Q: My daughter seems to be having trouble reading simple words. When her teacher calls upon her to read, her technique was to recite and memorise the materials. At home she also seems to be uncoordinated, as compared to her peers as she is not able to play games, often gets her shoes mixed up and struggle to tie her laces. Could she be displaying signs of dyslexia? Please help.

A: It does appear, from your description, that your daughter may be dyslexic. It is, thus, important to talk openly about it with her and let her know that it is alright to discuss her worries and concerns with others. You can help your child understand her 'uniqueness' by enrolling her in a special needs centre. Before doing this, it is advisable that you prime your child by telling her that because they have a special and unique way of learning, they simply require a different strategy to learn. With failure common in a dyslexic child, it is vital that parents remain a source of motivation and encouragement. Dyslexic children respond to intervention programmes at different rates. For example, a child in Primary 1 or 2 is unlikely to experience much failure so results tend to show up sooner. Don’t expect to see instant results. You need to be consistent and patient with dyslexia, as it is a gradual process that cannot be rushed.

Haslina Hassan is a Specialist Teacher at the Dyslexia Association of Singapore (DAS). She holds a Master’s Degree in Special Education and is also a Dyslexia Awareness and Counselling Co-ordinator.

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