Dyslexia, often unrecognized, is a neurological condition that influences how the brain processes information. It impacts not just reading and writing skills but also memory, coordination, and organisational abilities. A common companion for a dyslexic child is slow processing speed.
How to support a dyslexic child with slow processing speed
Just as Superman and The Flash have their unique speeds, so do individuals with dyslexia. They possess a distinctive superpower that shines through their personalised learning and communication styles, allowing them to adapt in a way that suits them best.
Children facing these processing challenges often struggle with reading.
Lengthy texts can lead to waning concentration, difficulty in retaining details, and consequently, a dip in self-esteem and a sense of lagging behind peers.
Our indicator checklist serves as a beacon, highlighting the signs of dyslexia as a child progresses through school and into adulthood. A family history of dyslexia can also suggest a likelihood of the condition in children.
How to support a dyslexic child with slow processing
Below we share 7 ways that you can support your child, encouraging an improvement in self-esteem and performance at school.
1. Provide A Supportive Environment: Offer emotional support and encouragement to tasks and instructions. Understand your child may need a little longer before they can answer or complete a task.
2. Use Assistive Technology: Text to speech and speech to text can help dyslexics to process information more easily.
3. Routine: Set a time and place to learn, free of distractions. Routine brings stability and confidence to learn.
4. Engaging Discussions: Start a conversation about reading materials or tasks to ensure understanding and retention, using creative methods like notes or drawings to aid memory.
5. Create Visual Aids: Get creative together. Create a fun way to display weekly tasks, helping to improve time management and satisfaction when a task is complete.
6. Read for Pleasure: Select topics that capture your child’s interest and encourage enthusiasm and continued reading.
7. Break tasks up: Short tasks help to make understanding easier, prevent tiredness and maintain focus for longer.
The process of a dyslexia diagnosis can sometimes be underestimated or misunderstood. Yet it’s a crucial step to a happier, more fulfilled life. A dyslexia assessment and dyslexia diagnosis will provide clarity and direction. It’s the starting point for solutions that can help those difficulties become less of a struggle, and will be recognised nationally in both school and work. Read our ‘Path to a Dyslexia Diagnosis’ blog here.
About Dyslexia First
Dyslexia First provides first-class dyslexia assessments for children and adults across the North West.
Owner Michala Morton has worked in the field of Special Needs for over 20 years, across a wide range of educational settings, and works closely with The British Dyslexia Association and The Dyslexia Association assessing children and adults.
Based in Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside, Dyslexia First is conveniently accessible by train, linking to Central Liverpool, Manchester and cities within an hour’s commute.
By helping you to get the right support, a world of possibilities will open, that might not have seemed possible before.
Contact us to discuss your assessment needs. Email michala@dyslexia-first.co.uk or call 07711 904 589.
Supporting children with slow processing: A Guide for Parents (thedyslexiatutor.co.uk)
