Diagnosing Dyslexia
July 15, 2008 | Leave a Comment
About 10% of the general population has one or more of the many different types of dyslexia. In the adult population over 25-30 years old, it is estimated that 95% of those with dyslexia are unaware of their condition. How could this be? Especially when you consider the ease and availability of modern dyslexia testing! Diagnosing dyslexia should be easy!
Dyslexia is a very disabling condition especially for adults if not given the proper attention and treatment. Adult dyslexia is manifested by reading and writing problems. Adults with this problem have difficulties finding a job and relating with other people. They often hide their reading and writing disability and avoid associating with people. If complete tests for dyslexia were available when they were younger, this wouldn’t be the case.
If people with dyslexia were given proper treatments when they were younger, adults with dyslexia will find it easier to deal with this disorder. There are a lot of misconceptions about dyslexia. Some believed that dyslexics are slow learners and they are branded with names like “retarded”, “dumb”, etc. which leads to frustration and low self-esteem. Using the right tests for dyslexia can help dyslexics on how to cope with their learning disability as early as possible and become confident adults.
Most developed habits to conceal their disabilities, refrained from reading, avoided getting into situations where reading and dealing with written words and numbers were required. Most came out of their educational experiences with some sort of lower self esteem, a problem that a diagnosis of dyslexia would have avoided.
Many adult dyslexics learned of their condition only after their children received a diagnosis of dyslexia. The education and medical professionals involved, knowing that there is a genetic link, urged dyslexia testing for the entire family. And one or more parents were found to be dyslexic. So that is why there are so many adult dyslexics who are unaware that the reasons for problems that they hide, that they have lived with for years, are caused by dyslexia. If you or anyone you know exhibits any of the symptoms of dyslexia, please urge them to take an adult dyslexia test.