How to Overcome Dyslexia

Overcoming dyslexia demands steady work and perseverance. Dyslexic students have difficulty with reading, writing and spelling, which can make these tasks painfully slow and difficult. In order to overcome dyslexia, you need to read and write every day. Even a week-long break from your studies can really set your language skills back, undoing much of the progress you have made.

Things You'll Need

• Tutor
• Paper
• Pencil
• Books

Instructions

1. Accept your dyslexia. A learning disability is not something you spend a short time working through and don't have to deal with anymore. Concentrate on improving your skills, not on "curing" your dyslexia.

2. Find a good tutor. A dyslexia tutor will evaluate your learning disability, come up with strategies to improve your skills, help you to track your progress and provide moral support. Every case of dyslexia is different, so you will have a lot more success working one on one with a tutor.

3. Work on it every day. Dyslexics tend to rapidly lose their reading and writing skills without daily practice. Work on sight words, spelling, decoding and whatever other skills you have difficulties with every single day if you can. At the very least, read every day.

4. Discuss your dyslexia with your teachers or professors. Because dyslexia slows down reading and writing, you will need extra time on tests. Your teacher may also agree to decrease your workload.

5. Consider getting evaluated for an Individualized Education Plan if you are in school. Particularly if your dyslexia is fairly severe, an IEP will allow you to come up with a specialized program to help you address it and get the most out of your education.

6. Work on a positive attitude. Dyslexia does not mean you are dumb, and it won't stop you from accomplishing your goals if you don't let it. If you stay positive, you will have much more success improving your skills and beating dyslexia.

Tips & Warnings

• Many of the greatest artists, writers and scientists of all time were dyslexics, including Albert Einstein, Pablo Picasso, and F. Scott Fitzgerald.

• Don't buy pre-packaged programs. Many companies make unreasonable claims about their ability to cure dyslexia to sell expensive workbooks and courses. A real, qualified tutor will not make any claims or promises until she has the chance to evaluate you in person.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Dyslexia Information
• IEP Guide