What is Dyslexia?
Dyslexia is a specific learning difficulty which makes it hard for some people to learn to read, write and spell correctly (Dyslexia Association Of Ireland). Dyslexia is a fundamental difficulty with language processing, particularly with written language. It is not caused by any physical or emotional difficulty. It is not a disease or defect; therefore it cannot be treated medically or cured. Dyslexia is on a spectrum from mild to severe. It does not always occur as an isolated condition. Conditions such as Dysgraphia and Specific Language Impairment (SLI) are often seen as co-occurring conditions.
How is Dyslexia Assessed?
There are generally 3 ways to get an assessment done in Ireland – in school with NEPS, with the Dyslexia Association or with an independent private educational psychologist.
PALS are private educational Psychologists working as Consultants with the Speech and Language Clinic who can provide this service at your convenience.
How Can The Speech & Language Clinic help?
Students with dyslexia experience difficulty with phonological processing, working memory, auditory discrimination, syntax and sequencing, all skills necessary for language mastery. There is also a strong correlation between dyslexia and other Speech and Language Difficulties.Therefore Speech Therapists design interventions to address these deficits.
Generally, Therapy targets:
- Phonolgoical Awareness (The ability to rhyme, identify sounds and put different sounds together)
- The relationship between letters and sounds
- Expressive & Receptive Language ability
- Structured reading