't understand the point of reading," Kozek continues. "A large part of her frustration arose from the fact that she was aware of what the kids around her were doing in terms of school work, and wondered why she couldn't do the same. It was very difficult to watch."
|
| Biology of the Brain |
|
Over the years, there have been many theories about what causes dyslexia. The most recent studies show that the brain region that processes written language is different in dyslexics.
Some scientists believe that certain dyslexics may try to compensate for this lack of activity by using the frontal gyrus, which is located at the front of the brain. This area is associated with spoken language. Such dyslexics may say words out loud as they are reading.
|
|
Yale researchers have taken photographs of the brains of dyslexic volunteers while they read. The photos show a lower-than-normal amount of activity in the angular gyrus (AG), an area toward the back of the brain that deals with written language. The AG is what is helping you to translate the mass of words on this page into meaningful language right now.
| Looking toward the Future |
|
Just because one part of their brain is underactive doesn't mean that dyslexics are unintelligent. Far from it. Dyslexics can succeed with words—screenwriter and novelist Fanny Flagg is a prime example—and they often excel at math. They are typically highly creative, intuitive, and excellent hands-on learners. These very visual people think in pictures, and often end up enjoying successful careers where their skills are valued, such as in the fields of architecture and art. "There is no doubt that Hannah is smart, creative, perceptive, and original—extremely original," says Kozek. "Her observations are refreshing and insightful."
In the past, many colleges would balk at accepting students who suffered from learning disabilities such as dyslexia. (A learning disability refers to neurological problems that prevent a person from getting, storing, and retrieving information adequately.) But services for students are improving. Dyslexic students can now obtain lectures and textbooks on tape, and some colleges offer Kurzweil 3000 reading machines. These high-tech machines can turn written text into spoken words. They can read aloud textbooks, articles, and tests. The machines also read back the work a student has written, and provide spelling and word choice guidance as well.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|