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Dyslexia Jersey

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Dyslexia Jersey aims to promote awarness and understanding of dyslexia amongst professionals, parents, employers and the public in general.

Identifying dyslexia

What is Dyslexia?

The word 'dyslexia' comes from the Greek meaning 'difficulty with words' and is a difference in the way the brain processes language. Dyslexia varies in different people, but can mean difficulties with reading, spelling, writing, organisational skills and short-term memory.

Dyslexia tends to run in families and is NOT related to intelligence or to a person's background. However, along with the difficulties, real strengths can be identified, including problem solving skills and enhanced creativity and with the right support many of the difficulties can be overcome.

Dyslexics do not necessarily display the same profile, though a common thread should be recognisable.

What is a Specific Learning Difficulty?

Dyslexia is one of several specific learning difficulties which come under the umbrella term 'Specific Learning Difficulties' (often referred to as SpLD). It means that the difficulties are specific rather than more general learning difficulties.

How many people are Dyslexic?

It is estimated that at least 10% of the population are affected, with 4% being severely affected.

How soon can it be recognised?

There are signs well before school age which indicate that a child may be dyslexic. These include:

  • Delay or difficulty in the development of clear speech and/or persistent tendency to jumble words and phrases.
  • Persistent difficulty with tasks such as dressing efficiently, doing up buttons, tying shoelaces etc.
  • Unusual clumsiness and difficulty with co-ordinated activities such as hopping, skipping and catching or kicking balls.
  • Poor concentration, such as difficulty concentrating on stories read to them.
  • Numerical difficulties including the ability to count in a series, to match and to sort.
  • Family history of similar difficulties.

N.B. Not all dyslexic children show all of these signs, and many very young children make similar mistakes. Dyslexia is indicated where the difficulties are severe and persistent, or where there is a cluster of such difficulties in mild form.

For adults

Dyslexia in adults is difficult to identify as many people reach adulthood unaware of their dyslexia.

Also, many of them would have been hiding their difficulties for years Nevertheless, no matter how good a dyslexic individual is at hiding their difficulties, simple tasks like filling in a form will remain difficult and may become increasingly obvious, which can lead to anxiety and frustration.

Dyslexic difficulties can make every day-to-day task problematic, but with understanding and awareness, a dyslexic person can be successful.

Dyslexia can present itself in several ways and for that reason it is important to remember that all the signs in the list below will not be present in every dyslexic, as each dyslexic has their own individual difficulties.

Some of the signs of adult dyslexia:

  • Other family member have dyslexia
  • There is a difference between your academic and practical achievement
  • Taking a great amount of time to read anything, like books and instructions
  • Missing of ends of words in reading and spelling
  • Losing your place or missing out lines when reading
  • A need to re-read anything for understanding
  • Difficulty reading aloud in groups
  • Misreading information
  • Difficulty reading maps or finding your way around a strange place
  • Poor spelling and punctuation in written work
  • Difficulty taking down telephone messages and numbers
  • Difficulty taking notes in meeting, lectures, etc.
  • Reversal of figures or letters or leaving words out
  • Difficulty filling in forms
  • Work slowly
  • Working well below your intellectual capacity
  • Difficulty with short term memory
  • Difficulty organising your thoughts when writing or doing anything
  • Having problems with time management
  • Difficulty with planning, organisation and managing time, materials and tasks
  • Concentration difficulties
  • Problem learning names
  • Difficulty explaining things clearly to others
  • Difficulty following what others are saying
  • Confused when you are given several instructions at once
  • Remembering where thing have been put
  • Trouble with remembering times tables, order of the months or the alphabet
  • Difficulty with mental maths
  • Confusing left and right
  • Co-ordination difficulties

If after reading this list of signs, you find that a number of them apply to you, then please consider having an assessment for dyslexia with a relevant specialist.

Unless you know you have dyslexia and gain the strategies to cope with it, you may find it difficult to deal with your day-to-day tasks or be successful in reaching your full potential.   

 

Who to contact

Contact Name
Sarah Peel
Contact Position
Chairperson
Telephone
01534 509896
Mob: 07797 734028
E-mail
dyslexiajersey.je@gmail.com

Where to go

Name
Dyslexia Jersey
Address
PO Box 625
St. Helier
Jersey
Postcode
JE4 5YL

Other Details

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