Types of Reading Comprehension Problems in Children

Commonly referred to as dyslexia, reading comprehension problems are the most common learning disability in young children. Reading comprehension problems come from the lack of visual, language or memory skills. Several types and causes of dyslexia exist. If left untreated, reading comprehension problems can cause other learning difficulties, such as behavioral issues, depression and low self-esteem. Early diagnosis and treatment of reading comprehension problems help curb future learning challenges.

  1. History

    • As early as the 1860s, doctors began to notice that people with brain injuries faced difficulty in reading and writing. Studies of dyslexia occurred in four stages, dating back to the 19th century when Franz Joseph Gall studied aphasic patients and helped first define the different functional locations of the brain. The first use of the term "dyslexia" occurred in 1872 by the physician R. Berlin of Stuttgart, Germany, to describe the case of an adult with loss of reading ability due to a brain lesion.

    Types of Dyslexia

    • The main types of dyslexia are phonological, orthographic and mixed dyslexia, in which children have difficulty processing both auditory and visual information. Dyslexia can be either developmental (plaguing a child through development and into adulthood) or acquired as the result of an illness or brain injury. The most common cases in children are developmental.

    Orthographic and Phonological

    • Orthographic, or surface dyslexia, refers to difficulty with word memory and recognition, especially words with irregular sounds. A child may have trouble distinguishing between the hard and soft pronunciations of "c." The orthographic dyslexic will use the most common pronunciation, leading to errors in reading and writing. Phonological dyslexia is difficulty with properly processing language sounds. Unable to analyze and synthesize speech sounds, the phonological dyslexic incorrectly spells words.

    Diagnosis

    • Signs and symptoms of dyslexia include disorganization, lack of coordination and difficulty understanding or remembering things heard. Behavioral signs may include depression or withdrawn behavior. In an attempt to direct attention away from their learning disability children may act out, expressing their low self-esteem and lack of interest in school-related activities.

    Treatment

    • Specialized education treats dyslexia by tailoring to a child's individual disability. Psychological testing determines the child's disabilities then develops a treatment plan. Federal regulation now requires that any child diagnosed with dyslexia requires an Individualized Education Program (IEP). Dyslexia is a lifelong condition, and though treatment may help a child learn to read, he will always have to put in extra effort.

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