It's Not Dyslexia
The following scenario is more common than you might think: You have always struggled with reading. Finally, you arrange to be tested for dyslexia. You wait on pins and needles for the result, but when it finally arrives it’s negative. You try to convince yourself that you should be jumping for joy, you do not have dyslexia. But you are still struggling to read.
So why is reading so hard?
You must understand that dyslexia is not like a light switch with two settings on and off. It is not as if those who are not classified as dyslexic are all excellent readers. The ability to read comes at all levels from excellent readers to those with pure alexia, the complete inability to read.
Shaywitz, S. E. (2005). Overcoming Dyslexia: A new and complete science-based program for reading problems at any level. New York: Vintage Books.
Dr. Sally Shaywitz in her book Overcoming Dyslexia* puts it like this:
“When blood pressure reaches a certain level, a patient is considered to have hypertension. But individuals just on the other side of the cutoff point, although not labeled as hypertensive, will have many traits in common with those said to have hypertension. For hypertension, as for dyslexia, there is no natural gap that separates affected people from others, and a decision is made based on an artificial cutoff point[…]By not recognizing shades of gray represented by struggling children who haven’t yet failed enough to meet a particular criterion, schools may be under-identifying many children who will go on to experience significant reading problems.”
What does this mean for you?
First, let’s start with that happy dance. You do struggle with reading, but it could be so much worse. A negative result does not mean you do not need reading support, it just means it’s up to you.
You are not alone, Online Reading Tutor is here to help. Our training is proven to help struggling readers become proficient readers. We use the Orton-Gillingham approach to reading, the gold standard to help you become a successful reader!
