Why and why? Currently, there are three main causes of dysgraphia and dyslexia.
Heredity. Some scientists claim that they have discovered a gene that is precisely responsible for a person’s predisposition to dyslexia. However, what kind of gene this is, whether it can be somehow neutralized, science does not yet know for certain.
Adverse factors that negatively affect the areas of the brain responsible for the ability to write and read. These factors are varied: from toxicoses that the mother suffered during pregnancy, to diseases such as meningitis or encephalitis. The development of the child's brain is negatively affected by Rh conflicts, alcoholism, parental smoking and even... their reluctance to have a child!
Social reasons . This is the atmosphere in the family, and the child’s environment, and his attitude towards kindergarten or school (if teachers too strictly demand that the sticks be “perpendicular,” anyone will lose the desire to write), and bilingualism, that is, the presence of people in the family speaking different languages.
Let them teach me. The diagnosis of dyslexia or dysgraphia is usually given to children who have completed first grade. However, now many parents begin to teach their heirs to read and write even before entering school, and already upon enrollment in first-graders, specialists can identify children from the “risk group”, and based on the results of the first half of the year, determine which of them really shows signs of dyslexia. Long-term observations of speech therapists indicate that work with six-year-olds is 70% effective, while classes with primary and secondary school students are only 20-30%. In the lower grades, speech disorders seriously complicate learning to read and write, and in the older grades - the mastery of grammar and a number of humanities subjects. There are often cases when, due to difficulties with written speech, the question arises about the impossibility of a child’s stay in a comprehensive school. But most often, with the help of a teacher and parents, a speech therapist is able to cope with the problem. Just remember that a speech therapist is not a tutor who will “train” your child and provide him with good grades. This specialist prepares the ground for the successful mastery and correct application of written language skills. That is why he often carries out work that, at first glance, is far from a notebook and a pen: he trains his speech ear, teaches him to divide words into syllables and understand various speech structures.
Writing and reading disorders are often associated with malfunctions of the brain. Therefore, in addition to classes with a speech therapist, children often need special medications that regulate brain activity (they are prescribed by a neurologist). There is no need to be afraid - firstly, no one will prescribe strong medications for dyslexia, and secondly, correctly selected medications will help your child cope with difficulties faster.
What errors indicate a writing disorder?
The development of dysgraphia and dyslexia can be prevented. Therefore, as soon as you notice signs of violations, you should immediately contact a speech therapist!
Writing disorders
1. Omissions, insertions and rearrangements of letters: “paka”, “palkta” or “pakla” instead of “stick”.
2. Substitutions and mixtures of letters denoting similar sounds. Most often children confuse:
voiceless and voiced sounds:
“year” instead of “cat”, “kidney” instead of “barrel”;
hard and soft sounds: “bow” instead of “luk”, “Mouse” instead of “Misha”;
whistling and pinching sounds: “zuk” instead of “zhuk”, “chudesha” instead of “miracle”;
mainly using the voice - m, n, r, l: “ramp” instead of “lamp”, “don” instead of “house”.
3. “Motor” errors associated with hand movements:
extra elements for letters (Ш with extra “squiggles”);
unfinished letters (lack of squiggles in Ш, И or М);
"stuck", a complete repetition of the previous letter: "arrouz" instead of "watermelon".
4. Errors associated with visual perception. Most often, kids confuse letters that are visually similar to each other, for example, capital M and T, Sh; I and Sh; O and A and others. In addition, guys can:
write non-existent letters; write letters and words in reverse (R instead of Z, current instead of cat);
incorrectly format the working line: the slope and height of the letters fluctuate;
the line unexpectedly begins (ends), jumps up or rolls down.
Reading disorders
Omissions, insertions, permutations, substitutions and mixing of letters.
Incorrect reading of word endings.
Replacement of words by visual similarity.
"Reversing" short words ("he" instead of "but").
Violation of spelling rules (incorrect placement of stress, reading unpronounceable consonants, etc.).
“Splicing” of words (two words are read as one).
Repetitions of syllables and words (Attention! Repetitions that help the child read the word correctly are allowed, but those that lead to the opposite result are considered an alarming sign).