Specific Learning Difficulties: Dyslexia is one of many labels for a Specific Learning Difficulty. Other Labels for other Learning Difficulties include:

Specific Learning Specific Learning Difficulties:Difficulties:

Dyslexia is one of many labels for a Specific Dyslexia is one of many labels for a Specific Learning Difficulty.Learning Difficulty.

Other Labels for other Learning Difficulties include:Other Labels for other Learning Difficulties include: Dyscalculia.Dyscalculia. Dysgraphia. Dysgraphia. Dysphraxia.Dysphraxia. Developmental Co-ordination Disorder (DCD).Developmental Co-ordination Disorder (DCD). Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Specific Learning DifficultiesSpecific Learning Difficulties

Specific Learning Difficulties are usually caused by Specific Learning Difficulties are usually caused by inherent, sensory, physical, or neurological factors inherent, sensory, physical, or neurological factors and they:and they:

Can cause a person to learn differently.Can cause a person to learn differently. Are not linked to intellectual impairment (except Are not linked to intellectual impairment (except

incidentally).incidentally). May coincidently exist with problems with motor co-May coincidently exist with problems with motor co-

ordination / skills attention, social perception and ordination / skills attention, social perception and social interaction.social interaction.

Are life-long.Are life-long. Specific Learning Difficulties affects the learning of Specific Learning Difficulties affects the learning of

about 4%-10% of all people.about 4%-10% of all people.

DyslexiaDyslexiaGreek "dys" meaning difficulty, and Greek "dys" meaning difficulty, and

"lexis" meaning words."lexis" meaning words.

Sometimes known as ‘specific learning difficulty’, dyslexia is a problem in the acquisition of reading, spelling and writing. Frequently mathematics and aspects of spoken language are affected.

The term ‘developmental dyslexia’ is often used to describe those who fail to acquire written language easily and whose written language is delayed.

Characteristics of DyslexiaCharacteristics of Dyslexia

Common characteristics of Dyslexia include:Common characteristics of Dyslexia include:

Short Term Memory Difficulties.Short Term Memory Difficulties. Reading and Writing Difficulties.Reading and Writing Difficulties. Visual Processing Difficulties.Visual Processing Difficulties. Auditory Processing Difficulties.Auditory Processing Difficulties. Time Management Difficulties.Time Management Difficulties. Organisational Difficulties. Organisational Difficulties.

Theoretical Explanations of Theoretical Explanations of DyslexiaDyslexia

Its explained in the literature at Its explained in the literature at different levelsdifferent levels

Biological LevelBiological Level Cognitive LevelCognitive Level Behavioural levelBehavioural level

Effects of DyslexiaEffects of Dyslexia

The effects of dyslexia may include:The effects of dyslexia may include: Making errors with numbers (telephone Making errors with numbers (telephone

numbers, reversing bus number etc).numbers, reversing bus number etc).

Difficulty with organisational skills, including Difficulty with organisational skills, including time management.time management.

Misplacing personal items such as keys.Misplacing personal items such as keys.

Making mistakes copying things down Making mistakes copying things down (instructions, number etc).(instructions, number etc).

Effects of Dyslexia IIEffects of Dyslexia II

Also:Also:

Confusing dates, and missing appointments.Confusing dates, and missing appointments. Difficulty with orientation, e.g. with maps or in strange Difficulty with orientation, e.g. with maps or in strange

towns.towns. Confusing left and right.Confusing left and right. Problems with explaining ideas and concepts, Problems with explaining ideas and concepts,

particularly on paper. particularly on paper. Word finding difficulties, and mispronunciation of long Word finding difficulties, and mispronunciation of long

words.words.

Dyslexia and the Use Dyslexia and the Use of Assistive of Assistive TechnologyTechnology

Characteristics of Specific Characteristics of Specific Learning DifficultiesLearning Difficulties

The following are common characteristics of The following are common characteristics of Specific Learning Difficulties:Specific Learning Difficulties: Memory DifficultiesMemory Difficulties Writing DifficultiesWriting Difficulties Reading DifficultiesReading Difficulties Visual Processing DifficultiesVisual Processing Difficulties Auditory Processing DifficultiesAuditory Processing Difficulties Time Management DifficultiesTime Management Difficulties Organisational DifficultiesOrganisational Difficulties

Memory DifficultiesMemory Difficulties

Audio RecorderAudio Recorder Sticky NotesSticky Notes Electronic To Do Electronic To Do

Lists / Task ListsLists / Task Lists

Organisational ToolsOrganisational Tools

Mind Mapping SoftwareMind Mapping Software Outline ToolOutline Tool

KeyboardingKeyboarding

Smart KeyboardsSmart Keyboards Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs)Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) Desktop or Laptop ComputerDesktop or Laptop Computer

Visual DifficultiesVisual Difficulties

Good lighting.Good lighting. Coloured Overlays.Coloured Overlays. Choose a clear font and think about Choose a clear font and think about

the visual presentation.the visual presentation.

Reading from the screenReading from the screen Text to Speech can be useful for students Text to Speech can be useful for students

with an auditory learning style.with an auditory learning style. Text to speech can be used for reading a Text to speech can be used for reading a

whole range of text documents (web whole range of text documents (web pages, Word Documents and PDFs etc).pages, Word Documents and PDFs etc).

Text to speech can be used in Text to speech can be used in conjunction with OCR to read printed conjunction with OCR to read printed books or papers.books or papers.

Writing on the ScreenWriting on the Screen

Good Keyboarding skills. Good Keyboarding skills. Speech Recognition programs. Speech Recognition programs. Spell Checking. Spell Checking. Word Prediction.Word Prediction.

ConclusionConclusion

Technology can help support the needs of Technology can help support the needs of students with specific learning difficulties.students with specific learning difficulties.

Sometimes simple technology can work Sometimes simple technology can work more effectively.more effectively.

Technology does not replace the need for Technology does not replace the need for specialist learning support, but it does give specialist learning support, but it does give students more independence and freedom students more independence and freedom to work using their skills and strengths.to work using their skills and strengths.